from the Democratic National Committee
August 3, 2010

As members head back to their districts for August recess, the DNC is launching a full-scale effort to force Republicans (both incumbents and candidates) to stand with the Tea Party or disavow their beliefs.  One week ago, we unveiled our “Republican Tea Party Contract on America” in a press conference at DNC headquarters with Chairman Tim Kaine and several Democratic Members of Congress.  Tomorrow, we’re sending out releases and urging local reporters to press Republican candidates on whether they will join the House’s newly formed Tea Party Caucus.  For Republicans who have already pledged their allegiance to the Tea Party Caucus, our release spells put just what the Tea Party agenda will mean for voters in that state including well-know planks of the Tea Party Contract like repealing social security and Medicare, reversing critical reforms to Wall Street and our health insurance system, extending tax breaks for the wealthy and big oil and taking us back to the same failed economic policies championed by George Bush and Dick Cheney.  
 
Releases are being sent tomorrow for the following members – 80 in total:
 
50 members who have already signed on to the House Tea Party caucus who will be receiving the first release (see below):
 
Robert Aderholt (AL-4), Todd Akin (MO-2), Rodney Alexander (LA-5), Michele Bachmann (MN-6), Joe Barton (TX-6), Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6), Gus Bilirakis (FL-9), Rob Bishop (UT-1), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Paul Broun (GA-10), Dan Burton (IN-5), John Carter (TX-31), Howard Coble (NC-6), Mike Coffman (CO-6), Ander Crenshaw (FL-4), John Culberson (TX-7), John Fleming (LA-4), Trent Franks (AZ-2), Phil Gingrey (GA-11), Louie Gohmert (TX-1), Tom Graves (GA-9), Ralph Hall (TX-4), Gregg Harper (MS-3), Wally Herger (CA-2), Lynn Jenkins (KS-2), Steve King (IA-5), Doug Lamborn (CO-5), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Kenny Marchant (TX-24), Tom McClintock (CA-4), Gary Miller (CA-42), Jerry Moran (KS-1), Sue Myrick (NC-9), Randy Neugebauer (TX-19), Mike Pence (IN-6), Tom Price (GA-6), Denny Rehberg (MT), Phil Roe (TN-1), Ed Royce (CA-40), Steve Scalise (LA-1), Pete Sessions (TX-32), John Shadegg (AZ-3), Adrian Smith (NE-3), Lamar Smith (TX-21), Cliff Stearns (FL-6), Todd Tiahrt (KS-4), Zach Wamp (TN-3), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3), Joe Wilson (SC-2)
 
And 30 others we’ve identified whom we’d like to take a stance (they will be receiving the second release):
 
Jon Barela , Lou Barletta , Richard "Rick" Berg , Scott Bruun , Steve Chabot , Keith Fimian , Mike Fitzpatrick , Thomas Ganley , Tim Griffin , David Harmer, Randy Hultgren , George Kelly Jr. , Joe Heck , Adam Kinzinger , Kristi Noem , James Renacci , Steve Pearce , Jon Runyan , Steve Stivers , Todd Young , Brad Zaun, , Eric Cantor, Joseph Cao, Michael Castle, John Boehner, Mario Diaz-Balart, Charles Dent, Paul Ryan , Kevin McCarthy, Mark Kirk
 
This is just the beginning of our push – throughout the month of August we’ll be holding press conferences in their districts and using social networks, web videos, paid advertising and other means to force Republicans to either stand with or stand up to the Tea Party.  Those Republicans who chose to stand with the Tea Party and their radical agenda will be held accountable for those beliefs.  And, those who don’t will be asked to say what exactly it is that they stand for – other than big business, big oil and big banks.  
 
 
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2010
 
Rep. Mike Pence Bucks Needs of Constituents; Stands With Extreme Tea Party Caucus
Extreme Tea Party Policies Would Harm Economy; Take our Country Backward
 
Washington, DC – Representative Mike Pence recently followed the lead of extreme right-winger Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and joined the newly formed Congressional “Tea Party Caucus.” Tea Party Republicans like Mike Pence and his allies have advocated extreme policies that would take our country backward like abolishing the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency and repealing consumer protections in health insurance reform and Wall Street reform to name a few. It’s clear that instead of standing up for their constituents in Washington, Mike Pence has decided to use his power in Washington to advance an extreme agenda that only benefits special interests like Wall Street bankers and health insurance executives.
 
Please see below for a statement from DNC Regional Press Secretary, Alec Gerlach on Mike Pence siding with the Tea Party over residents of the sixth district:
 
“As the Tea Party movement takes over the Republican Party, it’s important that Mike Pence’s constituents know that he was among the first elected officials in the country to cave to the Tea Party, sell out his constituents and join a caucus whose members have advocated policies that would only benefit powerful special interests and that would take America backward.
 
“Mike Pence’s constituents deserve to know – why does Mike Pence stand with the Tea Party’s agenda to repeal the Affordable Care Act, privatize Social Security, end Medicare as it presently exists, extend Bush tax breaks for the wealthy and big oil and implement policies to take us back to the same failed economic ideas of George Bush and Dick Cheney that caused the crisis, created record deficits and led to the loss of 8 million jobs? Does Mike Pence really want to end Medicare as it presently exists? Protect reckless companies like BP? Or repeal unprecedented consumer protections that ensure that individuals can’t be kicked off their health insurance when they get sick?
 
