I don’t really want to ridicule Senator Chuck Schumer, who has a thoughtful fundraising appeal letter out today which does a very good job spelling out the problems Senate Republicans face in 2008.
I will post his letter below.
However, I feel it important to remind leading Democrats not to become too overwhelmed by their own sense of infallibility about the War and what led to it; not to become too intoxicated with a “holier than thou” attitude for a pugnacious nationalism that flipped a finger off to the rest of the world as they helped enable a crusade led by Cheney and Bush.
Every time I get an email from Senator Schumer, I am reminded of his support of John Bolton’s confirmation in the 2nd push the administration made on Bolton during the Israel-Lebanon conflagration. Several — yes more than three — U.S. Senators told me personally that Schumer was telling them “a vote against Bolton is a vote against Israel.”
It is that kind of false choice thinking that undermines American prestige and moral credibility. So yes, Republicans are vulnerable on this war — but the kind of giddy notes that Schumer is sending out neglect his own role in empowering this crowd.
Here is the letter:
Dear Friend:
I have been leading the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for two and a half years now.
And yet I am still continually amazed by the commitment of you, our grassroots.
In the past few weeks alone, thousands of our supporters helped us blow past our ambitious quarterly fundraising goal – the tenth straight quarter we’ve done that.
And then, this week, when President Bush made the outrageous decision to commute Scooter Libby’s prison sentence, tens of thousands of you signed on to our petition expressing your disgust for this affront to justice.
Thank you so very much.
Your unrivaled energy and unflagging financial support means that Republican Senate incumbents, already beleaguered by their blind support for George Bush and plummeting poll ratings, will have an even tougher road ahead to defend their Senate seats in 2008.
21 Republican seats are up for reelection in 2008, compared to only 12 Democratic seats. And already, some GOP incumbents are showing clear signs of vulnerability. Only 31% of New Hampshirites think incumbent John Sununu deserves to be reelected. Norm Coleman in Minnesota and Gordon Smith in Oregon have approval ratings hovering below 50%.
Republican senators are once again showing their blind obedience to Bush — not one has had the guts to stand up and say that the Scooter Libby commutation makes a mockery of the American justice system.
Democrats have a once in a generation opportunity to expand a 51-49 Senate majority that has made it all too easy for Republicans to carry George Bush’s water and obstruct the change that you voted for in 2006.
You have provided a huge lift for us at the DSCC. Your support allows for more staffers in key states, more ads and more investment in advanced micro targeting techniques to get Democrats to the polls on Election Day. You are giving us the resources to convince the very best leaders that Democrats have to offer, to run for Senate.
Most importantly, your energy is keeping every one around here fired up and focused on the goal at hand: expanding our majority.
We’ve still got a long way to go. But thanks to you, we’re off to an amazing start.
Sincerely,
Sen. Chuck Schumer
I do want to see a restoration of genuine political competition in this country — but I am also really fed up with the historical amnesia that so many politicians on both sides of the aisle are promulgating.
— Steve Clemons
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