McCain Wades Into Email Fight Over Stimulus

Sen. John McCain is now taking his opposition to the stimulus online.

The Arizona senator sent an email on Tuesday urging supporters to sign a petition opposing the Democrats' stimulus plan, a move that comes days after President Obama's new political organization, Organizing for America, launched an effort to build support for the stimulus with house parties around the country. OFA has already sent two emails recruiting supporters for the campaign, including one from President Obama himself, and it is hosting a private, national conference call on Tuesday evening for neighborhood leaders. Democratic activists are already debating whether the massive effort will undermine participatory politics, (as TechPresident's Nancy Scola reports).

McCain's push, on the other hand, is unlikely to have much impact. Politically, Republicans have already been uniting against the stimulus. Organizationally, McCain's campaign email list is very thin, since the majority of addresses were purchased, not organically recruited, according to a senior GOP source.

Still, McCain's bid to mobilize grassroots opposition to Obama's very first initiative -- and solicit PAC donations -- reflects his strong desire lead the fight against Obama's agenda. It also reveals the meager returns of Obama's bipartisan courting. On style and substance, from hosting McCain's inaugural dinner to offering questionable tax cuts, the Republicans return Obama's favors with fire.

Comments (19)

1. Jeezus, Maverick...

   and when it passes anyway, the Hard Right i going to blame YOU for failure to stop it.

   The man's trying to recover his bona fides and become beloved to the base...and it's going to backfire on him!

   Atleast part of the reason he lost.

   Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 1:15pm

2. C'mon Ari, what "bi-partisan" outreach? Obama has a stimulous pacakage without any stimulous. What? Because Obama is a nice guy and calls Republicans he's bi-partisan?

   It isn't partisanship that leads Republicans to be against this pork filled non-stimulous spending package Ari. It is the common sense to see it's impact on our future will be negative.

   Why are Democrats so against our freedom to limit how government chooses to distribute our money? Reading the papers these days, maybe it's because Democrats don't pay taxes!

   Posted by freiheit1 at 02/03/2009 @ 2:48pm

3. >>>On style and substance, from hosting McCain's inaugural dinner to offering questionable tax cuts, the Republicans return Obama's favors with fire. <<<

   Obama should not give up on courting Republicans and getting them on board with HIS agenda, but there are limits to this effort when it interferes with what is best for the country.

   Obama should do a television address to the nation and put Republicans squarely on the spot for their failed economic policies of the past, and challenge them to come up with something new that has a real chance of helping the American economy. He should recall the history of Bush tax cuts and their abysmal stimulative effect on the economy.

   He should then ask pointedly: If we do not TIE tax cuts to specific behavior that stimulates the economy, like increased lending to consumers and small businesses, or hiring laid off workers, or saving homes from foreclosure, then what good can come from further tax cuts for the wealthy? We simply can't cut taxes and HOPE wealthy individuals and corporations do not use the savings to buy new corporate jets from France that do nothing to help the US economy!

   Posted by Metteyya at 02/03/2009 @ 2:49pm

4. I understand that the Republicans have disagreed with the stimulus plan and that's fine. My question is, where is the counter proposal? Where is the list of what they think should be in the stimulus plan? Bitching and complaining without offering solutions is nonsensical and a waste of time. I see politicians on television talking about what they don't like but offering little else.

   Posted by k330k at 02/03/2009 @ 2:55pm

5. Bitching and complaining without offering solutions is nonsensical and a waste of time.----Posted by k330k at 02/03/2009 @ 2:55pm

   I'm sorry, can I just Cut & Paste this over on the Daschle thread for you and sloper???

   Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 3:44pm

6. Posted by k330k at 02/03/2009 @ 2:55pm

   Good point if you were accurate. I can understand if your only exposeure to the news was from the MSM, k33ok, but the counter proposals are out there.

   google "republican stimulus proposal" for some insight.

   Posted by freiheit1 at 02/03/2009 @ 3:48pm

7. Yes they will vote against it as they were so good at running the country for the past 8 years weren't they? They all talk a good story about what should be done, why didn't they do it when they were in power...didn't hear any complaints from them then and the country was going down hill even then. Such a load of windbags the lot of them and Obama should tell them to just take a hike, they have no interest in being inclusive at all and forget who actually won the election!!!

   Posted by Caj at 02/03/2009 @ 3:49pm

8. Who is John McCain? Oh yeah..he was a candidate for "President Without a Plan"! The party that this deadbeat belongs to is responsible for agreeing with a lying administration that fooled us into a War we cannot win and a recession on the poor. That's right..the poor workers and the poor homeless and the poor military who haven't a clue what they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just keep your mouth shut John or go talk to Sarah..another head-case.

   Posted by Harry G. at 02/03/2009 @ 4:04pm

9. Posted by freiheit1 at 02/03/2009 @ 3:48pm

   Really? What new ideas (that they didn't try from 2003-2006) are they proposing?

