I’ll admit I’m a little mad about this, so I don’t have much of a lead-up to my analysis. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga) has spoken out against Rush Limbaugh, and prime facie, that is just terrific. Rush Limbaugh has a (mostly) conservative base of about 20 million listeners. And he’s on the radio. Everyday. For three hours. I have never heard of Rep. Phil Gingrey. Maybe a David vs. Goliath complex? Napoleon Complex?
Meanwhile, over on Fastidious blog, she posted about a phone call she put in to Rep Gingrey. I want to make reference to claim made by his lackey: (I’m paraphrasing, as I was not on the phone) “We didn’t get accurate information on the Bailout bill.”
Precisely. I’ll bet that’s just exactly right. Except, it’s not as though the information was not out there. It’s not as though 200 different economists kept quiet about the problems with the bill. (One quick Google search, folks.) More on point, those bailout “Yes” voters DID NOT SEEK this information. The three letters I received from my Representative and Senators all said, “Normally, we would vote no. . .but due to x specific circumstance. . . the world will crumble, and so we must act.”
I will tell you, I believe the Economy was the most important issue for voters. Apparently, U.S. News and World Report agrees. So, on the one piece of legislation that represents that issue, the Bailout Bill, how did these men vote? Gingrey voted against the bailout. John Boehner says, “The enactment of this flawed but necessary bill is not a cause for celebration.” He voted “Yes.” And Sen. Mitch McConnell? He also voted, “Yes.” (Also, McCain, Thune, et al.)
So, Rep. Phil Gingrey, you were defending these jackasses? (For a quick reference, go to www.govtrack.us and check all three names. Toward the center of the page, you’ll see an ideology meter, and Gingrey is the only “Republican” without the “Moderate” modifier.) According to you, Mr. Gingrey, “I think that our leadership, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, are taking the right approach.”
So, I ask, which is it? Either the Bailout was a correct move, or it wasn’t! Talking out of both sides of your mouth won’t do: if you didn’t vote for the bailout because of your conservative principles, how can they be taking the right approach? Our Leadership was given credit for the “bipartisan” nature of the Bill, and here is a perfect example of our leadership speaking just like Democratic leadership. (via The New York Times, October 2008)
President Bush issued a statement applauding the Senate for its vote in favor of a bill he called “essential to the financial security of every American.” He urged the House to follow suit.
Give me a break, Gingrey, you are going after the wrong guy here! Limbaugh has no problem with telling it like it is: on the biggest issue for voters during the 2008 Election, McCain voted like Obama, Boehner voted like Pelosi, McConnell voted like Reid – see where this is going? If our leadership votes like their leadership, what is the difference between “ours” and “theirs“? There isn’t any difference.
I don’t care what you think of Rush Limbaugh. That makes no difference to me whatsoever; so long as you understand that he is correct about conservatism.
Your claim to the Politico:
“I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party. You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of that thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.”
You are right about one thing, Limbaugh isn’t in the position of Boehner or McConnell – and neither am I. But if I was, I would be swearing up and down that I would never do anything as dumb as voting to socialize the United States of America.
(P.S.: Rep Gingrey, You didn’t get sworn in to “do what’s best for your people and your party.” Your oath was:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
Remember the Constitution?)
**Update:**
Rep. Phil Gingrey has received an influx of phone calls, and he’s sorry.
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