McConnell: RNC Fundraising Presentation ‘Not Helpful’
EmailSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the recently exposed Republican National Committee presentation that discussed cynical fundraising strategies based on fear was “not helpful”. The presentation, first reported by Politico, included images depicting President Obama as the Joker, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as Cruella DeVille and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as Scooby Doo.
In a “This Week” exclusive interview, McConnell told guest anchor Matthew Dowd that he “can’t imagine why anybody would have thought that was helpful.” McConnell wouldn’t say if someone at the RNC should be held accountable for the presentation. “I don't run the RNC. That's up to them. But I don't like it, and I don't know anybody who does,” the Minority Leader said.
Watch Video HERE:
DOWD: I'd like to turn to one final thing that's been in the news recently, which is this PowerPoint presentation that the RNC had put together about raising money.
It's very controversial. I'd like to show it to you, if you could take a look at this. They basically, as you can see — it's how they're going to — they're going to appeal to fear, extreme negative feelings, "reactionary," and, basically, in a very cynical way, most of the public would think, and in a very crass way, how they're going to appeal to them.
Is that something — the kind of messaging that you think is going to be helpful in the course of this next year?
MCCONNELL: Well, it’s — that sort of thing is certainly not
helpful. I can't imagine why anybody would have thought that was helpful. I mean, typically, the way parties raise money is because people believe in the causes that they advocate. I think the way we raise money from donors across America is to stand for things that are important for the country.
DOWD: You think somebody should be held accountable for that?
MCCONNELL: Well, look, I don't run the RNC. That's up to them. But I don't like it, and I don't know anybody who does.
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Why did you not ask him (McConnell) if the fear mentioned in the RNC PowerPoint show is not the same fear that McConnell is spouting about the health insurance bill? You let him not answer your questions except with his sound bites. this is a good reason for me to watch the CBS news show, not yours.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy Kaufman | March 7, 2010, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Kathy Kaufman, what about the fear tactics of the Democrats and the President himself?
How do you feel about those?
Face it, all politicians use ‘fear’ to campaign and to influence the voters all the time.
As for this trashy thing the RNC came up with…it’s so over-the-top that I have already let the RNC know what I think. And they darn well better listen because I’m a Republican.
Posted by: malcat | March 7, 2010, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
The fear tactics the republicans use are “way over the top!”……… “death panels”, “we’re not safe as long as democrats are in power”, “health care reform will bankrupt us”, “socialism, “nazism”, “communism”. And then along comes the republican playbook that ties it all up in one neat fear mongering/brainwashing bow!
P.S. I’m sure glad you told them “what you think”. I’m sure that will stop them!
Posted by: Bart | March 7, 2010, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
While I’d agree both sides use fear? The right has turned it into a massive art form since the attacks on 9/11. To sit here and listen to Mitch play naive is absurd. They’re all in on this, they all agree to it, they are masters. So what a joke to see him try to pretend it’s not some agreed upon strategy here. Obama was painted as scary before he took oath. It’s easy to see it works just reading comments on ABC.
Posted by: Secondlook | March 7, 2010, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Maybe not helpful, Boss McConnell, but it sure paints an accurate picture. When you people get caught with your pants down you are always sorry, not for what you did but the fact that you got caught. Does it change your behavior? No. Does it change your policies? No. Does it effect the way the GOP does anything? Maybe. You try to be even more secretive, more devious, more destructive the the American way of life. I would love to live long enough to see GOP leaders and operatives held accountable for their criminal actions, but I don’t have another hundred years.
Posted by: Nova B | March 7, 2010, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
So McConnell thinks racism, sexism, lies, and demagoguery are “not helpful”. That’s akin to saying 9/11 was “not healthy”.
Posted by: BBear | March 7, 2010, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
McConnell ought to retire to his verandah, and sip juleps in his hoop skirt.
Posted by: totto | March 7, 2010, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
Pass universal healthcare lets get everyone healthy, let government ensure we all have houses, lets give all people a government job,let government insure universal food so no one starves lets print up tons of money to pay for it all, make everyone the same do it world wide anyone who disagrees will be shot into space
Posted by: Mark | March 7, 2010, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
How do youn mean “not helpful”, Mitch. Like in “Oh, Crap they just documented for everyone to see how our party really is”? And “malcat” there is no rational way you can compare “fear tactics” used between the two parties. NO Way. And I too am a registered Republican; although I doubt after their last 9 years of “performance” that I ever vote for one of their candidates ever again.
Posted by: CND FOX | March 7, 2010, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
And “malcat” there is no rational way you can compare “fear tactics” used between the two parties. NO Way. -posted by CND FOX
————–
I didn’t ‘compare’, I said they all did it.
Posted by: malcat | March 7, 2010, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
P.S. I’m sure glad you told them “what you think”. I’m sure that will stop them!——–posted by Bart
————–
I’m sure it won’t myself, I’m not that gullible.
But I consider it my duty as an educated voter to let politicians and my party know my views and opinions throughout the year instead of waiting for elections.
Posted by: malcat | March 7, 2010, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
pretty good commercial but, I guess, a little “low brow”. A better commercial would be to have Obama’s mentors simply read their books, speechs, and beliefs. You know Davis, Ayers, Wright, etc…or just send out Alinsky’s “rules for radicals”, Maos “little red book”, and some choice Farrakhan and Malcolm X tracts out to the voters. They’ll get the idea….
