Why I'd never thought I'd see the day. FiredUp Missouri, (known around these parts as the Carnahan family blog), publishes a video from VoteVets taking a slap at Claire McCaskill.
The video, which continues the disgusting insinuation that not voting for the Enron-trading-inspired Cap-and-Trade bill is killing American soldiers, is a particularly nasty attack against a fellow Democrat. Why would FiredUp post this video? And if they posted it, why didn't they mention the ad was attacking Claire McCaskill?
It's pretty simple. Claire McCaskill has been backing away from Cap-and-Trade, seeing as she comes from a coal-powered state, and with the 41st Republican vote leading to a likely filibuster, it makes no sense for Claire to go out on a limb and risk her 2012 election. She'll vote for Cap-and-Trade if she's the 60th vote and if Barack Obama asks her to, but she's going to play the moderate until she's needed. That's always been her game.
But to the Carnahans, Cap-and-Trade is their holy grail. Healthcare can go kick rocks, but cap-and-trade is how they're going to turn into green billionaires. It worked for Al Gore, and by God it's going to work for them. With the stimulus funds in place (voted for by Russ and supported by Robin), all the Carnahan family business interests need to strike it big is cap-and-trade made into law. That is their golden goose should their political fortunes go south.
But Claire is throwing a wrench into their plans. Her recent moves back to the center and away from the climate legislation aren't helpful. They give cover for Republicans and other perceived moderates to back away and focus on other issues.
Keep in mind that VoteVets is one of the groups that has been pouring attack ads into Missouri at the behest of America Votes. The Missouri state political director for America Votes is a former Carnahan staffer. So when we see a VoteVet ad aimed at Claire McCaskill, and we see that video put up on FiredUp, we know damn well that the Carnahans are sending a message to Claire McCaskill.
Heck, even the folks at ShowMeProgress understand that message. They say what FiredUp was hinting at:
They're not going after Claire like they went after Roy. The ad mainly makes their case that getting off of oil is a national security issue. Oh yeah, it makes that case vividly. Then it mildly urges McCaskill to lead on this issue. Picture the sumo wrestler straddling her torso. He isn't sitting down yet. Or bouncing. But he could.
Get that Claire? The VoteVets ad is a warning, and if you don't come around, ShowMeProgress will write a harshly worded letter to you. More important, the Carnahans and their far left progressive allies will be gunning at you. Actually, that's not that scary. Robin Carnahan can't even get Obama in town for a fundraiser in the race that was once considered the best shot at a Democratic pickup.
Still, it has to sting a little getting called out by a fellow Democrat. For McCaskill, what this really means is she'll get to say that she's attacked from both sides, which she'll claim proves she's a moderate. but now you know it means she's made the oldest mistake in American politics. Never get between a Democrat and their meal ticket.
Speaking of that - we should point out this interesting Washington Post story about four Democratic Senators trying to block stimulus funds from going to companies who outsource the jobs and money to other countries. Maybe that $90 million in stimulus funds to Tom Carnahan won't get spent after all.
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