- Jul 25, 2002
- 10,053
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From the Washington Post - Register dammit !
<CLIP>
Republicans plan to use Congress to pull Sen. John F. Kerry and vulnerable Democrats into the cultural wars over gay rights, abortion and guns, envisioning a series of debates and votes that will highlight the candidates' positions on divisive issues, according to congressional aides and GOP officials.
The strategy will be on full display today, as Kerry (Mass.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), the leading Democratic presidential candidates, plan to interrupt their Super Tuesday campaigning to fly to Washington for half a dozen votes on gun legislation, including liability protections for gun manufacturers. Both men oppose the liability bill, placing them in their party's majority even though some prominent Democrats -- including Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) -- support the bill.
A top Edwards aide said the senator is "not thrilled" to be voting on gun control one week before southern states such as Texas hold their primaries. Kerry, who has missed every Senate vote this year -- plus several key votes last year -- canceled a Florida campaign event tonight to be on hand for the gun votes, several of which are expected to be close.
Steve Elmendorf, a senior Kerry adviser, said of the strategy by congressional Republicans and the administration, "We just have to aggressively defend our interests and make sure they do not abuse their power by coming up with phony political ideas." He said Kerry will rely on fellow Democrats to defend him in Congress most of the time.
Republicans openly welcome the discomfort that votes on issues such as gun control might cause Kerry, Edwards and other Democrats, now and later this year. "The Senate floor is full of bear traps," said Eric Ueland, deputy chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
GOP leaders are not specifically scheduling votes to influence the election, he said, but they are aware of the political calendar and the potential impact of congressional votes. "We've got a lot of things to get done," Ueland said. "If they have resonance with the campaign, that's an added benefit."
One of the most divisive issues looming is a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, which President Bush has endorsed. A Senate panel holds hearings on the topic this week, even though Senate and House leaders appear far from figuring how to build the two-thirds majority required of each chamber to send the proposal to the states for ratification.
Republicans also plan a series of votes on judicial appointments and tax cuts this year that could put Kerry in tough political spots, according to a senior GOP leadership aide. Another possible wedge issue, aides in both parties say, is a long-standing proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw burning the American flag.
Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), chairman of the Republican Conference, said the GOP is justified in pushing for votes that highlight some of its strongest issues with voters. Democrats, he said, "love to talk about education and health care," two issues that traditionally benefit their own party.
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There's more.
<CLIP>
Republicans plan to use Congress to pull Sen. John F. Kerry and vulnerable Democrats into the cultural wars over gay rights, abortion and guns, envisioning a series of debates and votes that will highlight the candidates' positions on divisive issues, according to congressional aides and GOP officials.
The strategy will be on full display today, as Kerry (Mass.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), the leading Democratic presidential candidates, plan to interrupt their Super Tuesday campaigning to fly to Washington for half a dozen votes on gun legislation, including liability protections for gun manufacturers. Both men oppose the liability bill, placing them in their party's majority even though some prominent Democrats -- including Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) -- support the bill.
A top Edwards aide said the senator is "not thrilled" to be voting on gun control one week before southern states such as Texas hold their primaries. Kerry, who has missed every Senate vote this year -- plus several key votes last year -- canceled a Florida campaign event tonight to be on hand for the gun votes, several of which are expected to be close.
Steve Elmendorf, a senior Kerry adviser, said of the strategy by congressional Republicans and the administration, "We just have to aggressively defend our interests and make sure they do not abuse their power by coming up with phony political ideas." He said Kerry will rely on fellow Democrats to defend him in Congress most of the time.
Republicans openly welcome the discomfort that votes on issues such as gun control might cause Kerry, Edwards and other Democrats, now and later this year. "The Senate floor is full of bear traps," said Eric Ueland, deputy chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
GOP leaders are not specifically scheduling votes to influence the election, he said, but they are aware of the political calendar and the potential impact of congressional votes. "We've got a lot of things to get done," Ueland said. "If they have resonance with the campaign, that's an added benefit."
One of the most divisive issues looming is a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, which President Bush has endorsed. A Senate panel holds hearings on the topic this week, even though Senate and House leaders appear far from figuring how to build the two-thirds majority required of each chamber to send the proposal to the states for ratification.
Republicans also plan a series of votes on judicial appointments and tax cuts this year that could put Kerry in tough political spots, according to a senior GOP leadership aide. Another possible wedge issue, aides in both parties say, is a long-standing proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw burning the American flag.
Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), chairman of the Republican Conference, said the GOP is justified in pushing for votes that highlight some of its strongest issues with voters. Democrats, he said, "love to talk about education and health care," two issues that traditionally benefit their own party.
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There's more.
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