DCCC targets Latham in ‘Drive for 25′
With an eye on reclaiming a U.S.
Jul 31, 202093.6K Shares1.3M Views
With an eye on reclaiming a U.S. House majority in 2012, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has lobbed a series of robocalls into Tom Latham‘s District and also launched a set of tools on a new website for political activists.
The campaign, dubbed “Drive for 25? seeks to educate voters on a provision with the U.S. House GOP budget — known as the Ryan budget, because of its author U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan(R-Wisc.) — that moves Medicare from its existing system to one that is privatized and capped. The DCCC notes that on Sunday, even former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich(R-Georgia) opposed the Ryan budget, referring to its changes in Medicare as “radical” and “too big a jump.”
Latham, along with 20-some additional members of Congress who voted in favor of the Ryan budget, have been targeted by the DCCC previously with radio ads, phone calls and email messages. A transcript of the current robocall is as follows:
“„Hi, I’m calling from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee calling about Congressman Tom Latham’s vote to end Medicare.
“„You’ve paid into Medicare for more than 25 years and deserve the Medicare benefits you’ve earned. Under the Latham plan, Medicare ends and you’ll have to save about $182,000 more to pay for your health care. Where will you get $182,000? Everyone agrees we must cut spending and tighten our belt, but Latham has made the wrong choice. Ending Medicare to pay for subsidies for Big Oil making huge profits or tax breaks for the ultra rich! That’s not right.
“„Please call Congressman Latham at (515) 232-2885 and tell him to keep his hands off our Medicare!
Although the DCCC has indicated that these measures are being used against Latham in his Congressional District, a spokesperson for the organization has not yet clarified for The Iowa Independent if the District being targeted is his current area or the area he hopes to represent following the 2012 election.
Latham has indicated that he will be moving into the newly established 3rd District to face Democratic incumbent Leonard Boswellin 2012. If he chose not to move, Latham would have been pitted against fellow Republican incumbent Steve Kingin the newly established 4th District. Democrat Christie Vilsackis exploring a possible run against King.
So, if the DCCC is targeting voters in Iowa’s existing 4th Congressional District, such calls are likely to be no consequence in the 2012 election because Latham won’t be a candidate on that District’s ballot.
In addition to the calls, the DCCC has also launched an activist website, DontEndMedicare.com, with downloadable protest signs, a virtual phone back and other tools for supporters.
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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