Dems worry about voter embrace of 'party of no'

The Hill:

Democrats are debating the tactic of labeling Republicans the “party of no.”

Senior strategists in the party argue the label at best has outlived its usefulness, and at worst will do nothing to win new Democratic votes in the 2010 elections.

“The Democrats are making an enormous mistake when they say the Republicans are the party of no,” said Paul Begala, the veteran Democratic strategist who worked in President Bill Clinton’s White House.

Democrats began describing the GOP as the party of no after every House Republican voted against the $787 billion economic stimulus bill in February.

The label has stuck in press releases, e-mails and public comments from Democrats in subsequent months as Republicans voted en masse in committee or floor votes against healthcare legislation in the House and Senate backed by President Barack Obama.

The risk to the message is that polls show a public split down the middle on the stimulus and healthcare reform. It is unclear whether voters will punish or praise Republicans for saying no to Democratic efforts on those issues.

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Actually the polls show voters siding with Republicans on the failed and costly stimulus plan as well as in opposition to the Democrats rationed health care plan. What Begala fears is that voters are saying they want someone who will say no to the Democrat spending spree. He is probably right.