Marc Ambinder reports on the GOP’s shocked reaction to the idea that President Barack Obama might work toward electing more members from his own party in the next congressional election:

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)  will soon issue a statement contending that Obama’s promise to “put an end to petty politics” is “threatened” as the White House and their allies “are making political threats rather than crafting a bipartisan economic stimulus plan.”

He’ll call on Obama to “immediately disavow” plans by liberal interest groups who have announced their intention to run attack ads against the Republicans.

Cantor’s comments are reminiscent of the angry reaction to then-Governor Mitt Romney’s plan to elect more Republicans to the Massachusetts Legislature in 2004:

Philip Johnston, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said Democrats are ready. He said a Monday fund-raiser in Boston brought in about $150,000, and the party hopes to raise about $1 million by election day.

Of all the races, Johnston said only about 10-12 are competitive. Instead of clashing with Democrats, Johnston said Romney should learn to work with them.

“Let’s say the best were to happen and [Romney] were to pick up two or three seats, is it worth alienating the entire Massachusetts Legislature?” Johnston said. “This governor wants to have a war with the Legislature.”

I’m not sure I agree with Cantor and Johnston’s implication that the only way to lessen partisan tensions is to agree not to challenge incumbents from the other party. Running fewer vicious and misleading ads against the other party may be a good thing; completely sitting out elections is not.Â