Republicans Lost on Wiretapping in 2006

by: Matt Stoller

Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 17:22

I just watched the Hot Topics panel at YearlyKos (you have got to get a radio show, Digby), and Jonathan Singer reminded me of the wiretapping ad run against Chris Murphy in CT-05 in 2006. Widely considered the nastiest Congressional campaign in state history, Nancy Johnson spent $5 million against Murphy versus $2.5 million against her. These commercials, considered devastating at the time, backfired. Murphy crushed Johnson 56-44, the biggest margin of victory over an incumbent in 2006 (aside from Hostettler).

Anyway, something about the recent excuse from Democrats, that they were afraid of being criticized for not passing a FISA expansion, didn't make sense to me. And I think this is what it is. There is a compelling case to be made that the public is angry at Republican fear-mongering, and that Murphy's crushing defeat of Johnson is where the rubber meets the road, hard-core evidence at the ballot box. Remember, this was a specific ad targeted at wiretapping authority, and it was considered really effective at the time.

It wasn't. Democratic leaders know it, but they are choosing to pretend otherwise. There is simply no compelling public reason that Democratic elites passed the FISA expansion. It wasn't fear of the public, anyway.

UPDATE: This is stunning. Tparty points to this quote in the Washington Post at the time.

Interestingly, though this ad was cited as one of the cycle's best by numerous operatives of both partisan stripes, one GOP strategist noted that Johnson's numbers actually went down after the spot aired -- a sign that while it may have looked and sounded good it may well have not been all that effective in moving votes.

UPDATE AGAIN: Glenn Greenwald compiled much more evidence. The 'soft on terror' meme was the centerpiece of the entire 2006 strategy, and it failed entirely.

Matt Stoller :: Republicans Lost on Wiretapping in 2006

Tags: wiretapping, FISA, Nancy Johnson, Chris Murphy, national security, Iraq, (All Tags)

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Republicans Lost on Wiretapping in 2006 | 5 comments

It was just another earmark (0.00 / 0)

The NSA/NGA is the largest single employer in Maryland and simply nothing Steny HOYER is going to mess with.

The four votes for GONZALES from Texas were HOYER (DSCC/DCCC) stooges.

::JRBehrman

by: JRBehrman0 @ Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 16:30:50 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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Naah... (0.00 / 0)

...the NSA remains very much active, with or without the FISA "enhancement". (As it should -- the NSA does have a legitimate mission.) Whether this bill passed or not the NSA would have gotten the resources it needed.

Remember, the Dems had an agreement with the DNI as to a suitable bill that would NOT have handed the keys to the kingdom to Gonzales. And Bush raised an eyebrow, and the Dems folded like an old poker table.

This wasn't about earmarks. This was about craven cowardice on the part of the Democratic leadership. They couldn't even insist upon a clause in the bill proscribing the use of this intelligence for political purposes -- the REASON the FISA court came into being to begin with.

To call the capitulating Dems jellyfish would be an insult to all invertebrates.

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

by: Master Jack @ Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 17:35:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Indeed Matt.... (0.00 / 0)

....the public wants action from our Dem 'leadership' and they are not getting it. From Pollster.com my post:

Don't look now Madame Speaker, Senator Reid...A word if you please?

shows that Madame Speaker and 'Fittin' Harry Reid are hurting the Democratic brand in Congress.

The only post I've seen which makes any kind of sense of the failure to stop Bush was over at FDL where it was posited that with the Blue Dog dems on board the Republicans actually have a 'working' majority which Pelosi must work around.

Frankly, it's been very discouraging except for the fact that no Blue America candidate voted for the very bad FISA bill.

Peace, Health and Prosperity for Everyone.

by: ACitizen @ Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 16:31:09 PM CDT

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The CW at the time (0.00 / 0)

About the Nancy Johnson "24" ad, via WaPo's Chris Cillizza, who still called it one of the "Top 10" best campaign ads of 2006 on the eve of the election:

Nancy Johnson for Congress ("National Security"):
This ad, made for Johnson by Jamestown Associates, found a creative way to introduce the Bush administration's surveillance program into a campaign. It feels like an interrupted communique between intellegence agencies and features a narrator asking: "A call is placed from New York to a known terrorist in Pakistan. A terrorist plot may be unfolding. Should the government intercept that call or wait until the paperwork is filed?" Interestingly, though this ad was cited as one of the cycle's best by numerous operatives of both partisan stripes, one GOP strategist noted that Johnson's numbers actually went down after the spot aired -- a sign that while it may have looked and sounded good it may well have not been all that effective in moving votes.

by: tparty @ Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 17:23:59 PM CDT

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Wow (4.00 / 1)

"The ad moved votes in the other direction, but it was still a great and awesome ad."

Could a better example of broderist beltway thinking possibly be found? Heck, could a better one be invented?

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

by: Master Jack @ Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 17:38:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]