Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

When asked what evidence President Trump had that “unknown Middle Easterners” were in the migrant caravan, he told reporters to “search” with their cameras. Credit: The Washington Post

President Trump has settled on a strategy of fear — laced with falsehoods and racially tinged rhetoric — to help lift his party to victory in the coming midterms, part of a broader effort to energize Republican voters with two weeks left until the Nov. 6 elections.

Trump’s messaging — on display in his regular campaign rallies, tweets and press statements — largely avoids much talk of his achievements and instead offers an apocalyptic vision of the country, which he warns will only get worse if Democrats retake control of Congress.

The president has been especially focused in recent days on a caravan of about 5,000 migrants traveling north to cross the U.S. border, a group he has darkly characterized as gang members, violent criminals and “unknown Middle Easterners” — a claim for which his administration has so far provided no concrete evidence.

View the complete October 22 article by Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Josh Dawsey on the Washington Post website here.

Trump & Ryan Reward Paulsen for His Unflinching Loyalty

Trump & Ryan Reward Paulsen for His Unflinching Loyalty

Erik Paulsen’s payoff for his unflinching loyalty to Washington Republicans & voting with President Trump nearly 98 percent of the time keeps on coming.

Late last night, Paulsen received the seal of approval from tweeter-in-Chief, President Trump:

“Congressman Erik Paulsen of the Great State of Minnesota has done a fantastic job in cutting Taxes and Job Killing Regulations,”  tweeted President Trump. “Hard working and very smart. Keep Erik in Congress. He has my Strong Endorsement!” Continue reading “Trump & Ryan Reward Paulsen for His Unflinching Loyalty”

Truth is Truth: New Phillips Ad Fact Checks Paulsen’s Lies

New Phillips for Congress TV ad amplifies growing backlash against Erik Paulsen’s unprecedented negative campaign

Excelsior, MN — Today, Dean Phillips’s campaign for Congress released a new ad – entitled “False” – which showcases the multitude of independent fact checks calling Congressman Erik Paulsen out for repeatedly lying in his campaign. The ad comes the same day that President Donald Trump, who is also notorious for lying to voters, issued a “strong endorsement” of Congressman Paulsen via Twitter.

“Erik Paulsen is running one of the most negative campaigns – filled with objectively false claims – that Minnesota has ever seen from a sitting incumbent,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Philips for Congress. “Congressman Paulsen’s record of voting with President Trump 98% of the time earned him the President’s ‘strong endorsement’, and now Paulsen has adopted President Trump’s complete disregard for truth on the campaign trail, too. Voters are finally getting to know the real Erik Paulsen, and they don’t like what they see.”

Congressman Paulsen’s unprecedented negative campaign has been called inappropriate, reckless, false, distorted, not even in the same time zone as truth, extremely misleading, just plain false, and wildly out of context by independent journalists, community leaders, sexual harassment survivors and their attorney, and Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike. Continue reading “Truth is Truth: New Phillips Ad Fact Checks Paulsen’s Lies”

Fight for control of Congress may be decided in Minnesota

Minnesota is a key battleground this election day. With more than half of the state’s Congressional districts up for grabs, Minnesota could decide which party controls Congress. NBC’s Kasie Hunt joins Craig Melvin with details on why this could be the true bellwether come November 6th.

View the original post here.

Republicans Run On Fear, Democrats Run On Protecting Health Care, Medicare & Social Security

Democrats have a clear message for Election Day: they are running to protect health care, Social Security and Medicare from Republican attempts to gut these vital programs. Republicans, on the other hand, have turned to a campaign strategy of fear and outright lies in order to get votes. The contrast couldn’t be clearer.

Democrats are running on protecting health care, Medicare, and Social Security from Republican attacks.

