In the Republican race to put forward the most repulsive agenda possible, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is definitely outpacing his GOP counterparts.
Sure, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sent his colleagues running when he introduced a national 15-week abortion ban and pledged that a GOP-controlled Congress would give it a vote.
But just as the dust was finally starting to settle again, Scott, the Senate GOP campaign chief, boldly stepped into the void Sunday to voice support for Graham's deeply unpopular trial balloon.
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"Look, there’s arguments to do it at the federal level," Scott said on NBC News' Meet the Press when he was asked whether abortion restrictions should be addressed on a national level. "I’m pro-life, as you know. I think we ought to have reasonable restrictions. I think a lot of people are comfortable with 15 weeks and exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother, but every candidate gets to make their choice."
Actually, nearly seven in ten registered voters oppose the idea of a national abortion ban at base, and about two-thirds of voters rejected Graham's 15-week ban without exceptions for the health of the mother.
Then there's House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who laid an egg last month with his "Commitment to America." Voters were particularly turned off by the plan's emphasis on rolling back cost-cutting measures that help reduce the price of prescription drugs and protect people with pre-existing conditions from getting gouged by insurance companies.
McCarthy clearly sought to soften the plan's language on banning abortion, saying only that Republicans would "protect the lives of unborn children and their mothers."
But Scott is really the total package, embracing a nationwide abortion ban on TV plus beating McCarthy to the punch by releasing his own heinous plan to "rescue America" back in February. It famously promises to raise taxes on 100 million working Americans and sunset Medicare and Social Security, among other things.
McCarthy didn't exactly have the guts to say Republicans want to slash Medicare, but that's clearly what the Republican Study Committee aims to do if the GOP retakes the House.
Bottom line, Rick Scott is the total package—telling voters loud and proud that Republicans stand for raising taxes on working- and middle-class Americans while simultaneously working to reduce the social safety net they will depend upon as they age.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has worked hard to keep the GOP agenda under wraps, distancing his caucus from both Graham’s ban and Scott’s plan. But McConnell no longer has any control over Senate Republicans, as evidenced by his underlings freelancing without his permission. So despite what McConnell says, he’s not running the show anymore.
And when Republicans tell us what they want to do, we should believe them.
Give $5 right now to make sure Republicans don’t get anywhere near controlling the Senate.
There is no more effective way for you to help turn out infrequent but Democratic-leaning voters in key congressional districts and Senate swing states this year than Vote Forward. Sign up to write personalized letters to targeted voters from the comfort of your home, on your own schedule, using a statistically proven method and without ever having to talk to anyone at all.
Related Articles:
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Graham's abortion ban triggered a truly masterful division of a party that has lost its way
Rick Scott made the mistake of telling voters what Republicans stand for. It's a polling disaster
So much for McConnell's tight messaging ahead of 2022
Senate Republicans' 2022 plan to raise taxes on 100 million working-class Americans bombs in polling
House Republicans try to put a ring on it with their 'Commitment to America.' Voters run
Since Dobbs, women have registered to vote in unprecedented numbers across the country, and the first person to dig into these stunning trends was TargetSmart CEO Tom Bonier, who's our guest on this episode of The Downballot. Bonier explains how his firm gathers data on the electorate; why this surge is likely a leading indicator showing stepped-up enthusiasm among many groups of voters, including women, young people, and people of color; how we know these new registrants disproportionately lean toward Democrats; and what it all might mean for November.
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Sure, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sent his colleagues running when he introduced a national 15-week abortion ban and pledged that a GOP-controlled Congress would give it a vote.
But just as the dust was finally starting to settle again, Scott, the Senate GOP campaign chief, boldly stepped into the void Sunday to voice support for Graham's deeply unpopular trial balloon.
Campaign Action
"Look, there’s arguments to do it at the federal level," Scott said on NBC News' Meet the Press when he was asked whether abortion restrictions should be addressed on a national level. "I’m pro-life, as you know. I think we ought to have reasonable restrictions. I think a lot of people are comfortable with 15 weeks and exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother, but every candidate gets to make their choice."
Actually, nearly seven in ten registered voters oppose the idea of a national abortion ban at base, and about two-thirds of voters rejected Graham's 15-week ban without exceptions for the health of the mother.
Then there's House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who laid an egg last month with his "Commitment to America." Voters were particularly turned off by the plan's emphasis on rolling back cost-cutting measures that help reduce the price of prescription drugs and protect people with pre-existing conditions from getting gouged by insurance companies.
McCarthy clearly sought to soften the plan's language on banning abortion, saying only that Republicans would "protect the lives of unborn children and their mothers."
But Scott is really the total package, embracing a nationwide abortion ban on TV plus beating McCarthy to the punch by releasing his own heinous plan to "rescue America" back in February. It famously promises to raise taxes on 100 million working Americans and sunset Medicare and Social Security, among other things.
McCarthy didn't exactly have the guts to say Republicans want to slash Medicare, but that's clearly what the Republican Study Committee aims to do if the GOP retakes the House.
Bottom line, Rick Scott is the total package—telling voters loud and proud that Republicans stand for raising taxes on working- and middle-class Americans while simultaneously working to reduce the social safety net they will depend upon as they age.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has worked hard to keep the GOP agenda under wraps, distancing his caucus from both Graham’s ban and Scott’s plan. But McConnell no longer has any control over Senate Republicans, as evidenced by his underlings freelancing without his permission. So despite what McConnell says, he’s not running the show anymore.
And when Republicans tell us what they want to do, we should believe them.
Give $5 right now to make sure Republicans don’t get anywhere near controlling the Senate.
There is no more effective way for you to help turn out infrequent but Democratic-leaning voters in key congressional districts and Senate swing states this year than Vote Forward. Sign up to write personalized letters to targeted voters from the comfort of your home, on your own schedule, using a statistically proven method and without ever having to talk to anyone at all.
Related Articles:
New polling shows why Republicans scattered like pigeons from Graham's national abortion ban
Graham's abortion ban triggered a truly masterful division of a party that has lost its way
Rick Scott made the mistake of telling voters what Republicans stand for. It's a polling disaster
So much for McConnell's tight messaging ahead of 2022
Senate Republicans' 2022 plan to raise taxes on 100 million working-class Americans bombs in polling
House Republicans try to put a ring on it with their 'Commitment to America.' Voters run
Since Dobbs, women have registered to vote in unprecedented numbers across the country, and the first person to dig into these stunning trends was TargetSmart CEO Tom Bonier, who's our guest on this episode of The Downballot. Bonier explains how his firm gathers data on the electorate; why this surge is likely a leading indicator showing stepped-up enthusiasm among many groups of voters, including women, young people, and people of color; how we know these new registrants disproportionately lean toward Democrats; and what it all might mean for November.
Embedded Content