Sam Stein reports that Dems are directly taking on the Chamber in increasing numbers this election.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's $75 million campaign effort for the 2010 elections is being threatened by allegations that the business lobby receives funds from foreign entities to use on electioneering....
As questions of legality surfaced, a far more compelling political narrative was taking place. Democrats, whose opponents are being aided by the Chamber, have begun the process of turning that support (often perceived in positive terms by local voters) into something potentially more toxic. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn., for one, demanded that the FEC investigate the sources of the Chamber's cash. Rep. Tom Perriello -- in a tight re-election battle in Virginia's fifth district -- advanced the ball by charging the Chamber with using foreign government donations to, essentially, buy his seat. And Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) embroiled in his own tight re-election contest, called on his opponent Ken Buck to reject the Chamber's support, both political and financial....
A more comprehensive effort, meanwhile, is being orchestrated behind the scenes with Democratic operatives quickly resurrecting old statements from the Chamber expressing support for outsourcing. The effort is part of a broader attempt to make the loss of jobs overseas a potent political issue as the election closes. And to the extent that Republican candidates have received the Chamber's financial support, the argument will be made that those candidates may be influenced by the very same international entities benefiting from outsourcing and donating to the Chamber.
The Chamber fought tooth and nail against legislation this session that would have ended tax breaks for U.S. multinational corporations that ship job overseas, and has a long history of supporting the process. Stein writes about a 2004 report in which Chamber CEO Tom Donohue wrote "The bottom line, outsourcing has made the manufacturing process more efficient and productive, which has helped consumers and our overall economy. Outsourcing allows manufacturers to buy components from a vast array of suppliers, lowering costs for the manufacturer who is able to pass on the savings to consumers."
Hurray for outsourcing, huh? It's an effective theme to campaign against. You need look no further than Barbara Boxer, who is rising steadily in the poll and has been focused like a laser on the tens of thousands of jobs Fiorina shipped overseas when she was at the helm of HP.
It's also smart because it's a message that cuts across party lines. That was demonstrated in the NBC/WSJ poll conducted last week.
A whopping 68% say they strongly agree with the statement that the U.S. economy is struggling because companies are outsourcing their work and manufacturing to other countries. That's a higher percentage than those strongly agreeing that corporations are too focused on profits and not on hiring (53%), that health-care costs are too high (46%), that the country's education system is producing fewer skilled and educated workers (40%), and that the nation has lost its technological edge in manufacturing (36%).
Shining a bright light on the long-standing support of the Chamber for American jobs going overseas and add on top of that those foreign interests who are helping to pay for attack ads against Dems, and you've got a very effective message.