North Carolina: Sometimes The Truth Stings
It’s hardly a surprise that some of North Carolina’s most influential newspapers have recently come out in support of Kay Hagan’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate.  They’ve all listed a barrage of reasons for their endorsements, ranging from Hagan’s track record on budget issues to the fact that she is, to quote the Winston-Salem Journal, “a bundle of brains and energy.”  Just as impressive, however, are the reasons listed for turning the page on Liddy Dole’s lackluster tenure in the Senate.  The Ashville Citizen-Times cited “Dole’s lack of assertiveness, her hesitation and changed positions,” while the Journal was particularly scathing in its description of Dole’s priorities: “Dole has reserved her best efforts for issues of importance to the national Republican Party and the Bush administration, not North Carolinians.”  Ouch.

Oklahoma: He Thinks He Was Right, But It’s All Over Now
We mentioned the Oklahoma Senate debate already this week, but overlooked this little gem.  When asked about his famous declaration that global warming is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people,” Republican Jim Inhofe pulled his head out of the sand for long enough to offer this stirring defense:

I think I was right on that, and I do believe — first off, let’s keep in mind, though, what the issue is. It’s not whether or not we’re going into a global warming period. We were. We’re not now.

I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly convinced.

Oregon: Frozen Facts
What kind of corporate citizen is Gordon Smith?  According to federal investigations and recent news reports, the kind of corporate citizen that profits off the back-breaking labor of undocumented, low-wage workers while maintaining a lax attitude toward safety and environmental regulations.  Check out SmithFrozenFacts.com for more information on the shady business practices of Smith Frozen Foods.

Meanwhile, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden offered strong words of support for Democrat Jeff Merkley in a new campaign ad.  Wyden is looking forward to working with Jeff Merkley in the U.S. Senate, and outlined some of the ways the two Oregon Democrats could make a big difference in Washington. 

Texas: Noriega On The Airwaves
Democrat Rick Noriega met Republican John Cornyn for a League of Women Voters debate last night in Houston.  If you want to see the sharp contrast between Rick Noriega and his opponent, click here to stream the debate. But if you’re like us, you’d prefer to see Rick Noriega without the side order of “Big Bad” John Cornyn.  So check out Noriega’s new ad here. Another debate is scheduled for next Friday in Dallas.

Colorado: Lock The Doors
How "scary" is Democrat Mark Udall?  So scary that Republican Bob Schaffer and his special-interest allies have spent millions and millions of dollars on false attacks against him.  So scary that Udall himself tells Coloradans to lock their doors and hide in his new campaign ad.  It’s definitely worth a watch.

Kentucky: McConnell Cancels Debate For The Third Time
Republican Mitch McConnell, in full panic mode, turned down yet another invitation to debate Democrat Bruce Lunsford.  After declining debate invitations from KET TV and the League of Women Voters, McConnell has now told Centre College that he won’t debate there, either. With polls now showing the race as a dead heat, you’d think that McConnell would relish the opportunity to get out in front of Kentucky voters and explain his record of partisan obstructionism.  Instead, it seems more and more like he’s just hoping this whole “election” thing will just blow over.

Minnesota: Missing The Point Of The Story
Republican Norm Coleman has been running some awful TV ads trying to convince Minnesotans that Democrat Al Franken is some sort of raging monster.  As proof of this assertion, Coleman offered a brief video clip.  But, just like with his policy votes and his blind loyalty to George Bush, Norm Coleman had missed the point of the story.  Check out the actual video and ask yourself if Franken seems angry while you listen to his story minus the grainy black-and-white effects.  But even beyond the misleading political attack, we’re a little disappointed that Norm Coleman missed this fundamental point: The story Franken is telling in that clip is pretty funny stuff.  Check it out:

What does it take to be ranked one of the farthest-right members of Congress in the history of our nation? The Udall for Colorado campaign has released a memo detailing exactly how Bob Schaffer managed to earn that reputation:

To:Interested Parties
From: Udall for Colorado
Date: October 9, 2008
Re: Bob Schaffer’s Radical Ideas – Wrong for Colorado

SUMMARY

Bob Schaffer is "a self-admitted right-winger."