   Posted by Mask at 02/03/2009 @ 4:39pm

10. Just keep your mouth shut John or go talk to Sarah..another head-case.

    Posted by Harry G. at 02/03/2009 @ 4:04pm

    How true, the Republican Party has totally lost its way and do not have a clue..all they can do is whine and find fault. Of course as you say Sarah is back on the scene another fountain of intelligence to add to the already sad mix. Why haven't they consulted Joe the intrepid War Correspondent on all this he must have some earth shattering ideas for them to ponder over?

    Posted by Caj at 02/03/2009 @ 6:05pm

11. This is the same guy who thought the fundamentals of the economy were strong six hours before suspending his campaign to deal with an economic disaster. This is the same guy who thinks Phil Gramm is an economic genius. This is the same guy who suggested using bank deregulation as a pattern for healthcare reform, because bank deregulation has been such a success. The repubs are done. All they have is blustering, Limbaugh-inspired obstinance. Today the fringe-types like David Duke are calling for a breakaway of dispirited repubs; tomorrow more substantial members will be doing the same. And just wait until the Palin-Joe the Plumber wing decides it's not being taken seriously.

    Posted by sdslaw at 02/03/2009 @ 6:44pm

12. Let's don't forget that Bonnie Frank and Chris Country Wide Dodd sure didn't help. It is amazing how many of the best and brightest selected for a cabinet post just happened to make tiny little mistakes on their income taxes. This bill is worthless just examine it for yourself. I am all for building America as fast as we can but that's not in the bill.

    Posted by Yourabunchofidiots at 02/03/2009 @ 7:40pm

13. They should let Daschle stay.

    Just give the rest of us a $100,000.00 tax credit!

    What a slimey motherfucker.

    Avoid the slime Barack.

    Posted by bleedingheart at 02/03/2009 @ 8:47pm

14. Joe is back, he has been drafted by the GOP to boost their imagine...now there is some comforting news for the them!!! How sad are they to think that this intrepid War Correspondent is now going to revive the party....its just gets better and better!!! I'm really suprised that Sarah hasn't snapped him up for her PA, this man is so intelligent and together they could learn how to talk properly and at least learn how to string a sentence together. Well, there we have it the GOP is now saved thanks to this master of all sorts Joe...now why didn't they think of putting him up for President!!!

    Posted by Caj at 02/03/2009 @ 8:50pm

15. Frei or anyone:

    Can someone please point me to a source that highlights the different stimulus proposals and can show the major areas of disagreement? I can pick out a few here and there from various articles, but am hoping to look at something more comprehensive.

    Thanks.

    My guess is that there are probably items in the Democratic proposal that are likely not crucial for economic recovery and some items that Republicans seek to cut that are.

    Posted by Hman23 at 02/04/2009 @ 10:42am

16. The Republicans economic policies proved to be a disaster. It is the policies that got us where we are today. They are saying that the don't like the plan but yet, are not offering much to differ. The main thing they want is more tax cuts. During the Reagan era we tried it and it was a disaster, then came GW Bush and the same. Yes, the current plan has some flaws that needs to be removed, but for McCain to come up as the champion of the economy is really a joke. Why these Republicans did NOT say anything during the 8 years of GW crap. They stud in silence, because to the Republicans, it is party first, not country like McCain love to have people believe.

    Posted by Gusto at 02/04/2009 @ 11:38am

17. Posted by k330k at 02/03/2009 @ 2:55pm

    The only Republican proposal I've seen has been Jim DeMint's "Tax Cuts for the Rich" Stimulus Plan. I'm pretty sure that economic philosophy has been tried already, and I'm pretty sure it failed horribly. Trust the Republicans to keep doing what doesn't work. :/

    Posted by soperja at 02/04/2009 @ 4:55pm

18. I'm fed up with the most of the Republicans, and their obstructionism, lack of foresight, and the usual non-productive games they play. For four years they did not care what we thought at all, and ran roughshod over us, the rule of law, democracy, and wrecked the country. We elected Obama to represent us, the American people, and with all due respect I would prefer if he would remember who his friends are. Graciousness is a virtue, but capitulation to back-stabbing Republican wolves in sheeps clothing like McCain will get us no where.

    Posted by RitainWasilla at 02/05/2009 @ 10:39am

19. Republican wolves in sheeps clothing like McCain will get us no where.

    Posted by RitainWasilla at 02/05/2009 @ 10:39am

    You are right, Obama has tried his best to reach across the isle but they are just being their obstructionist selves as usual. As for McCain well, he thought the fundamentals of the economy were strong so we can eliminate him as having any sense. I say Obama needs to tell them to get lost and move on with his own agenda, let them get on with and when things start to turn around let them weep, seeing as they would have no hand in it!!

    Posted by Caj at 02/05/2009 @ 3:58pm