MS-01: Y'all Politics spread GOP lies... again, shocker

Y'all Politics has an article up about how the Health Care Reform bill will have the IRS enforcing the Health Care Reform insurance mandates, all the while blaming Travis Childers for a bill he did not vote for, although I wish he would have. Hey Travis, you know you are in Washington when you get blamed for the passage did not vote for.

Why, Travis, why?


In light of Rep. Childers' strong opposition to repealing the president's healthcare takeover, the Nunnelee campaign will today begin highlighting various provisions of the bill and asking why the congressman wants them to remain law.

Obamacare will establish an un-American "individual mandate," forcing North Mississippians to buy health insurance or face a huge fine enforced by the IRS:

Y'all Politics

While this all sounds scary, it just so happens to not be true. This type if dishonesty has been standard operating procedure for the GOP lately. Repeat a lie until your face turns blue, and hopefully enough fools will think it is true. Death panels, socialism, blah, blah, blah...

Fortunately there are independent non-partisan groups that do fact checking, such as FactCheck.org. Let us see what they have to say about the IRS agents, and for that fact the integrity of Y'all Politics.

Q: Will the IRS hire 16,500 new agents to enforce the health care law?

A: No. The law requires the IRS mostly to hand out tax credits, not collect penalties. The claim of 16,500 new agents stems from a partisan analysis based on guesswork and false assumptions, and compounded by outright misrepresentation.

That pretty much sums it up, but if you still have doubts watch this video.

Hey Y'all Politics and Alan Nunnelee; newsflash, you cannot debate a lie.

MS-01 - Nunnelee's primary opponents push Social Security privatization

Will Alan Nunnelee follow the lead of his primary opponents, Henry Ross and Angela McGlowan, and support privatization of Social Security? He is being pressured by the far-right teabagger element of his party, who have some really bat-crap crazy ideas about government, like for instance the privatization of Social Security. George W. Bush tried pushing Social Security privatization through Congress only to see the bill thoroughly rejected by the American people and our Legislative branch. After our recent financial crisis and current recession, one has to wonder how many Americans would have seen their Social Security go up in flames due to the recklessness and lack of regulation of Wall Street? Is that what we want, a crap-shoot with our Social Security?

Supporting this measure might be a winner in the GOP primary for MS-01. The issue is a loser on the federal stage, but hey the teabaggers hate the federal government. This will be interesting to say the least. Our friends at Majority in Mississippi delve in to other positive aspects of the GOP primary developments. As they noted this is a winning issue for the Democrats and distracts from the more toxic issues like the stimulus packages or health care reform.

Majority In Mississippi

Cotton Mouth for Childers

This race in north Mississippi is going to be a wang dang doodle. We as Mississippians really need Travis Childers in this seat. While I wish Travis had voted for the passage of Health Care Reform, I am in agreement with a large chunk of his votes. Alan Nunneleee would likely never make a vote I would agree with. A vote for Nunnelee is a vote to go backwards. Please join Cotton Mouth is supporting Travis.

Will the MS-01 GOP Primary get bloody?

It is no secret in Mississippi that the NRCC cleared the way for State Senator Alan Nunnelee to run against Travis Childers in Travis's reelection bid for the MS-01 Congressional district. Although Nunnelee is a weak candidate, who comically touts his work on getting "In God We Trust" on a plaque in every classroom as a top legislative accomplishment on the Nunnalee website, Nunnalee has a geographic political advantage of being from Tupelo.

Tupelo is the base area for Childers. If Travis loses badly in the Tupelo area his chances diminish rapidly. Anyone who followed the 2008 race knows how big this dynamic is. The Republicans are willing to run an inadequate candidate for Congress in the race just to possibly win a seat back. Let there be no doubt Nunnalee will be a puppet on a string for the Republican leadership. (it looks they are all are based on the Frum article)

What is interesting is the upstart primary challenge from Fox Newsie Angela McGlowan. McGlowan is a proud teabagger, challenging Nunnelee on his conservative credentials. She has gone as far as suggesting to privatize Social Security, a wingnut's nirvana. This could get interesting in North Mississippi, much to the chagrin of the national GOP leadership.

DCCC Release on McGlowan and Nunnelee for March 3

Travis Childers rolls

The voters of north Mississippi had no problems reelecting Travis Childers to stay in Washington to continue his hard work. There was whispers this past month that Greg Davis had been able to close the gap. Certainly many Childers backers were concerned about the report of over 10,000 new voters registered in Desoto county. No worries, Travis coasted to a resounding 54-44 win over the Republican challenger.

Childers understands Mississippi politics better than any Democrat to run for state office in a long time. He might be conservative on some social issues but he is a Democrat to the bone on the issues Democrats won on for years in the South like economic fairness. Other aspiring Mississippi Dems should look hard at the success Travis had running on meat and potato economic populism. Leave the gay bashing and GOP lite stuff alone and run as a Democrat. State your socially conservative positions if need be, but don't jump and down about them.

