Voter Activism (2008)
The October 2008 Bush/Paulson bailout legislation was unprecedented in that it was passed despite overwhelming and vocal opposition from the American public. Not even a near-unanimous deluge of calls and letters urging legislators not to vote for the plan was able to stop the administration's "shock and awe" propaganda campaign from bullying the Congress into passing it. Those legislators who endorsed (or who allowed themselves to be intimidated into endorsing) this immoral and economically destructive bill have failed in their responsibilities to the American people.
America needs leaders with common sense as their elected officials, not sheep who can be easily frightened into supporting obviously destructive legislation. Regrettably, that kind of leadership appears to be in short supply in Washington today. Some courageous members of congress stuck to their guns and voted against the bailout, despite the pressure brought to bear on them by a corrupt administration and a complicit media. Many more, however, did not -- and it is now up to us, as American voters one month before a major election, to decide what to do with them.
Choosing who to vote for is a difficult and personal decision that typically involves weighing many factors and issues. We believe that a politician's stand on the bailout legislation should be a very prominent factor for Americans to consider in determining who to vote for in the upcoming election. In an election year that is typically characterized by unexciting choices between equally bad candidates for many offices, voting out an incumbent who supported this legislation may send a needed message to Washington to Repeal the Bailout, and to never try to pass another one again.
To encourage this form of voter activism, we provide below a list of incumbent congressmen who voted in favor of the bailout legislation and who are up for re-election. We also provide links to the campaign websites of their major party opponents for those who may wish to support them with votes or donations. Repeal The Bailout does not necessarily endorse any of these opponents or their campaigns. We simply provide this information so that voters can make an informed and personal decision on how to respond to their incumbents' votes on the bailout.
House Roll Call on the 2008 Bailout Legislation.
Senate Roll Call on the 2008 Bailout Legislation.
United States Senate Elections, 2008
United States House Elections, 2008
Supporters of the Bailout Who are Up for Re-Election in 2008
Alaska
- Senator Ted Stevens. Opponent: Mark Begich.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Arkansas
- Senator Mark Pryor. No major party opponent in the 2008 election.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Delaware
- Senator Joseph Biden. Opponent: Christine O'Donnell.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Georgia
- Senator Saxby Chambliss. Opponent: Jim Martin.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Illinois
- Senator Richard Durbin. Opponent: Steve Sauerberg.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Iowa
- Senator Thomas Harkin. Opponent: Christopher Reed.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Kentucky
- Senator Mitch McConnell. Opponent: Bruce Lunsford.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Maine
- Senator Susan Collins. Opponent: Tom Allen.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Massachusetts
- Senator John Kerry. Opponent: Jeff Beatty.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Minnesota
- Senator Norm Coleman. Opponent: Al Franken.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Michigan
- Senator Carl Levin. Opponent: Jack Hoogendyk.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Montana
- Senator Max Baucus. Opponent: Robert Kellehr.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
New Hampshire
- Senator John Sununu. Opponent: Jeanne Shaheen.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
New Jersey
- Senator Frank Lautenberg. 2008 Election Opponent: Richard Zimmer.
- Senator Robert Menendez. Not up for re-election in 2008.
- 1st District: Representative Robert Andrews. Opponent: Dale Glading.
- 3rd District: Representative Jim Saxton. Not running for re-election to the House.
- 6th District: Representative Frank Pallone. Opponent: Robert McLeod.
- 7th District: Representative Mike Ferguson. Not running for re-election to the House.
- 8th District: Representative Bill Pascrell. Opponent: Roland Straten.
- 11th District: Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen. Opponent: Thomas Wyka.
- 12th District: Representative Rush Holt. Opponent: Alan Bateman.
- 13th District: Representative Albio Sires. Opponent: Joseph Turula.
New York
- Senator Hillary Clinton. Not up for re-election in 2008.
- Senator Charles Schumer. Not up for re-election in 2008.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Oregon
- Senator Gordon Smith. Opponent: Jeff Merkley.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Pennsylvania
- Senator Arlen Specter. Not up for re-election in 2008.
- Senator Robert Casey Jr. Not up for re-election in 2008.
- 8th District: Representative Patrick Murphy. Opponent: Tom Manion.
- Other House Districts: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Rhode Island
- Senator Jack Reed. Opponent: Bob Tingle.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
South Carolina
- Senator Lindsey Graham. Opponent: Bob Conley.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Tennessee
- Senator Lamar Alexander. Opponent: Bob Tuke.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
Texas
- Senator John Cornyn. Opponent: Rick Noriega.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).
West Virginia
- Senator Jay Rockefeller. Opponent: Jay Wolfe.
- House of Representatives: Coming Soon (see here for now).