To: Interested Parties
From: Tyler Law, Regional Press Secretary
Date: June 7, 2016
RE: The Case Against Rod Blum
Tonight’s Iowa primary results mark the beginning of the general election race for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. After comfortably winning the Democratic primary against a well-known opponent, Monica Vernon – a DCCC Red-to-Blue candidate – proved beyond a doubt that she is a top-tier candidate with the ability to build and lead a winning campaign. She consistently outraised Congressman Blum, effectively painted him as the true extremist that he is, and displayed why her commonsense, business credentials position her perfectly for the general election. Bottom line: the choice for voters in November will be very stark.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report: Toss-Up/ Tilt-Democrat
The Cook Political Report: Toss Up
“Blum begins 2016 as one of the GOP’s most vulnerable incumbents, and Toss Up is probably generous to Blum. Even most Republicans were surprised when Blum captured this seat last fall…” – The Cook Political Report [4/1/16]
“Freshman Rod Blum is a Democratic target in a district Obama won with 56 percent. Multiple Democratic strategists believe Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Monica Vernon, who lost in the 2014 primary, is the party’s best choice.” – The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report [4/22/16]
ROD BLUM: OUT-OF-TOUCH & UNTRUSTWORTHY
Out-of-Touch
Rod Blum’s bizarre opining about Republican dysfunction has been on display as the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier and Telegraph Herald ran stories about his membership in the secretive House Freedom Caucus. Shockingly, Blum claimed that the leadership disaster in his party is both “amazing” and also “democracy at its best.”
Blum has come under fire for his failure on the Export-Import Bank, his repeated attacks on Planned Parenthood, and for his patently false attempts to spin his support for the First Amendment Defense Act. In fact, a Des Moines Register editorial directly chastised Blum for supporting a “ridiculous” and “goofy” bill that proves he must have “a problem with millions of unmarried, heterosexual Americans.” The scolding didn’t end there. An independent Fact Checker by The Gazette graded his defense of the bill “F.” Additionally, his extreme and out-of-touch positions include slashing Social Security and Medicare and cutting Pell Grants, amongst many others.
Out-of-Favor
Here’s a list of all the editorials and columns taking Blum to task for his short but rather disastrous Congressional career:
- Des Moines Register Editorial: Religious liberty bill would create mess
- Quad-City Times Editorial: On Twitter, Rod Blum shamed Iowa
- Telegraph Herald Editorial: Taxpayer-funded mail standards merit scrutiny
- The Gazette Editorial: Questionable use of representational allowance
- Des Moines Register Editorial: Revise congressional rules on mass mailings
- The Gazette Column: An endorsement and a transformation
Breaking Salary Pledges
The Telegraph Herald and other outlets have reported on Blum apparently breaking multiple salary pledges – pledges that he glibly dismisses on television and in print, saying: “I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. End of story.” Despite saying he does not care about the pledge, it is STILL posted on his website.
Coming Unhinged
We all know that Congressman Blum is not handling the scrutiny of his broken salary pledge very well (that’s an understatement, of course). Two national outlets reported on Blum coming unhinged in an editorial board meeting with the Telegraph Herald.
Wasting Taxpayer Money
As KCRG TV asked, “Are you paying for Congressman Rod Blum’s reelection?” This question came after Blum was exposed repeatedly for spending more money than every other member of Congress on mass mail and mass communications. He has effectively removed his ability to message on being a fiscal conservative fighting against the perks of the office.
Trump Train
Last year, Congressman Blum appeared to compare himself to Trump and noted his ability to tap into a “pride in the country.” His repeated embrace of Trump’s candidacy culminated in an endorsement of his candidacy. This means that Blum will own Trump’s statements and positions and voters will be sure to hold him accountable for that in November.
MONICA VERNON: BUSINESSWOMAN & BIPARTISAN LEADER
Monica Vernon raised three daughters while building a successful small business from her kitchen table, has a record delivering for northeastern Iowans as a Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman, and the credibility of working with Democrats and Republicans to get the job done. Learn more about Monica’s story here.