Politico

By ANDY BARR

The Republican National Committee has rejected a proposal from its Democratic counterpart to sign a joint “civility” statement, POLITICO has learned.

Various members of the DNC — including Chairman Tim Kaine, Executive Director Jen O’Malley Dillon and Communications Director Brad Woodhouse — contacted their respective RNC counterparts this week in hopes of getting RNC Chairman Michael Steele to co-sign a document with Kaine that, in part, called for “elected officials of both parties to set an example of the civility we want to see in our citizenry.”

“We also call on all Americans to respect differences of opinion, to refrain from inappropriate forms of intimidation, to reject violence and vandalism, and to scale back rhetoric that might reasonably be misinterpreted by those prone to such behavior,” read the proposed joint statement, which came at the end of a week which saw acts of vandalism and threats of violence directed at members of Congress from both parties, but mostly aimed at Democrats who voted “yes” on the health care bill.

Republicans see the statement as an attempt to force them to either reject the statement — allowing Democrats to say the RNC finds the incidents acceptable — or to sign on to something that the DNC would later wield against them.

The proposed statement was faxed and hand-delivered to the RNC at midmorning Friday. POLITICO learned Friday afternoon that the RNC would not sign the DNC statement.

RNC Communications Director Doug Heye told POLITICO that Steele chose not to agree to the statement because “we don’t need to do anything on their schedule or on their timetable.”

“Obviously, a large majority of Americans —ka broad coalition of Republicans, Democrats and Independent —kare upset that President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid pushed through health care legislation that increases premiums and raises taxes and did so through strong-arm tactics, closed-door meetings and sweetheart deals. Voters have a right to be angry. Unfortunately, some have chosen to engage in language and actions that go too far,” Heye said, insisting that “among the first voices to condemn such activities was Michael Steele’s.”

Referring to an appearance by the two chairmen Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” during which Steele called tea party protestors who used racist language during a weekend rally “idiots,” Heye said that Kaine “did not take the opportunity to condemn these activities on 'Meet the Press,' we are glad he is now willing to do so.” Steele’s condemnation came after he was asked about the protesters’ behavior, while Kaine was not asked the same question during their joint appearance.

“Further, we hope the Democratic National Committee and, indeed, all party committees will cease and desist any efforts to politicize or raise money — such as Organizing for America’s recent fundraising solicitation — off of rhetoric and behavior that is so clearly over the line,” Heye concluded.

Republicans and Democrats have been fighting all week over who is to blame for the acts of vandalism and threats of violence aimed at members of both parties, but mostly at Democrats.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday that Republicans are not going far enough to condemn attacks against Democratic members — who Hoyer said are at risk — while House Minority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) contends that Republicans also face threats and charged Democrats with using the attacks to score political points.

Woodhouse told POLITICO that the DNC is “disappointed” that the RNC would not agree to a statement that “would carry a lot weight symbolically.”

“It’s very disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, that Chairman Steele, who authored a fundraising presentation that depicted the President as the Joker, the Speaker of the House as Cruella de Vil, raised money online showing the Speaker on fire and said she should be put before a firing squad would refuse to do a joint statement with Chairman Kaine to ratchet down the rhetoric and condemn the violence and threats which Republican supporters have engaged in since the passage of health reform,” Woodhouse said.

“Chairman Steele’s own overheated rhetoric and the Republican Party’s fear tactics have contributed to an environment of anger and frustration that is unhealthy and counterproductive to our political dialogue,” he added. “Rather than take responsibility for their own actions, Chairman Steele not only refused the good faith offer of issuing a joint statement, he then sent his spokesperson out to go on the attack in a breathtaking display of chutzpa and hypocrisy. Chairman Kaine and Democrats will continue to work towards a civil and responsible debate on the issues of the day even as Republicans continue to be pulled farther and farther towards the radical extreme.”

Both of the committees have been accused of using controversial fundraising tactics this week in the wake of Sunday night’s passage of health care reform.

The RNC raised more than $1 million in a “Fire Nancy Pelosi” fundraising campaign that depicted the House Speaker surrounded by flames.

The DNC meanwhile was criticized by Republicans for sending out an e-mail from Kaine to its donors under the subject line “Heroes under attack” urging its supporters to defend the threatened members via funds to the committee.

“They've launched a campaign to ‘fire’ Nancy Pelosi, complete with imagery of the first female Speaker of the House surrounded by flames. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter had a brick thrown through her office window. A Virginia blog posted Congressman Tom Perriello's home address, urging tea partiers to ‘drop by,’” the fundraising e-mail read. “The Democratic National Committee is already fighting back hard, with a sophisticated ad strategy, events on the ground, and the best rapid-response program in the history of politics. But we need your help to keep it up.”