Communications

Memorandum

To:       Interested Parties

From:   Rick Wiley

Date:    November 1, 2011

RE:       One Year to Go

With one year to go, the headwinds President Obama faces in his fight to get re-elected are approaching gale-force.  

A Gallup study released this week shows Republican Party affiliation is on the rise.   Enthusiasm among Republicans remains high while Democrat enthusiasm remains far lower than what it was in 2008 (a CNN study showed that 79% of Democrats were “very enthusiastic” in 2008 versus only 43% today).  By most accounts Obama’s donors are much more tepid in their support than they were in 2008.  Satisfaction with his administration’s policies continues to fall across the ideological spectrum.   The country remains in a sour mood and even more pessimistic than when Obama took office (the current RealClearPolitics average shows 75% believing the country is on the wrong track, and a Time Magazine survey in September showed 81%).   And according to Gallup, Obama’s ... more

Between star-studded fundraisers this week, the President brought out the pomp and circumstance to unveil some new White House policies that he promises will help the economy.  Compared to the size of the PR blitz, though, the plans will make only a marginal difference—if any at all.  In fact, they once again illustrate how much better the president is at creating economic problems than solving them.

On Monday, he presented a plan to address the housing crisis.  There’s no doubt there’s a problem.  Since President Obama took office, there have been 7.5 million home foreclosure filings.  And 11 million more families owe more on their homes than they’re now worth. 

Under the President’s plan, homeowners who owe more than 125% of the value of their houses and whose loans were backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, would now qualify for re-financing to take advantage of lower interest rates. 

So what was the reaction to the president’s rescue plan?  Said California Congressman Dennis ... more

Looking at the latest poll in Pennsylvania showing Obama upside down 13 points, it’s no wonder Chicago is trying to “expand the map,” but does Obama really think he’s going win…Mississippi? The DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz sure seems to, but with news reports today showing the DNC spending money like they are in the heat of reelection, how much are they going to commit to winning Mississippi?  

Susquehanna Poll Suggests Obama Would Lose Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
October 21, 2011
http://goo.gl/MIyjI

“A generic or "nameless" Republican would beat President Obama in Pennsylvania, according to a statewide poll out today.The poll by Susquehanna Polling and Research shows that a Republican would defeat Obama 45 percent to 38 percent with 15 percent undecided and 3 percent saying they didn't know. The poll didn't further define "nameless Republican," nor did it match up the current GOP presidential candidates against Obama. Obama's job approval rating -- 41 percent ... more

The White House surely must have not appreciated many of the headlines coming out from the President’s second taxpayer-funded campaign bus tour of the year. Whether it was reminding taxpayers he was campaigning on their dime, lawmakers from his own party avoiding him like the plague, or getting a fact check for his spin about his Stimulus 2.0 plan, the White House must be wondering if they got any political mileage at all.

LA Times: “Obama Ends Bus Tour With Pitch To Subdued Crowd”: “Closing out his bus tour on a low-key note, President Obama made a pitch for his jobs package at a firehouse, where a subdued crowd needed a bit of prompting to applaud his proposal to boost the economy.” (Peter Nicholas, “Obama Ends Bus Tour With Pitch To Subdued Crowd,” Los Angeles Times, 10/19/2011)

President Obama Gets Fact Checked For His Spin On The Job Creating Potential Of His Stimulus 2.0 Plan: “President Obama exaggerates when he claims “independent economists” say his jobs bill “would ... more

Memorandum

To:           Interested Parties
From:      Sean Spicer, @seanspicer
Re:          OWS Anti-Semitism: Where's the Outrage?
Date:       October 18, 2011

Democratic leaders have spent the last week championing the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, yet in the midst of protestors’ extreme anti-Semitic, anti-Israel comments, they’ve been silent.

Where’s the outrage?  While protestors are seen spewing hate against Jewish Americans, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman  Schultz have declared their support for the demonstrations.  Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Steve Israel even circulated a petition saying he’s “standing with” Occupy Wall Street.

Is Steve Israel standing with those calling for the killing of Jews?  Does Debbie Wasserman Schultz agree with the various calls for Jews to be “run out of this country” and to oppose and "destroy" the state of Israel? 

