Today, at a hardware store in Virginia, the GOP hopes to with their “Pledge for America.” I had hoped to upload it to the site but it’s a bit larger than my blogging software wanted to deal with: it’s an astounding 135 MB. If you want to check it out in its entirety, you’ll have to head over to the GOP web site devoted to the pledge. Lest you worry that the size of the file means pages and pages of intensive reading, you can rest assured: there are a lot of glossy pictures. The total word count is just under 7500 words.
The plan, clearly influenced by the Declaration of Independence in style and cadence, is framed as a solution to what the GOP perceives is wrong with America. Among the oppressions:
An unchecked executive, a compliant legislature, and an overreaching judiciary have combined to thwart the will of the people and overturn their votes and their values, striking down longstanding laws and institutions and scorning the deepest beliefs of the American people.
An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.
Rising joblessness, crushing debt, and a polarizing political environment are fraying the bonds among our people and blurring our sense of national purpose.
Not surprisingly, the word tax is used 56 times in the pledge. The first time the word appears, it’s used as part of an overall strategy:
Our plan stands on the principles of smaller, more accountable government; economic freedom; lower taxes; fiscal responsibility; protecting life, American values, and the Constitution; and providing for a robust national defense. (emp added)
Throughout the rest of the pledge, it’s used generally to outline the GOP’s fiscal plan: “kill” tax hikes and reduce spending. Specifics include a deduction for the job creation equal to 20% of small business income; canceling TARP; putting an end to government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; closing in on discretionary spending and making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
Social issues and tax are also featured prominently with promises to permanently end taxpayer funding of abortion and codify the Hyde Amendment. Critiques of the scale of President Obama’s health care plan and the “cap and trade” energy tax are also included.
In other words, a little bit of everything. It reminds me of one of those over the top movies – you know, the ones that have to feature everybody and their mother? No matter how good the main story line might be, all of the cameo appearances are just too distracting. I think for the GOP to be successful, they need to pick a platform issue or two (taxes are a good one) and hit them hard rather than focusing on so many things. Nobody has that kind of attention span.
The GOP also needs to be careful about what they criticize. Yes, taxpayers are irritated with TARP. But (*yawn*) sadly, bigger issues have come and gone since then. I don’t think it’s at the top of many hit lists these days. And if it were, that’s even worse for the GOP as the original – and poorly executed – TARP blueprint was a GOP/Bush creation. Reminding folks about TARP is just reminding folks that this hole started before President Obama got involved, probably not the best strategy.
Overall, the pledge, while a bit smarmy and a lot self-serving, is a pretty good move by the Republicans. It puts their message “out there” to voters, even if it is a bit crowded on issues and short on details. Better yet, it puts the Democrats on the defensive. Despite the fact that they have the majority, the Democrats have been spectacularly bad at putting together a comprehensive platform that voters can grab onto: they look like they don’t have a plan. This glossy booklet may just be what the GOP needs to get ahead.
That document isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Actions speak louder than words, and anyone voting GOP for smaller gov, lower national debt, and a job creation is a complete sucker. If you can’t see after 20 years what you’re going to get from the GOP, there is absolutely no hope for you.
Not that the Dems are much better, but at least they don’t consistently undermine their own “convictions” day after day, year after year. The GOP is going to start charging the credit card the second they get it back. That is guaranteed. Maybe they should prove their convictions by swearing off all the pet projects and spending. At least then they could make a case for saying they have reformed in some small way.
The GOP basically blew it in the last two years. They proved they are unwilling to compromise and can’t work through any shared solutions. No lessons learned, same old same old.
As a political strategy, it definitely has benefits, but also some drawbacks. The thing this does is force Republicans to look at their national party’s platform first, and their local situation second. A Republican running in an area where the population is socially moderate or socially liberal, for example, has the following choices: contradict their party’s platform, run as an Independent, or run as a social conservative. This is not a brand new issue for either party; however, the more “cameos” you have, as you call them, the more likely you’ll run into ones you disagree with.
Also, on a personal level, the strong language (“scorning the deepest beliefs of the American people”? Is this a scrolling screen in Star Wars?) is a bit much for me.
This is propaganda at its worst, not to mention blatant sweeping lies.
“An unchecked executive?” Are you kidding? He is the most checked man in the history of a President. I know what he had for breakfast!
“A compliant legislature?” Hostile might be a better word choice.
“Overreaching judiciary” – comprised of a majority of REPUBLICANS!
“Thwart the will of the people” – except all of those who are uninsured and unemployed and all of those in favor of helping out the uninsured and unemployed
“Striking down longstanding laws” – Or maybe trying to reinstate them…Glass-Steagall anyone?
“Crushing debt” – This debt appeared out of nowhere. Had nothing to do with the prior administration and the wars, and the tax cuts based on pie-in-the-sky projections. How utterly selective…
“Polarizing political environment” – Pot. Kettle. Black.
And a “robust national defense?” – Paid for with what money?
It is a disservice to Americans to put this nonsense out there. Okay, Republicans are great at selling their propaganda, but how about an honest, fact-based document of what should be done? Enough with the rhetoric and lies. Americans should demand more.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/23/gop-pledge-aca/
The document is very light on details. There is no specifics on how they plan to extend the tax cuts and balance the budget without stopping or lowering social security payments coming due as the baby boomers retire. Seventy percent of the deficit was already there when Obama became president. If the Republicans could not control it when they had the majority in Congress and a Republican President, how can we trust them now? The only way they would gain my trust is if a detailed plan was issued on how they would balance the budget that the OMB would review and verified that it worked. This will never happen because in order to balance the budget and extend the tax cuts, many popular programs including social security would have to be cut.