Right after the attacks on 9/11, Schaffer voted against screening one hundred percent of checked bags on airplanes, and against requiring stronger cockpit doors.

Bob Schaffer has compared Medicare to "socialism," health care reform to "fascism,” and the US Department of Education to "the Communist legacy."

Schaffer even voted against funding for every program to help America's military veterans four times.

Bob Schaffer’s radical ideas are wrong for Colorado.

BACKGROUND

FACT:THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS HAS REFERRED TO SCHAFFER AS A “SELF-ADMITTED RIGHT-WINGER.”  (Rocky Mountain News 8/25/04)

According to a 2006 academic study, out of the 3,425 members of Congress to serve since 1937 Schaffer ranks as the 14th most conservative member over the last 70 years. “According to a 2006 study by Professor Keith Poole of the University of California-San Diego.  This “analysis of Schaffer's three-term congressional record places him as the 14th most conservative out of more than 3,400 lawmakers to go to Washington since 1937.  [Denver Post, 03/09/08]

“Schaffer Became Known For His Uncompromising And Unapologetically Conservative Views” And “That Hasn't Changed”:  According to a July 4, 2004 Fort Collins Coloradoan article, Schaffer was characterized as confident, and sometimes brash.  “Schaffer became known for his uncompromising and unapologetically conservative views,” said the Coloradoan.  The Coloradoan continued, “That hasn't changed.” (Fort Collins Coloradoan 7/4/04)

Schaffer Has “Manufactured An Image Of Himself As Being On The Far-Right Fringe” According to the Washington Times, Colorado State University Political Science Professor John Straayer said: "I think what's happened is that you have a lot of people in the Republican Party who were nervous about a Bob Schaffer candidacy."   "He's manufactured an image of himself as being on the far-right fringe, not just on fiscal issues, but he's also carrying a good deal of the religious right agenda with him." (Washington Times, 5/4/04)

"On the rare occasions when Schaffer departs from the GOP leadership line, it is to stake out an even more conservative position."  (CQ Member Profile, 2002 Edition)

FACT: THE DENVER POST CALLED SCHAFFER “TOO IDEOLOGICAL, TOO PRONE TO FOLLOW A NARROW SET OF POLITICAL PRINCIPLES.”  Schaffer is “too ideological, too prone to follow a narrow set of political principles to the exclusion of other considerations.” [Denver Post 10/11/98]

FACT: JUST 2 MONTHS AFTER 9-11, SCHAFFER WAS ONE OF JUST NINE REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE AGAINST THE POST 9/11 AIR SECURITY PLAN.  (Vote #448, 11/16/01; AP, 11/17/01; Knight Ridder, 11/17/01)
 
Components within this bill included:
-  100% inspection of checked bags
-  Increased number of armed air marshals on flights
-   Anti-hijacking training for flight crews
-   Stronger cockpit doors
-   Background checks on individuals enrolling in flight schools. 
(S 1447, 107th Congress)

FACT: SCHAFFER HAS DESCRIBED MEDICARE AS “SOCIALIST”:  “Tape from that debate shows that Schaffer labeled Medicare and Medicaid as ‘socialist aspects of how we deliver health care.’”  [Fort Collins Coloradoan, 6/13/96]

Schaffer Voiced Support for the Newt Gingrich Approach to Choking Off Medicare:  “Schaffer said he supported a slower rate of growth for the Medicare fund…”[Fort Collins Coloradoan, 4/06/97]

“Slower Rate of Growth” Was Gingrich’s Term for His Plan to Cut $270 Billion from Medicare and Allow It to "Wither on the Vine.” [HR 2491, 11/17/95, CQ #812]

Schaffer Voted to Cut Medicare Funding by $115 Billion.  Schaffer voted to bring up a bill to cut $115 billion in funding for Medicare. [H.Res. 202, Vote #343, 7/30/1997]

FACT:  SCHAFFER CALLED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE “FASCIST.”

