Tuesday, July 18, 2006
House Republicans Continue to Waste Time on "Values" Issues
The Middle East is exploding -- literally -- and oil prices are continuing to rise. But House Republicans a devoting their time to pandering to their base.
Instead of focusing on the nation's business, House Republicans are promoting what they call their "American Values Agenda." Here's what they are up to this week:
Last week, House Republicans rammed through the "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act," as if someone is trying to prevent people from flying flags, and passed the bill to ban Internet gambling that Tom DeLay and his staff derailed at the request of convicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, aided by Georgia Lt. Governor candidate Ralph Reed, that benefited Abramoff's casino clients. (It's funny how the Republicans think that by reversing that vote they can distance themselves from Abramoff.)
And coming soon from the House Republicans:
All the major polls show that Americans want change in Washington. Faced with the very real prospect of losing in November, and desperate to hold on to power, House Republicans are doing everything they can to make sure their base is happy with them.
But it seems to me their strategy may backfire, as Americans see through the charade and hold them accountable for doing nothing to help our nation.
Instead of focusing on the nation's business, House Republicans are promoting what they call their "American Values Agenda." Here's what they are up to this week:
- a vote on a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage, even though the Senate already defeated the measure and their amendment has no chance of advancing, even if passed.
- legislation to bar federal courts from hearing challenges to the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance to make sure no body tries to remove "under God."
Last week, House Republicans rammed through the "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act," as if someone is trying to prevent people from flying flags, and passed the bill to ban Internet gambling that Tom DeLay and his staff derailed at the request of convicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, aided by Georgia Lt. Governor candidate Ralph Reed, that benefited Abramoff's casino clients. (It's funny how the Republicans think that by reversing that vote they can distance themselves from Abramoff.)
And coming soon from the House Republicans:
- a bill to protect public officials from lawsuits resulting from courthouse displays of the Ten Commandments or other religious symbols;
- a requirement that doctors erforming abortions tell patients that fetuses feel pain;
- protection for gun dealers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and
- legislation to prohibit use of federal funds to impound guns in the wake of a disaster.
All the major polls show that Americans want change in Washington. Faced with the very real prospect of losing in November, and desperate to hold on to power, House Republicans are doing everything they can to make sure their base is happy with them.
But it seems to me their strategy may backfire, as Americans see through the charade and hold them accountable for doing nothing to help our nation.
