We often think about the steps our elected women take to protect our rights and fight for progressive change. But often their jobs also include challenging -- and inspiring -- work of a whole different nature.
EMILY's List candidate Cong. Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) met with survivors of the Haitian earthquake disaster after they landed in central Florida recently. She thanked Red Cross staff and volunteers during her visit and spoke about the encouraging outpouring of support she has seen from Americans in the face of such tragedy.
Since joining Congress earlier this year, Cong. Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) hasn't had a minute of down time. And while she's been hard at work for her Florida constituents -- helping to pass responsible student loan legislation and promoting local small businesses -- the GOP has been busy recruiting challengers to take her on in 2010. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be lacking in reserves.
Anti-choice opponents like state Representatives Dorothy Hukill and Sandy Adams have thrown their hats in the ring. And, although former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz decided against running, he's already helping another GOPer, Winter Park commissioner Karen Diebel, raise funds for her campaign to unseat Kosmas.
No doubt, the GOP is determined to take back this seat, but Kosmas is no stranger to a challenge. After soundly defeating entrenched Rep. Tom Feeney in 2008, Kosmas went right to work, promoting energy independence and green jobs, meeting with constituents, and making veterans' concerns a top priority. But as a freshman representative being targeted by national Republicans, Kosmas is going to need our continued support for her re-election -- and we'll be right there standing with her.
A lot of media attention has been given to the outrageous — and dangerous — run-ins with protestors at health care town halls. I can’t think of one of our incumbent women considered vulnerable by the GOP who has escaped their summer antics.
But despite the outbursts and disruptions, our women are still going out and talking to their constituents (see our post about Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards's recent town hall). They want to hear their district’s concerns, but the GOP has so politicized the climate it’s become very challenging. Some members had to hold town halls in federal buildings for security reasons; others had to ask attendees to RSVP prior to their meetings. I’ve been hearing from many of our women incumbents who are most concerned that protestors from outside their districts may have prevented their constituents from having a chance to speak.
Here’s a sampling of what our women in Congress did over summer recess:
In CO-04, Rep. Betsy Markey held firm despite being questioned about whether she had actually read the health care bill (she had) and a number of attendees insisting that the bill contained provisions that it does not, in fact, contain. Markey has managed to hold such productive meetings she even received a standing ovation from constituents.
In AZ-08, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’s town hall meeting last weekend drew 1,300 attendees — many of whom were following the RNC talking points. Giffords did an impressive job handling the crowd, and constituents got a chance to be heard.
In FL-24, Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, who intended to talk with constituents about health care reform, was questioned by an attendee about the president’s birth certificate instead. She deftly got the meeting back on track nonetheless.
In NH-01, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter’s Republican opponent decided to host a town hall of his own, claiming that Shea-Porter was not holding any, which, in fact, she was. Her opponent used his town halls as a forum to attack Shea-Porter, while, at hers, she talked with constituents about the importance of enacting health care reform.
And while a lot of attention has been given to the tea party and town hall protests, the RNC is also hitting the airwaves, running radio and TV ads in many of our incumbent women’s districts.
After recess, returning to the health care debate in Washington might feel like a vacation for some of our incumbents. And for us here at EMILY’s List, these attacks and obstructive strategies all mean one thing: we can’t waste any time gearing up for essential 2010 battles.
Usually, it's a good thing when I say someone is "on the List." But there's always an exception.
A number of EMILY's List elected women are being targeted by the Susan B. Anthony List, a PAC dedicated to electing anti-choice women candidates. The so-called "Votes Have Consequences" campaign is an organized attack on 12 members of Congress, including three EMILY's List women. Freshman Congresswomen Suzanne Kosmas and Debbie Halvorson, along with two-term Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, are among those on the group's targeted list.
Already, they're up with ads in Nevada against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and there's more to come. According to POLITICO, there will be more attack ads, along with likely robocalls and online campaigns against the targeted members.
Unsurprisingly, there's a familiar face behind the group's political actions, former GOP Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who was defeated by EMILY's List candidate Rep. Betsy Markey last year. Seems like Musgrave has a bit of a bone to pick with progressives in Congress -- and with a $2 million budget for this current campaign, these candidates will need our continued support to hold their seats.
Only days ago we told you that the NRCC was picking their top races for 2010, and yesterday's POLITICO report sheds more light on exactly whom Republicans will target.
Nine of the seats in Republicans' sights are currently held by EMILY's List incumbents, including six freshman members we helped elect last year: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Betsy Markey (CO-04), Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Dina Titus (NV-03), and Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15). Three longer serving EMILY's List candidates, Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (SD-AL), and Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), are also being targeted.
According to an NRCC release, GOPers are hoping to pick up a total of 70 districts across the country, ranging from vulnerable new members who were elected in the 2006 or 2008 cycles to more experienced representatives who haven't had competitive races in recent years.
And there's no doubt Republicans are putting politics before progress when it comes to making a name for themselves in 2010:
House Republicans also appear confident that difficult votes on health care and energy legislation will put battle-tested members from conservative districts in trouble.
For EMILY's List candidates, Republican attacks are going to make voter outreach and supporter efforts more crucial than ever.
The GOP isn't wasting any time plotting for 2010 -- and top on their list of priorities is taking down freshman members of Congress in moderate or conservative-leaning districts, including women we've helped elect.
Six of the women EMILY's List helped elect last year are being targeted in RNC ads that call White House health care reform plans a "dangerous experiment" -- Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), Betsy Markey (CO-04), and Dina Titus (NV-03). Also under attack are more senior EMILY's List members of Congress, Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL).
The so-called "ad blitz" will be aired in 33 states nationwide.
Well it looks like yet another Republican is lining up to challenge one of our Democratic women in 2010. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that another GOP candidate has thrown her hat into the ring to challenge Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), state Rep. Dorothy Hukill. Ever since Kosmas won in 2008, Republicans have been eyeing her seat.
From the Sentinel:
"The field of Republicans vying to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach has grown to four.
State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, said Monday she's filing paperwork to make a run for Kosmas's seat in 2010. She's joining fellow state Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, who has said she is virtually certain to run, Winter Park Commissioner Karen Diebel and Kenneth John Miller, both of whom have already filed paperwork to run."
Kosmas sailed to victory over entrenched incumbent former Rep. Tom Feeney in 2008, but there's no doubt Republicans are gearing up for a tough fight next year.
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