Cheat Sheet: Talking Points for Lawmakers on the Way Home

Monday, August 6, 2007

Congress is on break until Sept. 4. As lawmakers head home, they will be listening to their constituents for clues as to why congressional approval levels declined so steeply over the first seven months of the 110th Congress. But they will be ready to respond with a set of talking points.

Excerpts, from the caucuses:

Senate Democrats

· "After nearly five years of a failed Iraq strategy that has stretched our military thin, distracted us from fighting al-Qaeda and made America less secure, Democrats passed legislation that would have truly changed course in Iraq by responsibly redeploying our troops. . . . [T]he President vetoed that bill. . . . Democrats will continue to fight for the change of course in Iraq the vast majority of the American people know we need."

· "Democrats passed the most sweeping ethics and lobbying reforms in generations."

Senate Republicans

· "Democrats' lack of productivity has created a 'Post Office Congress,' where the real challenges of our nation are ignored while Democrats rename post offices, federal buildings, and parks."

· "Democrats have concluded that America has lost and refuse to listen to the judgment of our military leaders."

· "Republicans support success, not defeat, and will carefully consider the September progress report from General [David H.] Petraeus."

House Democrats

· "The 110th Congress is making progress for the American people on the toughest challenges we face. . . . Since January, more than 68 key measures have passed the House, with 49, or more than 70 percent, receiving significant bipartisan support. In critical instances, the President and his Republican allies in Congress have stubbornly stood in the way of progress, with more than 20 vetoes threatened."

· "Congress is working to change course in Iraq. . . . This Congress continues to demand that President Bush and the administration be held accountable, that the Iraqi government take responsibility for its own country, and that we responsibly bring this war to an end."

House Republicans

· "Democrats will undoubtedly spend the weeks ahead flailing about for a scapegoat on which to pin their lack of accomplishments."

· "Republicans ensured our troops in harm's way received the funding they needed, overcoming Democrats' determined efforts to slow-bleed our fighting men and women."

· "Republicans pulled back the curtains on secret earmarks and forced Democrats to bring accountability and transparency back to Congress. Democrats tried to sneak billions in secret earmarks into our annual spending bills."