Democrats were quick to single out any instances of perceived extremism ... more

As President Obama brings his road show to Virginia later today, I wanted to draw your attention to a few headlines from across Virginia.  With his polling in the dumps not only in Virginia, but also across our nation, it is no surprise that Democrats are running scared when Barack Obama comes to town. 

Some Dems Won't Join Obama In Swing Through VA

Don't look for Democrats in fiercely contested Virginia legislative elections to join President Barack Obama as he brings his campaign-style American Jobs Act bus tour to three cities there.  For that matter, don't expect Tim Kaine, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and Virginia's governor two years ago, to join his old ally either. (Bob Lews, “Some Dems won't join Obama in swing through Va.,” Associated Press, 10/18/11)

Virginia Reveals Challenges Ahead For Obama

Ward Armstrong, the top Democrat in the House of Delegates, is one of several incumbents up for re-election in the state’s off-year elections three weeks ... more

SHOT:  Obama Approval Rating In Blue New Jersey At Record Low

A new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday shows that President Obama's approval rating in the reliably-blue state of New Jersey is at a record-low, and voters are split on reelecting Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., complicating Democrats' efforts to retain control of the chamber. (Steven Shepard, “Obama, Menendez Remain Vulnerable in N.J.,” National Journal, 10/13/11)

CHASER:  Hey, At Least You Aren’t Snooki, The Situation, And The Rest Of The Jersey Shore Crew

“Garden State voters agree overwhelmingly with Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to slam the door on ‘Snooki,' ‘The Situation’ and the rest of the ‘Jersey Shore’ crew,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.  Nearly 70 percent of voters think the show is bad for the state, while 71 percent agree with Christie’s decision to block the tax credit, the poll shows. (Jarrett Renshaw, “N.J. voters back veto of 'Jersey ... more

From Obama campaigning around his Jobs Bill to donors sitting on his Jobs Council, President Obama would like Americans to think they are about creating jobs for them but in reality it seems it’s all about saving his own. Even Gene Sperling is a little defensive when asked about the Campaigner-In-Chief using jobs as a political stunt.

Campaigning On The Jobs Bill…

Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “In a major rhetorical escalation, President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign manager is accusing Senate Republicans of trying to keep unemployment high to benefit the GOP’s political fortunes. Jim Messina, in an email blast to Obama supporters, urged Democrats to flood Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s phone line ahead of tonight’s procedural vote on the president’s $447 billion jobs bill. …Asked for comment, McConnell spokesman Don Stewart retorted: ‘Wait, I thought this wasn’t about politics. The White House even said so. And I believed them. I’m so naïve; I feel so used.’”

Campaigning By ... more

Memorandum

To:              Interested Parties
From:         Sean Spicer, RNC Communications Director
Date:          October 11, 2011
RE:             It’s the Democrats Who Stand in the Way of Stimulus 2.0

Friday’s jobs report is yet another reminder of how badly the President has failed to lead on the economy.  But instead of taking the chance to get serious about pro-growth policies, the President will travel to the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Florida this week to campaign for his re-election.

The President knows he can’t run on his own record—his record of high unemployment, record deficits, and unaccountability.   So instead he wants to blame someone else. 

He’s pointing fingers at Congressional Republicans, saying they are blocking his Stimulus 2.0.  But he’s ignoring the truth: Congressional Democrats are not on board with his “American Jobs Act.”  If he wants to blame Congress, he should blame his own party.

So, for the President’s benefit, here are a few facts ... more

In your standard Friday afternoon news dump, new revelations indicate that the Obama Administration, in particular former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, haven’t been entirely candid regarding their involvement with Solyndra.  The following should make for interesting conversation during Emanuel’s appearance on Meet The Press this Sunday.

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel Said He Knew Nothing Of Solyndra

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff, told WLS earlier this month he also knew nothing about the loan to Solyndra”. (David Jackson, “Top Obama Aides Say They Knew Nothing Of Solyndra,” USA Today, 9/23/11)

Obama And Rahm Emanuel Pushed To Spotlight Energy Company

“White House staff discussed in emails that either President Obama or his former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel were eager to help spotlight a solar company in early 2009, despite numerous internal warnings that the company could be financially unstable, according to new ... more