Will the GOP get behind McCain on earmarks?
That is a good question, folks.
One of the downfalls of the Republicans in Congress has been their addiction to spending.
Just like the Democrats in Congress, way too many Republicans have been using earmarks as a way to buy votes from their constituency.
One of the winning messages from the Democrats in 2006 was the promise to reign in earmarks. They have failed to do it. The Democrats can talk about new transparencies and reforms, but they have little to show for it.
The Democrats very own leading candidate for President, Barack Obama, has yet to come clean on his earmark requests for 2005 and 2006. Obama preaches transparency, but fails to deliver.
Obama's response to this talking out of both sides of his mouth?
The Obama response has been that they disclose more than Clinton, a reply I think shows calculation, not conviction.That is the response of a four year old, pointing to their sandbox buddy as the real culprit of bad behavior.
Clearly, Obama has no intention of taking personal responsibility for his own actions.
The Democrats second leading candidate for President, Hillary Clinton, rakes in millions and millions of dollars for New York and does not apologize for it. She does it, she is not apologizing for it and it clearly wins her support. A pastor of a church received $1.5 million in earmarks and then the pastor threw his support behind Clinton for President.
This is a winning issue for McCain. This issue beats both of the top Democrat nominees for President.
Still there are many Republicans in Congress that are so enthralled with these earmarks, like Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens with his "Bridge to Nowhere" or "Ferry to Nowhere".
I understand that it will take an immense amount of courage to put an end to earmarks.
As conservatives, we are asking our elected leaders to place an immense amount of faith in the people that have voted for you.
Not listening to their own constituents in 2006 cost the Republicans big. From a poll taken in 2006 before the election, Americans were against earmarks. This sentiment has not changed.
The Republicans currently hanging in the shadows, trying to keep the people in their districts in the dark, need to have a strong showing that they are against the earmarks.
Conservatives have plenty of issues that they disagree on with Senator McCain, on this issue, there needs to be no divide.
Well said:
Republicans have a choice. They can unite behind the feisty Mr. McCain, and take a position that is true to their small-government principles, popular with the public and a smart political move. Or they can hurt themselves, and possibly their nominee, by sticking with the lard.
No comments:
Post a Comment