The progressive and pro-Democratic group American Bridge has published a nearly
200-page guide to dismantling the GOP's entire 2016 field and there's a little something for everyone in it,
reports MSNBC:
“The beauty of this book is that anyone involved in politics can find a use for it. It can be used as a reference guide for the press or as a playbook for political operatives. And if prospective GOP candidates find it useful to beat the hell out of one another, well, praise the Lord and pass the potato salad,” American Bridge President Brad Woodhouse told msnbc.
Indeed. There's any number of GOP no-nos in there, most of which will figure very poorly for prospective candidates with their gleeful right-wing base.
Take, for instance, a '90s-era Rick Perry (then Texas agriculture commissioner) making nice with First Lady Hillary Clinton on health care.
“Dear Mrs. Clinton: I think your efforts in trying to reform the nation’s health care system are most commendable.” And it concludes: “Your efforts are worthy … Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.”
Scandalous.
Or Jeb Bush telling the GOP base to scrap its "nostalgia" for conservative standard-bearer Ronnie Reagan. Eek.
Then there's Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who appears to be contemplating a 2016 run.
The Democratic group points to Kasich’s “deciding vote” in the House to pass the 1994 assault weapons ban. In fact, the NRA-endorsed Kasich’s Democratic opponent in 2010.
Oh my—a "yes" vote on the assault weapons ban—where will the house of horrors end?
Seriously though, this is the type of stuff that could at least cause a lot of headaches for Republicans if not derail some of these candidacies, especially during the primary. As MSNBC notes:
It was Newt Gingrich who first went after Mitt Romney for his tenure at the private equity firm Bain Capital in 2012. The former House speaker accused Romney of “looting” companies, while a pro-Gingrich super PAC spent millions to produce and promote a 28-minute documentary titled “When Mitt Romney Came to Town” that portrayed Romney as a heartless corporate raider.
And long before Harry Reid made hay of Romney’s tax returns, Perry and Ron Paul were demanding Romney release more information about his finances.
Let the games begin!