Democrats Bristle As Republicans Send Trackers Into The Capitol{video at link}

[xchrom]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/democrats-bristle-as-republicans-send-trackers-into-the-capi

WASHINGTON — Democrats are accusing Republicans of breaking down congressional comity even further by dispatching a “campaign tracker” — a young staffer sent to record a foe’s every word, in hopes of catching a damaging gaffe — to stalk Democratic senators facing reelection while they’re at work on Capitol Hill.

In the unwritten rules of Washington, it’s perfectly fine to have a tracker follow a member of Congress around when he or she is outside or at an event away from the Capitol complex. But Hill veterans on both sides of the aisle say a tracker in congressional office buildings and members’ offices is unprecedented, and Democrats suggest the presence of a tracker in the Capitol complex is an intimidation tactic.

A tracker from the new Republican opposition research firm America Rising was an unwelcome guest at Sen. Kay Hagan’s weekly Carolina Coffee open office hours session Wednesday morning. The tracker, a young woman accompanied by a North Carolina native who signed into the event, was on hand with a video camera and asked a question about the Democratic senator’s opinion on the budget proposal by North Carolina’s Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.

She wasn’t described as rude or confrontational, but her mere presence broke a longstanding and unwritten congressional rule: no tracking in Congress.

[madrchsod]

1. proving once again the republicans are scumbags

their mission is to destroy the democratic process and they are accomplishing it.

[Berlum]

4. "Tee hee. Smirk." - RepubliScumBaggers (R)

[Demit]

2. Well, as they say, politics ain't beanbag.

And as a commenter at the link notes, decency and decorum are dead. The Democrats in Congress should devise a strategy for this, because Republicans are—have been for years—pulling out all the stops, playing every dirty trick, bursting with pride in their ratfucking. Complaining only makes the Dems look weak, look like whiners. Stand up to the trackers! Note their presence for everyone else present, bring out what they're there for, and welcome them heartily! Then say you stand by your principles and speak openly! Jesus, Dems, stop running away.

[kentauros]

5. "stop running away"

I was just reading a little more of the comments here on the 14-year-old girl in Texas that's caused such a stir with the repubs. And, as usual, there are the comments that encourage Texas women to fight back by "leaving the state."

How can we fight the idjits if the best advice Dems from other states have is to "run away"? Whatever happened to us "getting a spine"? Or is that only for Dems in DC and "blue" states?

I'm sick of this shitty attitude!

[Demit]

12. That's got to be at least a little facetious, telling women to just up & leave the state.

But it's a solution being offered for citizens, no matter how ill-thought out. I want our elected Dem officials to, I can't believe I'm saying this, stand their ground! Stop being so coweringly reactive! Stop playing defense!

It's been years now, the Republican party being on the offense, aggressively, and relentlessly, and ever more crazily. And Dems backpedal and appease. Nobody respects that! It's not hard to conclude—not that I want to—but it's reasonable to conclude that the Democratic party believes a lot of what the Republican party believes. Unlike the party I grew up with, and the party I thought I belonged to.

They cower, and complain about comity, and do everything to avoid standing up for what they say they believe. Such Dems, to me, look like grifters just looking for the main chance. Wanting the privileges of office without the vision, or the principles. I'm disgusted.

[kentauros]

13. Unfortunately, there are plenty of DUers that are dead-serious about people leaving

in order to "fight back" against the repubs. They seem to think it's not worth the effort to resist, as we'd all be better served by moving to a "blue" state (like that same "blue" state would welcome with open arms all the tens of millions leaving supposed "red" states; hint, they wouldn't!)

I'm disgusted, too, and we have to simply keep pressure on the ones in office and support the fighters just getting into office. Running away is not an option!

[AlbertCat]

17. "leaving the state."

And go where?

Come on over to NC!

[Brickbat]

8. The DFLer who was running for the House here had a tracker, and he would point him out warmly at

every campaign stop, like an old friend. The tracker even came to the district DFL convention. The DFLer won, and now I'm represented by Rick Nolan, for which I am grateful.

[GoneFishin]

3. Damn. I wanted to call them scumbags first. The Dems need to do the same back to them

and NOW. Or this crap will not stop.

[kentauros]

6. Start recording the trackers and posting on YouTube.

It's not like most everyone there doesn't have a smartphone with a video camera...

[boston bean]

7. Oh they don't want to be tracked?

Well, neither do innocent citizens!

Common ground?

[SidDithers]

9. Track the trackers...

Put a camera in the trackers, publicize their names and faces.

Expose 'em.

Sid

[stevenleser]

10. This is a huge mistake. They opened the door, we should track every Republican in congress. They

say much more stupid stuff with much more frequency than our folks do.

[MNBrewer]

11. Oh no! They're being monitored at all times while at work??

Sounds like par for the course out here, outside the Beltway.

[Javaman]

14. What's good for the goose...

why don't Dems do this as well?

[A Simple Game]

16. They do, don't you remember the macaca incident? n/t

[frylock]

19. evidently people don't..

hard to see when you're blinded by partisanship.

[A Simple Game]

20. I'm sure for the most part the Republicans are far better at it. After all it is their nature. n/t

[frylock]

21. no doubt

[L0oniX]

15. Can't they get the NSA to do this?

[frylock]

18. really? do people not recall the "macaca" incident?

George Allen was recorded by a DEMOCRATIC staffer working as a.... wait for it: TRACKER! all these fuckers should be tracked and recorded, I don't care what corporate party they belong to.