DCCC asks supporters to sign petition in support of Occupy Wall Street

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is asking supporters to sign a petition in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

"Protestors are assembling in New York and around the country to let billionaires, big oil and big bankers know that we’re not going to let the richest 1% force draconian economic policies and massive cuts to crucial programs on Main Street Americans," the DCCC email sent out Monday reads.

As the anti-corporate demonstrations that began on Sept. 17 in New York continue, individual Democratic legislators have come out in support of the movement.

“We share the anger and frustration of so many Americans who have seen the enormous toll that an unchecked Wall Street has taken on the overwhelming majority of Americans while benefitting the super wealthy,” Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) said in a joint statement last week.

The DCCC email, though, is one of the earliest expressions of support by an established Democratic campaigning organization.

Meanwhile, some Republicans have criticized the protests.

“I regard the Wall Street protests as a natural outcome of a bad education system teaching them really dumb ideas,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

Others GOPers have expressed sympathy, like Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), an outspoken and long-time critic of the Federal Reserve.

“If they were demonstrating peacefully, and making a point, and arguing our case, and drawing attention to the Fed — I would say, good!” Paul said last week. 

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said he was "increasingly concerned" by the "mob protests." The DCCC email tries to capitalize on Cantor's comments.

"Out-of-touch Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor said he is 'increasingly concerned by the growing mobs.' Mobs? That must be what Republicans refer to as the middle class, or maybe the millions of unemployed Americans across the country," the email reads.

"Help us send a message straight to Eric Cantor, Speaker [John] Boehner, and the rest of reckless Republican leadership in Congress," the email continues.

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