“Voters in the sixth district sent Mike Pence to Washington to represent their district – not to fight for an extreme agenda that will benefit a few of the privileged at the expense of hard-working, middle class Americans.”
 
Last week the DNC launched the “Republican Tea Party Contract On America,” a new Democratic Party effort to highlight the real Republican agenda for America, show how Republicans would move America backward and lay out a clear choice for voters come November.  Republican House incumbents are being asked to say what if any of the positions enumerated in the Republican Tea Party Contract on America they disagree with.  While Republican leaders have struggled for two years to develop their agenda for the upcoming elections, The Republican Tea Party Contract on America was developed by the DNC by simply making a list of the items that Republican leaders, their candidates and their Tea Party allies have said they intend to do if they regain control of Congress.  
 
Throughout the month of August, concerned citizens will be asked to confront Republican incumbents and candidates for the House at events and through online tools like Twitter and Facebook asking them to state definitively if they plan to join the House Tea Party Caucus and whether or not they agree with the Tea Party’s extreme positions.   
 
The DNC’s Republican Tea Party Contract On America:
1. Repeal the Affordable Care Act (Health Insurance Reform)
2. Privatize Social Security or phase it out altogether
3. End Medicare as it presently exists
4. Extend the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy and big oil
5. Repeal Wall Street Reform
6. Protect those responsible for the oil spill and future environmental catastrophes
7. Abolish the Department of Education
8. Abolish the Department of Energy
9. Abolish the Environmental Protection Agency
10. Repeal the 17th Amendment
 
Vist www.republicanteapartycontract.com/America.com for more information on the “Tea Party Contract On America.”
 
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For Immediate Release
August 4, 2010
 
Contact: XXXX
 
On the Tea Party, Where Does Eric Cantor Stand?
 As Fringe Tea Party Caucus is Formed on Capitol Hill, Will Eric Cantor Stand With or Stand Up To the Tea Party?
 
Washington, DC – National Republicans recently joined with the Tea Party and extreme right-wingers like Michele Bachmann (R-MN) to launch a Congressional “Tea Party Caucus.” Tea Party Republicans have advocated extreme policies that would take our country backward and are not what the American people want.  Now, faced with the choice of turning their back on the Tea Party or embracing these radical views, the question remains: does Eric Cantor intend to join the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives and sign on to its out-of-the-mainstream positions? And if not, why?
 
Please see below for a statement from DNC Regional Press Secretary, Alec Gerlach:
 
“As the Tea Party movement takes over the Republican Party, it’s important that Eric Cantor’s constituents know if they plan to join the Tea Party in the House of Representatives and align themselves with this particularly radical wing of the Republican Party.   
 
“With the nomination of Sharron Angle, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, to name a few, the constant advertising of the group by the right-wing media, and the countless ultra-conservative Members of Congress promoting their ideals, it’s clear that the Tea Party and the Republican Party are now one.  Does Eric Cantor support the Tea Party’s radical agenda to repeal the Affordable Care Act, privatize Social Security, end Medicare as it presently exists, extend Bush tax breaks for the wealthy and big oil, and implement policies to take us back to the same failed economic policies that caused the crisis, created record deficits and led to the loss of 8 million jobs? The residents of Virginia’s 7th deserve to know – is Eric Cantor a Tea Party-Republican? If they’re not, they should stand up to the Tea Party Republican bosses and disavow their radical agenda.”
 
Last week the DNC launched the “Republican Tea Party Contract On America,” a new Democratic Party strategy to highlight the real Republican agenda for America, to show how Republicans would move America backward and to lay out a clear choice for voters come November.  Republican House incumbents are being asked not only to say if they would join the Tea Party Caucus in the House, a group that enjoys the support of Republican leaders like Pete Sessions of Texas and Mike Pence of Indiana, but to say what if any of the positions enumerated on the Republican Tea Party Contract on America they disagree with.  While Republican leaders have struggled for two years to develop their agenda for the upcoming elections, The Republican Tea Party Contract on America was developed by the DNC by simply making a list of the items that Republican leaders, their candidates and their Tea Party allies have said they intend to do if they regain control of Congress.  
 
Throughout the month of August, concerned citizens will be asked to confront Republican incumbents and candidates for the House at events and through online tools like Twitter and Facebook, asking them to state definitively if they plan to join the House Tea Party Caucus and whether they or not they agree with the Tea Party’s extreme positions.   
 
The DNC’s Republican Tea Party Contract On America:
1. Repeal the Affordable Care Act (Health Insurance Reform)
2. Privatize Social Security or phase it out altogether
3. End Medicare as it presently exists
4. Extend the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy and big oil
5. Repeal Wall Street Reform
6. Protect those responsible for the oil spill and future environmental catastrophes
7. Abolish the Department of Education
8. Abolish the Department of Energy
9. Abolish the Environmental Protection Agency
10. Repeal the 17th Amendment
 
Vist www.republicanteapartycontract.com/America.com for more information on the “Tea Party Contract On America.”
 
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