Something I’ve just noticed today. I don’t normally watch a lot of television, but the impeachment hearings have me also checking out the local news programs. The impeachment hearings must be hitting home because I’m now seeing an ad on at least 3 local stations attacking a local Democratic Congressmen, Antonio Delgado (D NY 19). (This is over the air broadcast TV — I don’t have cable, satellite, or streaming.)
WNYT, WTEN, and WRGB ran the same ad today 11-20-19. It opens with quick shots of AOC, Nancy Pelosi, and Adam Schiff, plus a shot of the room where the impeachment hearing is currently. A ‘concerned’ voice talks about the ‘partisan’ impeachment hearings as it transitions into focusing on Delgado. The message is essentially that Delgado is breaking his promise to work on keeping our borders secure, fix healthcare, do real trade deals that create jobs, etc. etc. because he’s too busy supporting the impeachment of the president.
They end with “Call Congressman Delgado to tell him to vote NO on impeachment and get to work.” They include a phone number so that his office will be flooded with calls.
The group identified as sponsoring the ad is the American Action Network. What they say about themselves at their website is:
The American Action Network is a 501(c)(4) ‘action tank’ that will create, encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security. The American Action Network’s primary goal is to put our center-right ideas into action by engaging the hearts and minds of the American people and spurring them into active participation in our democracy.
America is a nation that has always favored individuals’ enterprises instead of government solutions. To remain a worldwide leader for ideas, investment and innovation, America must continue to offer the best combination of economic freedom and pro-growth, smart regulation. American Action Network will support policies that will make America safe and secure; where choices in education, health care and retirement abound; where taxes are fair and comprehensible; and where government is smaller and smarter with a focus on core functions.
What Wikipedia has to say is this:
The American Action Network is a nonprofit, conservative[4][5] issue advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.,[6] aligned to the Republican Party.[7][8]
It was established in 2010 by Fred Malek and Norm Coleman as a 501(c)(4) organization.
The American Action Network's sister organization, the American Action Forum, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focusing on policy research. The American Action Forum is run by former Congressional Budget Office director Doug Holtz-Eakin.[7]
American Action Network officials also run the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC (independent expenditure PAC) focused on electing a House Republican majority.
Open Secrets identifies them as a Dark Money organization; these news stories give an idea of what they are involved in doing: serving as a conduit for whatever groups need cover to shove money behind whatever message they’re pushing. They do not have to disclose their donors, but information gleaned from tax filings give some idea where the money is coming from. Here’s what they have for 2018. Here’s some of the places where the money went in 2018.
What is happening here is a deliberate attempt to get people to call Congressman Delgado’s office to generate an astro-turf swell of anti-impeachment calls. They are also lumping in Pelosi, AOC, and Adam Schiff as part of the campaign to attack impeachment and Democrats in general. It ties in with the histrionics of Devin Nunes and the other Republicans at the hearings. This is an indication the Democrats are making inroads on Trump and the Republican Party with the hearings. It’s also forcing GOP interests to spend money they wouldn’t otherwise.
So, are you seeing this where you are? What Democrats are you seeing targeted if you are? Share in comments.
According to AAN’s website, they are running ads targeting 37 districts.
On Monday, the American Action Network announced a $7 million television and digital advocacy campaign opposing the impeachment of President Trump. The campaign includes $5 million in new television advertising across 20 Congressional Districts urging Members of Congress to drop the partisan charade and vote “no” on impeachment.
If you’d like to do a little counter-calling, Congressman DelGado’s DC office number is (202) 225-5614 Monday to Friday, 9AM - 5PM. The number I saw in the ad IIRC is for his Kingston, NY office: (845) 443-2930 Monday to Friday, 9AM - 5PM Other contact info is here. Let him know if you support impeachment (You do, don’t you?) and that he should know there’s a campaign to flood his office with anti-impeachment calls. (They probably already know, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure.)
Do the same if your Congressman is being targeted of course.
Odds are this diary will get buried by debate coverage tonight. Spread the word if you can.