OK…I honestly do not mind that a lot of Republicans these days are returning to their traditional, financially-conservative values. I think it’s a very, very good sign and may save the GOP.
In addition, as I mentioned briefly before, I (like pretty much all Republicans) also have some issues with Obama’s stimulus package, which is presently being bandied about on the Senate floor. I do not like the increased deficit spending (although it is easier to stomach when it’s for this reason rather than to give tax cuts to the wealthiest 2% of Americans) and I also think it should include far more green initiatives and creation of green jobs than it does. Plus, I am not sure this is the long-term solution to our economic woes (it seems more like a very expensive band aid to me). Overall, though, I think it’s a good start and I do not doubt Obama’s motives at all. It’s a bummer that we will increase the deficit, but it would have increased regardless and sorry but it’s not Obama’s fault. If the deficit had not sky-rocketed over the past eight years, under Bush and his neo-cons, it wouldn’t even be an issue now.
More to the point of this entry, I have a really HUGE problem with the hypocrisy of these Republicans taking a stand against Obama’s proposed stimulus package, on the grounds that it will increase the deficit.
Adding to the insane hypocrisy, get this: The other morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that President Obama’s recovery package, priced at roughly $819 billion, is too expensive. GOP “members” believe that they can pass a “very robust” stimulus at a cheaper price, saying "Most of my members believe that we could pass a very robust stimulus for less than the amount currently before us. We have been throwing figures around like it was paper money. We are already looking at, before we even do this, at over a trillion dollar deficit for this year. We all agree that we need to do something, but I don’t think we should not just completely act like the amount is irrelevant."
The problem is that McConnell’s cheaper plan doesn’t exist. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is pushing the Senate GOP’s only alternative, “American Option: A Jobs Plan That Works.” A new Wonk Room analysis finds that DeMint’s plan will cost $3.1 trillion over ten years, more than 3.5 times the cost of Obama’s.
Not surprisingly, DeMint’s plan consists of permanent tax breaks for corporations and lowering income tax for the wealthy.
What? It’s OK to increase the deficit for an illegal and unjust war and to give your rich buddies a tax break for the past eight years, but it’s not OK to increase the deficit in an effort to create jobs, fund neglected programs and increase financial stability and security for all Americans?
Bite me, Mitch McConnell. Bite me, Jim DeMint. In fact, the entire GOP can bite me.
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