It appears that a straight-up election between a lone Democrat and lone Republican, a 31,000-voter advantage and the influence of the debt ceiling debate and the tea party’s influence aren’t enough to make national Republicans sanguine about their chances in Congressional District 2. Hence, this attack on Kate Marshall by the National Republican Congressional Committee on behalf of Mark Amodei:
There’s a lot to pick apart here. First, the notion that Marshall was “gambling” taxpayer dollars is interesting, coming from Republicans. Marshall was doing what all state treasurers before her had done, which is “invest” the money on Wall Street. But Republicans — who apparently keep all their money in coffee cans buried in the back yard — think that investing is gambling. No wonder they’re not worried about defaulting on U.S. government obligations!
Second, Marshall had no idea that Wall Street, emboldened by the deregulation signed into law by her fellow Democrat Bill Clinton, were going to make billions in junk loans and crash the entire financial system, sparking the worst recession since the Great Depression. In fact, hardly anybody foresaw that happening, including Capitol Hill or then-President George W. Bush, who had to scramble to prevent global catastrophe with the much-derided Trouble Asset Relief Program.
Oh, and a technical point: Marshall’s campaign says in a statement the total value of money lost in the Lehman Bros. default is more like $25 million, not $50 million, as the ad indicates. That’s still not a good thing, but it’s also not something for which Marshall can really be blamed.
Third, the ad says Marshall increased her office budget by 33 percent, although she says she’s never spent the full amount allocated to her office and has returned more than $2 million in office expenses to the state’s general fund. That’s a lot of unpurchased paper clips.
Fourth, blaming Marshall for the dismal state of the state’s economy is disingenuous. Arguably, as a policy maker, former state senator Amodei had far more influence over things that might effect the state’s economy (spending, taxes, etc.) that Marshall ever had. Yes, that undercuts Marshall’s equally inflated claim of steering the state’s economy through tough times. But neither Marshall nor the NRCC can have it both ways.
Fifth, and perhaps worst, the video captures Marshall’s unfortunate tendency to scream her stump speech rather than simply deliver it. I’ve heard it live on many occasions, and it’s advisable to wear hearing protection when she’s introduced. That, and the photo of Marshall with President Barack Obama, may hurt her in the 2nd Congressional District far more than phantom claims of Marshall breaking the entire U.S. financial system.
Tags: Kate Marshall, Mark Amodei
Sebelius, you say, “The notion that Marshall was ‘gambling’ taxpayer dollars is interesting, coming from Republicans. Marshall was doing what all state treasurers before her had done, which is ‘invest’ the money on Wall Street. But Republicans — who apparently keep all their money in coffee cans buried in the back yard — think that investing is gambling.”
What I find interesting is Democrat support for what Marhsall did considering their opposition to allowing citzens to keep their social security dollars, money the feds currently strip away, and “invest” in whatever they want to. Or to use the word Democrats have made dirty, “Privatize.” According to you, Marhsall did what Republican’s advocate everyone should have the right to do with their money, invest on Wall Street, all the while democrats use fear mongering and the economic collapse to argue against Republicans, and now they wanna justify those same actions by Marshall? I don’t think so.
I will tell you who could have seen the collapse of Lehman Brothers coming, and it is definitely not Mark Amodei either! It would be independent candidate Helmuth Lehmann (NO relation to Lehman Brothers!)
He has a book called “Losing America” where he talks extensively about the deregulation of Wall Street and the consequences and problems to come.
His website is http://www.helmuthforcongress.com
I know one thin to elect someone that would rather not raise taxes on the rich who pay 18% with the loopholes while the middle class bear the brunt of the taxes at 25% is crazy. They say its because the tax cuts will create jobs well they have been in place for almot a decade and haven’t created job 1 while corp execs take hugh bonuses while laying off workers. Both sides stink but at least the democrats are willing to let you keep your shirt while the Republicans want to leave you with mo SS and no medicaid
Where is Mort? We need a spell check on that!
Kevin its not the Republicans or the Democrats. Its the unbelievable percentage of borrowing this government takes under both that is causing such a great divide in wealth distribution.
With a balanced budget wealth would have a chance to go where the work is done. We have a balanced budget law right now since congress cant get the votes to increase the deb. You want to take any bets as to whether any pol allows even one second delay in any SS payments? They know the consequence, its the same with all their other empty threats. All those scare tactics are beginning to fall on mispelled deaf ears.