Blitzer did not challenge Martinez's claim that Republican Party raised more money than Democrats
On the April 30 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, in response to host Wolf Blitzer's statement that "the three Democratic front-runners raised a lot more money than the top three Republican presidential candidates" in quarterly earnings for the 2008 presidential election, Sen. Mel Martinez (FL) -- who is also the chairman of the Republican National Committee -- asserted: "Well, here's what I'll tell you, is the Republican Party raised more money than the Democratic Party." Blitzer did not challenge Martinez's assertion. In fact, while the RNC raised more money than the Democratic National Committee in the first quarter of 2007, the Democratic Party raised more funds than the Republican Party during that period overall, counting contributions to the parties' House and Senate campaign committees.
According to an April 20 report in The Washington Post: "For the first time since the passage of campaign finance reform in 2002, national Democrats have outpaced their Republican rivals in the race for campaign cash in the first three months of an election cycle." The Democrats raised a total of $47.7 million through the DNC, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. By contrast, the Republicans raised $47.4 million among their three committees. The Post reported that the RNC "was the lone saving grace for Republicans' financial hopes" in the first quarter of the 2008 presidential election cycle.
From the 4 p.m. ET hour of the April 30 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BLITZER: In terms of politics, it looks like the top three Democratic presidential candidates, the three Democratic front-runners, raised a lot more money than the top three Republican presidential candidates. What does that say to you? Put on your political hat for us.
MARTINEZ: Right. Well, here's what I'll tell you, is the Republican Party raised more money than the Democratic Party. So I think that there's still -- we have more candidates on the field and we have a little bit of a process of winning -- winnowing out. I think that there's been a lot of excitement about someone like [Sen.] Barack Obama [D-IL]. I know him in the Senate. I served with him. And I think that that all has generated an awful lot of excitement.
But I will tell you that I think we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to candidates with experience, with the kind of seasoning that it takes to be president. I think we'll be fine in that regard. I really, frankly, like our field. I think we're going to be fine and I think the support will be there.
I was with the president on Saturday. We did a little money raising in addition to speaking to a bunch of people who had just gotten a college degree. And some of that seems to be going rather well, frankly, and I appreciate the fact that the president continues to help the party by raising money.
BLITZER: A lot of Republicans are still saying right now they're not totally satisfied with the field of Republican presidential candidates. They'd like a [Former Sen.] Fred Thompson [TN], perhaps, to jump in, a [Former House Speaker] Newt Gingrich [GA], maybe some other Republicans. Are you among those Republicans who would like to see other candidates jump into this contest?
Why would Blitzer challenge this? Afterall he is a regular fan and listener of Rush.
Journalism, alas, is dead
MARTINEZ: ...But I will tell you that I think we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to candidates with experience, with the kind of seasoning that it takes to be president.
Funny, I heard the Oxymoron use that "embarrassment of riches" phrase the other day.I would agree some embarrassment is justified regarding their party, but I don't think it's about an abundance of greatness..
I am curious about what type of seasoning they're using on their candidates.
martinez is not exactly mr. truthful. it was his staff that came up with the memo that said the terry schiavo controversy was a political opportunity for the republicans. first, the republicans tried to pass it off as a democratic plant. then it came out that martinez had actually passed out copies on the senate floor. so martinez claimed that he did hand it out, but he hadn't read it. [movie review: "hot fuzz". extremely funny english comedy that spoofs the american action/buddy movies. brilliant script, with a slew of those great actors of which the british seem to have an inexhaustible supply, including timothy dalton and james broadbent. 4 1/2 out of 5.]
mefirst , what's the weather looking like? Oh, just movie reviews.
actually i did make a comment about martinez, and noted some info about him that was not in the item. i'm so glad you never go off topic or post frivilous posts.
Mefirst --- I was jes' kiddin you !
Now I have 2 frivolous posts on this thread. ;0(
Hey, let him keep spreading this falsehood. It'll make the republic couch potato base think that they are still strong, and they'll sit home thinking they are gonna win again.
"...and I appreciate the fact that the president continues to help the party by raising money."
We're at war... and Congress and the President are at an impasse with respect to the serious issues related to it. Instead of raising money for the Republican Party this weekend wouldn't the President's time have been better spent meeting around the clock with a bi-partisan Congressional delegation until they could reach a compromise agreement at least on the issue of funding? Hell, I would have kicked in $20 for pizza...