The Republican campaign handbook for the summer recess was recently posted by RawStory on the web as a PDF file entitled "Securing America's Future." It tells Republicans running for the house and Senate what to say and do when they campaign during the summer. They are told that there are three things they will be "securing" this season.
In August from the 6th to the 12th, for example, Republican candidates are to discuss securing "Prosperity." The document gives out talking points.
From the 13th to the 19th, Republican candidates are told to talk about securing "Values" and for the final two weeks, from August 20 to the 31st, they are to use and secure the theme "Homeland."
So much for what voters might want to talk about. Rick Santorum and Kay Bailey Hutchison of the Senate Republican Conference, the signers of the report, say that securing the Prosperity, Values, and Homeland are what will be discussed.
Looking at the specifics for this week, securing "Prosperity," candidates are encouraged to talk about their health care plans, pound Democrats on tax increases and the "death tax", talk about lowering gas prices by ending dependence on foreign oil, and speak of better education for America's workforce.
Health care, death tax, gas price cuts, improving jobs through education. Gotcha.
Let's see if our Republican candidate for Senate, Richard "Rich" Tarrant is reading this stuff.
In an e-mail sent August 7th, entitled "Greetings from the Campaign Trail," Rich tells us about his Op-ed in the Burlington Free Press about... health care. You can read it here:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060731/OPINION/60731003
Health care systems is his business, so he may have done this on his own. I call this round a draw.
Tarrant points out on in a section called "ICYMI -- In Case You Missed It" that "Congressman Sanders Voted Against Raising The Minimum Wage And Against Relief From The "Death Tax" For Vermont's Small Businesses and Farmers."
Hmmm... he gets that "Death Tax" in. It's also known as Estate tax, or Inheritance tax, and applies only to the wealthiest people - multimillionaires and billionaires - so that they give a portion of their wealth back to the country that helped them succeed, after they are dead.
The House passed along a repeal of the Estate Tax in June. Sanders voted against it, calling it a giveaway to the wealthiest Americans. But to vote against it, he had to vote against what Republicans coupled to it - minimum wage.
The same thing happened in the Senate. According to civilrights.org, "Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R. Tenn., scheduled a vote for August 4 on a "trifecta bill" the House passed last week, which combines the minimum wage increase with the estate tax repeal. Observers said Frist's decision is a political ploy that forces Democrats to pass legislation they would otherwise oppose in order to get the minimum wage increase they have tried to get through Congress for nine years. "
This allows Republicans who like cheap shots and manipulation to say "my opponent says he is for the little guy, but voted against minimum wage!" It's all part of a cynical ploy to play politics with the issue.
While we talk about wealthy people, according to Open Secrets, as of June 30, only 2% of Tarrant's contributions came from individuals - a total of $96,445. Over $4 million - 98% - came from the candidate. Sanders, by contrast, has raised 87% of his funds from individuals - over $3 million - and zero dollars have come from the candidate.
Tarrant has no mention of reducing gas prices this week, but perhaps the party was thrown off message by the skyrocketing prices.
He does give us with an ad on his homepage talking about how he wants to provide good jobs and technology so kids here (and elsewhere) can stay here (and elsewhere) when they grow up. "Serious times demand serious leadership" it says above the advertisement. A child that calls him "Grandpa" asks him the hard hitting question about why he thinks he is qualified when he has never held office before.
Watch for yourself:
http://www.tarrant06.com/media/serious.html
Is Tarrant following the GOP handbook? It's too soon to tell for certain. We'll have to look at the coming weeks to see if Values (families and children), and Homeland (border and emergency responsiveness, port security, increased funding) happen to come up.
To follow along better at home, you can get the full pdf of Republican plans here:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/GOPAugust.pdf