Friday, January 7, 2011

The Little Republicans Who Cried Wolf

I have been very critical of the utter hypocrisy that permeates throughout the conservative movement. I also essentially agree with Andrew Sullivan's assessment that many conservative leaders are deplorable frauds in regards to government spending. Yet, the record needs to be set in the public arena that President Obama is no stranger to reckless, partisan politicking.

Take the upcoming vote to raise the debt ceiling. Every serious thinker knows that a rise in the debt ceiling must happen or the government shuts down and the economy tanks for good. Only partisan blowhards who put their own careers ahead of the country would vote against a rise in the debt ceiling. President Obama and his advisers have essentially said such in recent days.

Yet, in 2006, President Obama voted against a rise in the debt ceiling. A few days ago, Robert Gibbs defended that vote by saying that Obama knew what the outcome was going to be, so it didn't really matter how he voted. Sorry, but that is a lousy excuse.

A quick google search shows that this story have been relayed by (other than the mainstream media) Fox News and some conservative blogs. I have not heard any Republican leaders mention it yet, but I might have missed it.

So may I make a suggestion?

Instead of trying to pin down Obama as a Kenyan socialist who hates white people and wants the terrorists to win, why don't we base our critiques of him on actual facts and reality? When Rush Limbaugh accurately attacks Obama for his hypocrisy regarding the debt ceiling, independents and moderates don't listen, because, well, Rush is a crazy partisan. He says a lot of things that aren't true, why should this instance be any different? Credibility is earned. It doesn't come through golden microphones or giant chalkboards.

I am afraid that the conservative movement has lost its credibility and that when we cry wolf too many times, independents and moderates stop listening.

6 comments:

Doug NYC GOP said...

Once again Pablo, you raise good points.

It's easy to be against something, but to arrive in Washington and actually have to deal with the opposition or just the mechanics of government,to resolve problems, is an entirely different thing.

I always keep Reagan's attitude in the back of my mind.



Ronald Reagan on the importance of political compromise(in his own words) from
An American Life (his autobiography) | 8/7/03 | Ronald Reagan

"When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it.

"Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything.

"I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'

"If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it."

http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/words-of-wisdom-from-president-ronald.html

John said...

Great points Pablo! I have made them several times myself :)

This is why you were my favourite blogger on Rightosphere (seriously, you were). You never cared about going with the flow. Always thought-provoking :)

/John

Anonymous said...

Great post, Pablo - as always.

Doug, thanks for the Reagan reminder.

-Martha

BOSMAN said...

You're right Pablo. Republicans will have to to more than make waves and noise in DC, if we expect to win back independents and the White House in 2012!

Revolution 2012 said...

"Republicans will have to to more than make waves and noise in DC, if we expect to win back independents and the White House in 2012!"


As long as the don't compromise the will of those voters who sent them there.

Anonymous said...

The solution is simply. Mr. Obama signs the Repeal of ObamaCare (which in and of itself adds to debt) and in exchange, the GOP allows the debt ceiling to go up. Without major concessions, it is foolish to raise the ceiling.

OHIO JOE