Travis Childers goes to work for Mississippi

Travis Childers is a Mississippi Democrat who gets it. The road to victory for a Democrat in Mississippi lies in economic populism, not trying to sound like Republican Lite. While Childers holds certain socially conservative views, he has centered his campaign around the winning strategy of economic fairness and fighting for the working man. For too long the Republicans have hid behind social conservatism on one hand while pushing the most damaging policies to the working man in the other hand. Travis offers a clear alternative to his opponent.

This week Travis is in Mississippi. From a campaign email...


Congressman Travis Childers continued his district-wide “work week” today at Usry Grocery in Nesbit. He bagged groceries, ran the cash register, and spoke with voters about his record of helping to create jobs and provide relief for North Mississippi’s working families during difficult economic times.

Later this week, the Congressman will also spend time as an employee at small businesses in Lee and Grenada Counties. To join Congressman Childers and see him “at work” for North Mississippi, RSVP for one or more of the following events at http://childersforcongress.com/tc_events.html#rsvp.



Congressman Childers Takes Orders at Johnnie’s Drive In
Thursday, October 30, 2008
11:30 p.m.
908 E Main St
Tupelo, MS 38804

Congressman Childers “Goes to Work” in Grenada County
Friday, October 31, 2008
DETAILS TBA

MS-01: Greg Davis speaks

In an interview in the Daily Journal Greg Davis attempts to draw some contrasts between himself and the incumbent Travis Childers. Greg Davis is counting on the fact that the GOP brand is still strong in north Mississippi. Greg Davis is also trying to tie himself to the McCain campaign, hoping to ride their coattails to victory.

From the Daily Journal:

- Wants military leaders to set the pace in Iraq instead of leaving those decisions “to a bunch of politicians sitting around a table.”

Davis is taking the McCain campaign position on Iraq. John McCain and Greg Davis may be the last two people left who don't want to set some sort of a timeline to get our troops home from Iraq. Let us not forget the $10 billion a month we are flushing down the toilet while we are in the midst of an economic crisis. Even George W. Bush is ready for a timeline.

- Generally opposes earmarks because there are already ways for the 1st District to obtain federal funding.

Here we go with another staple of the John McCain campaign. Never mind that earmarks make up less than one percent of federal expenditures. Maybe he should talk to Thad and Roger about their appetite's for pork.

- Supports Sen. John McCain for president and thinks his running mate, Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin, would make a fine vice president.

Well that may be the most damning thing he said, that he thinks Palin would make a great VP. Sarah Palin is not qualified to be vice president of her local moose lodge. The thought of her one heartbeat away from the presidency sends a cold chill down my spine.

When asked if there were any Democrats currently serving in Congress whom he respects, though, Davis said he couldn’t think of any and chalked that up in part to bitter partisanship.

There are 235 Democrats in Congress and he can't name one he respects. All I can say is wow.

Watch Travis Childers and Greg Davis debate this afternoon via webcast

This afternoon , Congressman Travis Childers will debate candidate Greg Davis at the University of Mississippi 's Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics in Oxford . The debate will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Tune in via a live webcast by clicking here (http://news.olemiss.edu/congressional/)

Travis Childer, Greg Davis agree to debate

I missed this report yesterday with all the excitement surrounding the presidential debate. Democrat Travis Childers will debate Republican challenger Greg Davis October 15 in Oxford at the University of Mississippi.

From the Sun Herald:

Republican Greg Davis and Democrat Travis Childers, both vying for U.S. House in the 1st Congressional District, have agreed to a debate at the University of Mississippi on October 15.

The one-hour debate will be held at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. Oxford Eagle news editor Jonathan Scott will moderate.

The two appeared together at Ole Miss in April, when they were vying in special election in the 1st District, which was won by Childers.

Nag, nag, nag...

Cotton Mouth for Ronnie Musgrove


Cotton Mouth for Travis Childers

Travis Childers: Hard at work for Mississippians

Travis has been busy since the voters in north Mississippi elected him to office. Let's look at some of the key legislation Childers has worked on since he has been in Washington.

• …introducing a six-point energy plan to provide immediate relief from high gas prices and long-term solutions to our nation's energy crisis through increased drilling and domestic energy production and investment in alternative energy and conservation;

• … support for the bipartisan American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 in response to America's mortgage crisis, which has taken a tough toll on working families in North Mississippi;

• … cosponsoring the bipartisan Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Act to make it easier for small businesses to provide quality, affordable health care to their employees;

• … authoring the Invest in Small Business Act of 2008 , which makes it easier for small business to attract investors by cutting taxes on small business investors and increasing the number of small businesses eligible for tax cuts.

