Open Letter to the Nevada Republican Party
Dear Nevada Republicans:
I’m sure you’re suspicious about a letter from a Democrat, but I promise you I am not here to give you bad advice. Not this time, anyway.
I’m writing because I saw your ad targeting Hapless Harry Reid, and I have to admit, I am underwhelmed.
Sure, this may appeal to base Republicans with all the stuff about redistribution of wealth, but out here in the real world where more and more people are facing foreclosure or losing their jobs or watching their 401Ks wither like Dick Cheney in sunlight, that’s really not going to pull in enough voters to get you over the top. More and more regular people are in over their heads, and could use some of that redistribution of wealth just like you wealthy Republicans got with the Bush tax cuts, so the race/class wedge probably isn’t going to work this time. With your party’s fundraising going poorly, and the fact that the majority of Americans perceive you as out-of-step with the issues facing the nation, you need to get more bang for your buck.
Here’s something you may not have considered: a lot of Democrats don’t really like Harry Reid. We see him as weak, too willing to carry water for your party, and too willing to cave in on our interests and sell out our base. Think about it, Republicans:
* On warrantless wiretapping, Harry Reid brought the GOP’s preferred bill to the floor, not the Democratic bill.
* Not only that, he refused to honor Senator Chris Dodd’s hold on that same FISA legislation: that’s right, Harry Reid refused to back a fellow Democrat!
* Harry Reid did nothing to stop Samuel Alito or John Roberts: NOTHING. How do you think that would sit with pro-choice and pro-union Democrats if it were brought to their attention?
* Harry Reid helped pass the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which essentially legalized torture: maybe that appeals to Republicans, but to Democrats? Ugh. We HATED that: someone should remind the voters exactly who helped get that bill passed.
* Harry Reid also voted for the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005, which helped crater the economy and put thousands of working class Americans in deep, inescapable debt to their credit cards. What kind of Democrat sides with Big Business?
* I’m sure you know how much we Democrats despise Senator Joe Liberman. Guess who thinks Joe “is one of the most progressive people ever to come from the state of Connecticut”? That’s right: your foe, Harry Reid. Are you getting my drift yet? There’s a lot more where that came from.
Frankly, Harry Reid is probably your best friend in the Senate: like you he’s anti-gay marriage and pro-life. He sides with big business over individuals. He’s even said he doesn’t work for the new Democratic President!
But he sure isn’t a friend to his own party. And since we both don’t like him, I propose that your next ad target the Nevada Democratic Party’s base. Don’t go for the trite, cliched race/class wedge: point out all of these facts about Harry (you can start here) and drive the wedge between Harry Reid and the working class democrats and progressives he has consistently screwed over the past 6 years. Here’s how it’s done:
Harry Reid is a BAD DEMOCRAT. The sooner you and the people of Nevada, regardless of party affiliation, realize that, the sooner we can all be rid of this troll who harms both your party and mine.
Think about it, get back to me.
Brendan Skwire
