Pat Dollard

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The Hill:

President Obama told Democratic fundraisers Monday that Republicans are banking on voters having “amnesia” in the midterm elections.

“They have not come up with a single, solitary, new idea to address the challenges of the American people,” Obama said. “They don’t have a single idea that’s different from George Bush’s ideas — not one.”

The president said that instead of helping him and Democrats push for healthcare and financial regulatory reform, Republicans are “betting on amnesia.”

“That’s what they’re counting on,” Obama told a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Atlanta. “They’re counting on that you all forgot. They think that they can run the okey-doke on you. Bamboozle you.”

Obama was in Atlanta to address disabled veterans, but he also carved out time to raise money for his party.

August begins the midterm campaign season. The House of Representatives has already left for the summer recess, and the Senate will follow after this week. Obama will spend several days this month fundraising — including trips to Texas, California, Ohio and Florida, according to reports.

In his Atlanta speech, Obama blasted GOP opposition to his small business tax cuts and loan bill, saying Republicans are opposing their own ideas in an effort to hurt Democrats.

“Republicans say they’re the pro-business party, isn’t that what they say?” Obama said. “You would think this is a bill that they would want to pass. And, yet, day after day, week after week, they keep on stalling this bill and stonewalling this bill and opposing this bill. Why? Pure politics.”

The president also criticized House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other Republicans for pledging to repeal healthcare reform if Republicans win back Congress.

“They’re more interested in the next election than the next generation,” Obama said. “And that’s why they can’t have the keys back — because we need somebody who is driving with a vision to the future.”

A Democratic source said about 200 guests paid anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 apiece for a total of $500,000 raised Monday, according to the White House pool report.

Joining Obama at the fundraiser were Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.), David Scott (D-Ga.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, who is running for the Senate.