From my piece today:
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the kind of grassroots energy and positive response that we’ve gotten in our opposition to bombing Syria,” says FreedomWorks president and CEO Matt Kibbe. “It reminds me in a lot of ways of 2008, when this tidal wave of grassroots opposition emerged to crush the first TARP [Troubled Asset Relief Program] vote on the House floor.”
…
FreedomWorks is primarily energizing the grassroots to call their representatives and senators rather than lobbying directly, although the group does intend to speak directly to some congressional offices. Heritage Action communications director Dan Holler says, “Our position is well known, Heritage has laid out a really compelling case about why we don’t need to be involved in this way in Syria.”
One senior GOP leadership aide is skeptical about Heritage Action’s ability to influence Republicans in Congress. “I think every member will look at a variety of serious and intellectual sources to influence their decision in Syria one way or the other,” he explains, “but I’m not certain Heritage will be one of those places given its movement away from research towards political activism.” House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor both support the resolution, while Whip Kevin McCarthy remains undecided.
Read the rest here.