Yahoo News: “Democrats 2018: It’s the health care, stupid”

NBC News: “Democrats find new ways to talk about entitlement cuts in campaign’s closing days”

Washington Post: “As midterms near, Democrats accuse GOP of plotting to cut Medicare, Social Security”

Washington Examiner: “Democrats warn voters: The GOP is coming for your Social Security, healthcare”

Vox: “Half of 2018’s Democratic campaign ads are about health care”

Trump and Republicans are using fearmongering and lies to get votes.

CNN: “Trump’s midterm campaign of fear”

Washington Post: “Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy”

New York Times: “Trump and G.O.P. Candidates Escalate Race and Fear as Election Ploys”

MSNBC: “Trump, GOP look to stoke fear in base to goose election turnout”

Toronto Star: “Donald Trump’s strategy as midterms approach: lies and fear-mongering”

Watch: New DCCC Ad Warns Minnesotans About the “Paulsen Way”

Today, the DCCC launched a new ad in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, warning voters that Rep. Erik Paulsen is a bought-and-sold politician who has lost touch with Minnesotans. Paulsen, who ranks 5th in the country for the most special interest money taken, has banked more than $2 million dollars from special interests while voting their way in D.C.

Since Paulsen can’t defend his own record, he’s using that special interest cash to launch false attacks on his opponent Dean Phillips. Paulsen and his allies have come under fire for launching a series of attack ads that have been condemned by business leaders, fellow Republicans and the media: Continue reading “Watch: New DCCC Ad Warns Minnesotans About the “Paulsen Way””

Dean Phillips: In U.S. House race, Paulsen’s negative campaign puts party over voters’ interests

A return to decency is possible, but it will take a new generation of independent-minded leaders in Congress — from both parties.

When I entered the race for Congress 18 months ago, I was fulfilling a promise I made to my teenage daughters after the 2016 election to do something to help repair our politics — and our government.

I believe our Constitution anticipated a president like Donald Trump, but it surely did not anticipate a Congress filled with so many career politicians who lack courage, who place party before principle, and who favor special interests that finance their campaigns over the common interests they’re elected to serve.

Unfortunately, among the worst practitioners of such misrepresentation is Erik Paulsen, the current congressman from Minnesota’s Third District.

Despite representing a district in which only 41 percent voted for Donald Trump, Paulsen votes with the president’s agenda 98 percent of the time. Despite taking an oath to represent his constituents, he went almost seven years before holding an in-person town hall meeting. And despite once sponsoring a bill to ban special-interest PAC money from elections, he is now the fourth biggest taker of special interest money in the entire 435-member House of Representatives. Continue reading “Dean Phillips: In U.S. House race, Paulsen’s negative campaign puts party over voters’ interests”

Erik Paulsen Earns Trump’s Endorsement

President backs a loyal footsoldier in competitive race in moderate MN03

Excelsior, MN – Just before midnight last night, President Donald Trump delivered a glowing endorsement to one of his most loyal members of Congress — faux moderate Erik Paulsen.

“Congressman Erik Paulsen of the Great State of Minnesota has done a fantastic job in cutting Taxes and Job Killing Regulations,” President Trump tweeted. “Hard working and very smart. Keep Erik in Congress. He has my Strong Endorsement!”

This endorsement should not come as a surprise. Despite attempting to paint himself as a moderate, Congressman Paulsen votes with Trump 98% of the time, the highest rate in the entire Minnesota delegation, despite the fact that only 40% of voters supported Donald Trump in 2016.

“Donald Trump doesn’t endorse moderates. Congressman Paulsen’s record of voting with the President 98% of the time has earned him the Trump seal of approval,” said Zach Rodvold, campaign manager for Phillips for Congress. “And Congressman Paulsen doesn’t just vote with Trump 98% of the time, he’s beginning to behave like him too, using personal insults and slander and telling lie after lie in his ads and in public appearances. Voters are finally getting to know the real Erik Paulsen — and they don’t like what they see.”

Continue reading “Erik Paulsen Earns Trump’s Endorsement”