It turns out (surprise!) that even if death benefits for the families of troops killed in action are restored, there are still plenty of effects of the Republican shutdown that people don't like so much. Now, an ad campaign will be reminding voters in Republican-held swing districts of that fact and of their representatives' role in that. As the sample ad above puts it,
Jeff Denham joined with tea party Republicans in Congress and shut down our government, putting hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work; putting critical benefits for veterans, seniors, and the disabled at risk; denying cancer treatment for kids; and halting food inspections. Economists say Jeff Denham's tea party shutdown could weaken the economy and devastate middle-class families.
Even if you don't work for the government or rely on assistance yourself, food inspection is something that quite literally hits you where you live. This is the kind of reminder that could be scary for
the Republicans targeted by the ads:
The spots by Democratic-aligned Americans United for Change will hit 10 members: Tom Latham (R-Iowa), Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), Dan Benishek (R-Mich.), Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.).
Several of the targeted members of Congress are among the two dozen who were identified in a poll done for the activist MoveOn.org as being at risk because of the shutdown.
It wouldn't take too many House Republicans coming forward and demanding a vote on a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government. Just 17 of them, to be specific. Right now, Republicans who know a clean CR is the right thing to do are more afraid of the tea party and John Boehner than they are of losing to a Democrat in 2014. But the shutdown's unpopularity, combined with reminders to voters of these Republicans' role in it, could change that equation.
Tell your Republican representative to end this shutdown: sign the discharge petition!