Dems paint Wall St. vote as big win

Not a single Republican cast a “yes” vote for the Wall Street reform bill in the House Friday.

Democrats could hardly contain their glee.

“Seriously?” was the subject line of an asked the headline of an e-mail from Democratic National Committee communications director Brad Woodhouse after the House vote.

“Representative Mary Bono Mack has apparently learned nothing from the near-collapse of big banks and financial institutions that put our entire economy at risk,” read the e-mail sent to Mack’s California district and more than three dozen other target GOP incumbents by the Democratic Campaign Committee, slamming the incumbents for backing Wall Street over consumers.

With polls showing voters furious at Wall Street and their big fat bonus checks, Democrats smell an opportunity to turn their political fortunes around with the help of the financial reform legislation that’s moving through Congress.

The DCCC is raising money to produce “hard-hitting” spots against Republicans who sided with financial lobbyists “trying to kill reform,” according to a Nov. 10 fundraising e-mail. And the rhetoric during and after the debate this week made clear, Democrats – at least in the House – will try to turn their Republican opponents into Wall Street’s lapdogs and saddle them with the populist outrage still burning in the heartland.

The pitch may not be as easy as it sounds. Sure, opposing legislation that cracks down on greedy bankers, enhances consumer protection and puts an end to taxpayer bailouts sounds like political suicide. But Republican strategists disagree that this was a bad vote for their party.

via Dems paint Wall St. vote as big win – - POLITICO.com.