Posted by: Ed | March 7, 2010, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
Why would any minority be party of the RNC. It is white obvious they are racists. Michael Steele is a token. Everyone knows this. I would hate to be Michael Steele’s kids.
Posted by: Brandon | March 7, 2010, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
It is white obvious they are racists. Michael Steele is a token. Everyone knows this. I would hate to be Michael Steele’s kids. posted (punned?) by brandon
—————-
‘white obvious’? Did you mean to say that or did your own racism slip in there?
Posted by: malcat | March 7, 2010, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
Fear mongering,race baiting and just plain lies are todays GOP.
Posted by: JOEY FALCONE | March 7, 2010, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
Posted by: malcat | Mar 7, 2010 12:00:05 PM
You really think the republicans care about you casue your a voter?? Please dont tell me your are that gullible. Unless your a rich CEO contributer you dont matter in the eyes of the GOP. They know that all they have to do is spend a bunch of money in a fear campain and they can get you to belive anything they want. Its been there election stratagy for over 50 years and seeing this presintation it would seem that nothing has changed or will change. Fact is they want things as bad as possible for americans during the Obama admin. so they can say look things suck vote for us in 2012. thats why they have blocked everything Obama has tryed to do.
Posted by: Mike | March 7, 2010, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
Pass universal healthcare lets get everyone healthy, let government ensure we all have houses, lets give all people a government job,let government insure universal food so no one starves lets print up tons of money to pay for it all, make everyone the same do it world wide anyone who disagrees will be shot into space
Posted by: Mark | Mar 7, 2010 2:47:45 PM
Just like a republican when you get cause doing something illegal deflect and misdirect. You people make me sick
Posted by: Mike | March 7, 2010, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
malcat makes a good point both sides lie theres no doubt. However right now at this very moment more of the right are lieing than the left. I like center to be honest I like whatever makes sence and to hell with ideology but im a nut job left winger. Im military total gun nut love them and have plenty. Im for lower taxes as long as we as a country can aford them and i dont mind big goverment as long as it is doing things that make sence in other words I am getting my moneys worth. Big goverment is not the problem wasteful government is the problem. Stupid laws are a problem I dont want my tax dollars going to support abortion (unless the life of the mother is at stake and there is no other way or incest or rape) but I am not going to push my views and take away choise from wemon. Thats not my place this is a free country. I fought for most of my life to make it free.
Posted by: Mike | March 7, 2010, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
MCCONNELL: Well, it’s — that sort of thing is certainly not helpful….
Following the GOP this seems right out of their playbook they use everyday including Mitch…..
Posted by: DaveL | March 7, 2010, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
Posted by: malcat | Mar 7, 2010 3:55:44 PM
P.S. I’m sure glad you told them “what you think”. I’m sure that will stop them!——–posted by Bart
————–
I’m sure it won’t myself, I’m not that gullible.
But I consider it my duty as an educated voter to let politicians and my party know my views and opinions throughout the year instead of waiting for elections.
NEWS FLASH: NEITHER PARTY CARES WHAT INDIVIDUALS THINK – ONLY THEIR VOTE……
Posted by: DaveL | March 7, 2010, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
Perhaps not “helpful”, but oh so typical GOP.
Posted by: JaylahPriest | March 7, 2010, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
Typical liberal media. We have much to fear with this socialist in the White House. Obviously the American people aren’t scared enough or else they’d step up and fight to take their country back from these liberal fascists. The Republicans should run ads showing what American will look like if these extremists get their way: No guns, death panels, the re-distribution of wealth, abortion on demand, the normalization of homosexuality, the end of the family, massive welfare programs, bankruptcy, over run by immigrants, the end of our great military, the end of the automobile, and the end of freedom of religion. This is the true liberal agenda and real Americans need to rally now to stop it before it’s too late.
Posted by: RealAmerican | March 8, 2010, 7:16 am 7:16 am
So McConnell thinks the presentation was “not very helpful.” Well I would say those three words sum up the entire GOP. Not Very Helpful. Well, unless of course you are a corporate exec or an insurance company or one of the top 1% of the US.
Posted by: RSC | March 8, 2010, 8:41 am 8:41 am
RealAmerican… you seem to be skeert. Relax, the Dems actually love their country, and all peoples that live inside its borders.
No need for you to quiver in fear… when they balance the budget, its your budget too. When they pass health care reform, even the morons who voted against it will be covered.
As for the handgun thing… we really don’t need anymore of them. Currently we have 6 handguns for every adult American in this nation. No one is suggesting we take them away from Lawful citizens, but its a good idea to attempt to secure them against criminals, don’t you think?
Or are you secretly a criminal and that is what you fear?
Posted by: DewyB | March 8, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
RealAmerican…Based on all that programmed propaganda you just “rattled off” I take it you must have had a copy of the presentation right beside you. Am I right? I cannot believe there are actually people in the United States that think like this.
Posted by: CND FOX | March 8, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
RealAmerican…… do you live in a bunker? You are a prime example of what the right wing has done to people like you. If you really believe all their scare garbage then you are indeed to be pitied. Please start thinking for yourself!
Posted by: Bart | March 8, 2010, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
They should just stick to traditional fundraising ideas.
Posted by: Christopher | March 9, 2010, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
It appears the republinuts are still using the rnc suggestions. The republinuts have been using these tactics for years, this is nothing new. Just proof that the repubublinuts are just trying to regain power. They are STILL not over having the rug pulled out from under them, if they don’t have power they are not happy, totaliatism at its worst. Plain out unPatriotic to say the LEAST!!!
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