I would venture to say that Travis Childers has already done more for the regular folk in his district in 90 days than Roger Wicker did in 16 years.

Let's make sure he stays in Washington. Give a little change to Travis to help in his bid for reelection.

MS-01: Travis Childers holds solid lead for November

In a race that has all the appearances of a throw in the towel effort by the GOP, Travis Childers has a 12 point lead in poll out today. Thanks to Swing State Project for the data.

Travis Childers (D-inc): 51
Greg Davis (R): 39
Undecided: 10
(MoE: ±4.4%)

GOP attempts to hide Musgrove race at bottom of ballot

In a blatant attempt to suppress voter turnout, Secretary of State and Haley Barbour lackey Delbert Hoseman, has moved the Senate race to the BOTTOM of the ballot for November. This is a clear violation of state law, which we know means nothing to the Governor. He already bent state law into a pretzel to get this special election moved to November. History shows that the lower on a ballot a race is the less people who vote on it. Experts agree that voter turnout is key to a Musgrove victory. Now they have come up with an ingenious, although illegal, way to suppress turnout.

This move smacks of desperation. It also shows a severe lack of confidence in their candidate Roger Wicker. Apparently they don't feel too good about his chances. The Republicans are running scared after having Greg Davis blasted out of the water by Travis Childers in the MS-01 special election. With Barack Obama on the ticket, voter turnout is going to be huge. They know that in a straight election, the turnout should be enough to send Roger Wicker back to his home district and send Ronnie Musgrove to the Senate. When Wicker gets back to Tupelo maybe he can explain his free-trade votes, considering the 10% unemployment rate of Northeast Mississippi that has grown with each plant that has been shuttered and shipped to Mexico or China.

The Daily Journal had this to say last week:

If the law allows any latitude at all, the decision ought to be a no-brainer. The most important race other than the presidency to be voted on by Mississippians that day should be in the most prominent place possible on the ballot. The only plausible reason for anyone to want it near the bottom is the hope that some voters will overlook it or just not take the time to finish their ballot.

Musgrove has already made it clear that he wants it near the top. Wicker has not said to this point, but a campaign spokesman has downplayed the issue's importance and questioned why Musgrove is concerned about it. Surely the Wicker camp wants the race to be as prominently displayed as possible, given its historic nature.

Since it's a special election, neither candidate's party affiliation will be listed on the ballot, unlike the Cochran-Fleming race. The law is clear on that.

If the law is open-ended on the ballot location, any decision other than to give the special election high-on-the-ballot prominence will be hard to explain or defend.

Hat Tip to Daily Kos

Travis Childers launches new web presence

This comes from an email Travis Childers sent out to his supporters.

Dear Friends,

Recently, I launched my new Online Office. The new site is a comprehensive resource for both legislative and case work concerns. The site has new navigational tools which allow visitors to easily find the information they are looking for.

To visit Congressman Childers' Online Office click here
The new website offers information on my positions on various issues as well as tools to assist visitors in finding information regarding my voting record and legislation I have introduced and co-sponsored. In addition, the site offers important tools to assist individuals and small businesses in finding grants that are available through the federal government and information on the current foreclosure crisis.

Finally, my new site offers information and links to assist seniors in finding out about their social security and Medicare benefits, assists veterans with questions pertaining to the Veteran's Administration, and has a kids page to help Mississippi's students learn about the federal government.

I encourage you to visit my website to learn more about what I am doing in Congress, request assistance from one of my five offices or to email me with your questions or concerns. It is my honor to represent North Mississippi and I look forward to hearing from you. My new website can be found at http://www.childers.house.gov/

Cotton Mouth Offer

Starting today, anyone who contributes $25 or more to Ronnie Musgrove or Travis Childers will receive an Obama spirit pack courtesy of Cotton Mouth. The Obama spirit pack will contain 2 blue Obama '08 buttons and 2 blue Obama '08 bumper stickers. By donating I will have access to your address, so no need to post your details. By donating you will be helping Ronnie and Travis join Barack Obama in bringing change to Mississippi.

Currently we are at $2000 and $400 in our fundraising campaigns. Anything donated past that will be counted, until I run out. I have 40 buttons and 40 bumper stickers.

We are quickly approaching the July 31 reporting deadline. As of June Roger Wicker is up nearly 3-1 in fundraising over Musgrove. Travis Childers has less cash on hand than Greg Davis. Do not sit on your hands and wait on good things to happen. Make it happen.

Travis Childers update

I received this from Congressman Travis Childers this morning. He sends out these updates on a regular basis as one way to keep his constituents informed. You may sign up to receive the e-updates here. Receive Updates from Travis Childers


July 24, 2008

Dear Friends,

Small businesses make up one of the most important parts of our economy and communities in North Mississippi. Throughout the state, there are an estimated 216,700 small businesses, which employ more than half of Mississippi's non-farm workforce.

