Working Like a Blue Dog: Heath Shuler Raises Money for DCCC

Good Afternoon –

I wanted to make sure you saw this piece reported by Politico today that outlines how Heath Shuler is trying to gain favor with Democrat House leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, by hosting a fundraiser for the Democrat campaign arm.

“TURNABOUT: SHULER SHILLS FOR DCCC — Rep. Heath Shuler’s had an uneasy relationship with the Democratic Party leadership. After all, he ran against Nancy Pelosi for minority leader. But that isn’t stopping the Blue Dog Coalition co-chairman from helping raise money for the DCCC through his top aide. ‘Please join my Chief of Staff, Hayden Rogers, who is co-hosting a Democratic Staff Dinner benefiting the DCCC on Thursday, April 14th,’ Shuler wrote in an e-mail to supporters yesterday that was forwarded to Huddle. ‘The dinner will be at Ping Pong Dim Sum … The suggested contribution for this event is $500. … In your service, Heath.’ Just a few monts ago, Shuler’s Blue Dog allies were clamoring for DCCC reforms. It seems the bark was worse than the bite.“ (Politico Huddle)

DCCC Chair Steve Israel Is A Top Pelosi Loyalist. “Israel has been a top loyalist to Pelosi over the last few years, and since Democrats lost control of the House on Nov. 2, he helped rally support for her to transition to minority leader in the next Congress.” (Politico, 11/19/2010)

Nancy Pelosi Selected Israel To Lead The DCCC. “Representative Nancy Pelosi’s selection of Mr. Israel to lead the Congressional campaign had much to do with his district, a swath of Nassau and Suffolk Counties where Democrats hold a modest registration edge but independents decide elections… Ms. Pelosi, the minority leader, speaks glowingly of his work on two special House elections in upstate New York in 2009. In one of them, a three-way race, he persuaded a moderate Republican to drop out and endorse the Democrat, Bill Owens, handing him the seat… Ms. Pelosi says she prizes Mr. Israel’s efficiency, his short bursts of data and advice.” (New York Times, 3/18/2011)