Schaffer voted against a 1995 resolution that would have put a Colorado universal health care proposal on the ballot, calling it “a fascist economic model.”  (Denver Post 4/20/95)

"Schaffer stands by his characterization of the plan, which would put health care under government control. That, he said, is economic fascism.”  [Fort Collins Coloradoan, 5/28/95]

FACT: SCHAFFER EQUATED PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH A “FAILED COMMUNIST LEGACY”:  “Mr. Speaker, just look at the Communist legacy in every single case, especially education. The bureaucrats who just love their government-owned schools and want to protect their monopoly will do so at just about any cost, regardless of whether kids have to receive an inferior education and blighted futures.” (Congressional Record, 9/10/1997)

Schaffer Called Public Schools a "Government-Owned, Unionized, Bureaucratized Monopoly" [Rocky Mountain News, 4/10/06]

Schaffer advocated eliminating the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy  [Fort Collins Coloradoan. February 13, 1996]

"I can't think of a single thing the Department of Education does that really helps kids," Schaffer said shortly after joining Congress in 1997.   (Denver Post 3/17/97)

FACT: BOB SCHAFFER VOTED FOUR YEARS IN A ROW AGAINST FUNDING THE VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION – NEARLY $200 BILLION TOTAL.

1998: Bob Schaffer Was 1 of Just 14 Members to Vote Against $42.3 billion For Veterans Administration Programs And Benefits: [Roll Call #483, HR 4194, 10/6/1998, Failed 409-14]   

1999: Bob Schaffer Was 1 Of Just 18 Members To Vote Against $44.3 Billion For Veterans Administration Programs And Benefits: [Roll Call #500, HR 2684, 10/14/1999]

2000: Bob Schaffer Was 1 Of Just 24 Members To Vote Against $47 Billion For Veterans Administration Programs And Benefits:  [Roll Call #536, HR 4635, 10/19/2000, Passed 386-24]   

2001: Bob Schaffer Was 1 of Just 18 Members to Vote Against $51.1 Billion For Veterans Administration Programs And Benefits:  The bill provides $27.3 billion for mandatory veterans programs and $23.8 billion in discretionary funding for the VA including $21.3 billion for veterans medical care.    [Disabled American Veterans Magazine, Jan 2002; Roll Call #434, HR 2620, 11/8/2001, Passed 401-18]

When we inducted Norm Coleman into our Hall of Shame for his bad habit of letting corporate bigwigs pay for his suits, we were tempted to say that he had set a new (low) standard for shameful behavior.

But the truth is that Norm Coleman already had set pretty low standards for himself.  After all, this is a guy who consistently voted against letting Medicare negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs while accepting more than $350,000 in campaign cash from pharmaceutical companies.  He supported a $5 billion tax windfall for Big Oil while taking more than $200,000 from the oil and gas companies.  He’s blocked progress in Iraq, stubbornly defending his party line.

And remember, Norm Coleman is the guy who promised to bring Republicans and Democrats together, but who ended up as – in the words of a prominent Minnesota newspaper – “a true Bush loyalist.”

When it comes to the policies Coleman has supported for the last six years, Minnesotans should ask themselves which is worse: a guy who spinelessly sided with Bush at every turn; or a guy who really believes that keeping prescription prices high and giving tax breaks to Big Oil are the best way to shore up our economy.  Because with Norm Coleman, those are your only choices.

For more on the Minnesota Senate race, see our race profile page, or visit Al Franken’s website.

Maine Democrat Tom Allen is on the air with a new ad, focused on the middle class and small businesses.

On Tuesday, Allen debated Republican Susan Collins.  Not surprisingly, the economy was a major topic of discussion.

Allen…  said more substantial support for [local projects] could be achieved by doing away with Bush's economic policies, which he said Collins has supported. Because of Bush and Collins, the economy and federal support for such programs have suffered, he said.

"We have to change the direction of the country," Allen said. "When you get the economics wrong on the big picture, you're not going to be able to accomplish much at the local level."

For more on the Maine Senate race, see our race profile page, or visit Tom Allen’s website.