GOP Launches Ads Targeting Blue Dog Democrats

The House Republican campaign operation released a new series of radio ads targeting five members of the Blue Dogs—a faction of moderate and fiscally conservative House Democrats.

The five targeted members include Reps. Marion Berry of Arkansas, Charlie Melancon of Louisiana, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, Zack Space of Ohio and John Tanner of Tennesee.

Each of the members represents a right-leaning congressional district that Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain won in the 2008 presidential election.

The ads are targeting the lawmakers for supporting the $787 billion economic stimulus package earlier this year. The National Republican Congressional Committee said the ads are the first part of their latest effort, the “Accountability Offensive,” that will criticize House Democrats on spending.

“The result of this rubber-stamped, one-party rule is a mounting national debt that will end up costing future generations,” said NRCC spokesman Ken Spain in a statement.

The ads—featuring dogs barking and whining in the background—align the lawmakers with President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and use a similar script.

“[The lawmaker] is not voting like a Blue Dog, he’s voting like a lap dog—a lap dog for Nancy Pelosi and President Obama,” the ad states.

Click here to read the full story.