I'm a small businessman myself, as well as a member of the Financial Services Committee in the House of Representatives, and I understand the commitment it takes to build a successful business on tight budgets and limited resources. This week, I introduced the Invest in Small Business Act of 2008 to make it less difficult for small businesses to raise seed money and get off the ground. My bill will help encourage investment in small businesses by making it easier for business owners to attract investors, cutting taxes on investors, and making more small businesses eligible for tax cuts.

By encouraging individuals and corporations to invest in small businesses, we can help strengthen the economy in North Mississippi and create jobs here at home. This legislation is especially important for communities that are working to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and are counting on small businesses to create jobs and help their communities rebound.

However, small businesses are too important for us to stop there. I recently signed on as a cosponsor of the bipartisan Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Act to make it easier for small businesses to provide quality, affordable health care to their employees. By offering incentives such as tax credits to small business owners and self-employed individuals, as well as an option for small businesses to form statewide or nationwide purchasing pools, the act allows businesses to decrease costs and increase the accessibility of employee health care coverage.

Rising gas prices are also taking a toll on small businesses, and I'm committed to providing some relief. Last week, I held my very first tele-town hall to introduce my six-point energy plan and speak with the people of the First Congressional District about their energy concerns. During the call, a small trucking company owner from Marshall asked if I had any ideas to help smaller businesses afford skyrocketing diesel fuel prices, which are even higher than the price of regular gas.

To provide relief for farmers and truckers faced with the heavy burden of rising fuel costs, I proposed diesel tax credits as part of my energy plan. Offsetting these costs also means that increased diesel prices are not passed on to consumers at the grocery store.

I'll be working hard to pass the Invest in Small Business Act and other measures to promote the success of small businesses, and will continue to do everything I can to create jobs and improve job security in North Mississippi.

Sincerely,
Congressman Travis W. Childers
First District, Mississippi

MS-01: DCCC locks in a million for Travis Childers advertising

Thanks to the diligence of the fellows at Swing State Project we have this good campaign finance news to report. The DCCC has locked in 1.06M in advertising for Travis Childers in his bid to defend his seat in the first congressional district, from once beaten Southaven mayor, Greg Davis.

As James at SSP points out, this does not mean the DCCC will spend the entire 1.06M. By reserving ad time early and in bulk, they qualify for reduced rates. Either way, money will be there from the DCCC for Travis if he needs it. Let's hope he does not need any help. Last report had Davis raising less than $10,000 in June, so maybe he is folding up tent?

Travis Childers introduces Invest in Small Business Act of 2008

Remember how a lot of our Republican commenter's said that electing a Democrat like Travis Childers would be bad news for small business owners? Travis Childers introduced legislation that would cut taxes on small business investors, as well as raising the threshold for a business to be considered a small business.

Read the whole story in the Daily Journal.

Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., a member of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the Invest in Small Business Act of 2008, which would make it easier for business owners to attract investors, cut taxes on investors and increase the number of small businesses eligible for tax cuts. Taxpayers that qualify under Childers' revised statutes would pay no taxes on capital gains.

MS-01: 2Q fundraising numbers out (updated)

Thanks to the guys at Swing State Project, who do a workmanlike job of compiling campaign finance reports into neat, easy-to-read charts, we have some good data to report. Last night at midnight was the FEC deadline to report the 2Q fundraising totals by congressional candidates. Here is what we have.

Travis Childers raised $1,032,000 from April 24 to June 30. His opponent Greg Davis raised $712,000 during the same period. The special election runoff was April 23, therefore the late start for the quarter. Childers has $161,000 Cash-on-Hand compared to $54,000 for Davis.

James at Swing State Project added this juicy detail after the original post.

Greg Davis' heart just isn't in it anymore. Despite raising over $700K from April 24 through June 30th, the Nathan Lane lookalike took in under $10,000 in the month of June.

Musgrove in support of gun decision too

Yesterday we reported that newly elected Representative Travis Childers came out in support of the recent Supreme Court decision striking down the Washington, DC ban on handguns. As noted yeterday, this flies in the face of the scare tactics used by the GOP accusing the Democratic candidates of playing up false conservatism. Ronnie Musgrove also came out with a statement in support of the decision. The type of conservatism in question is social conservatism, to which both Childers and Musgrove subscribe. What we really found out in the MS-01 election was that when Democrats remove the socially conservative issues from the table, Mississippians are in fact economic populists, in other words Democrats.

From the Sun Herald:

"Today is a major victory for law abiding Mississippians and all Americans who have always believed, as I have, that the Second Amendment conveys an individual right to bear arms," Musgrove said in a statement Thursday. "I commend the Supreme Court for its decision recognizing this important constitutionally protected right."