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| Google Images: Eric Cantor |
David Brooks said it best,
It could be that this has been a glorious moment in Republican history. It could be that having persuaded independents that they are a prudent party, Republicans will sweep the next election. Controlling the White House and Congress, perhaps they will have the guts to cut Medicare unilaterally, reform the welfare state and herald in an era of conservative greatness.
Republicans had a huge chance here. I said it in my last post and I will say it again: There was a Democratic president who saw it fit and necessary to move his policies and this country towards the political center, floating ideas that were extremely unpopular in the Democratic Caucus in Congress. Liberal activists were (and still are somewhat) furious and stunned by Obama’s talk about potentially raising the Medicare enrollment age, cutting Social Security by changing the inflation index, and offering offering to work with congressional Republicans on broad-based tax reform.
The Democratic Party was one step away from truly fracturing, with congressional Democrats unified in their full opposition to entitlement reform while President Obama spent long nights talking about that very topic with Speaker Boehner. Republicans were one step away from really solidifying and even strengthening their 2010 gains. Democrats would have stayed home in large numbers in 2012 and the Republican nominee would have had a huge opportunity to take the White House.
The Democratic Party was one step away from truly fracturing, with congressional Democrats unified in their full opposition to entitlement reform while President Obama spent long nights talking about that very topic with Speaker Boehner. Republicans were one step away from really solidifying and even strengthening their 2010 gains. Democrats would have stayed home in large numbers in 2012 and the Republican nominee would have had a huge opportunity to take the White House.
But then something happened. Republicans pulled back. Eric Cantor stormed out of debt talks. He then rebuked Speaker Boehner’s potential deal with President Obama that would have cut around $3 trillion in spending while eliminating tax loopholes and making minor cuts to Medicare. To avoid a “grand deal” was a mistake, but it’s understandable that Republicans pull back from such a large deal.
But Republicans in the House did not just reject the plan being crafted by Speaker Boehner and President Obama. No, it then went to an even greater extreme. Today, House Republicans introduced the “Cut. Cap, and Balance Act,” which is the most ideologically driven, partisan debt ceiling legislation that we have seen yet. As the August 2nd default date creeps eerily closer, and both parties frantically attempt to convince independents that they are the ones working for their values, Republicans have astonishingly made a hard-right turn.
And while Republicans believe that their opinions are currently in line with those of the American people (and they are for the most part true), those views are quickly shifting. While just one week ago, a huge majority of Americans disagreed with raising the debt ceiling, those numbers are now much more hazy, with at least one poll out today saying that 55% of Americans are now very concerned about what would happen if the debt ceiling was not raised. But Republicans in the House did not just reject the plan being crafted by Speaker Boehner and President Obama. No, it then went to an even greater extreme. Today, House Republicans introduced the “Cut. Cap, and Balance Act,” which is the most ideologically driven, partisan debt ceiling legislation that we have seen yet. As the August 2nd default date creeps eerily closer, and both parties frantically attempt to convince independents that they are the ones working for their values, Republicans have astonishingly made a hard-right turn.
Furthermore, a new Gallup poll released today shows that 66% of Americans agree that some type of compromise plan is necessary for the debt ceiling, even if it is a plan that the person who was polled personally disagreed with. Just 27% of Americans polled believe that their party should hold out for the exact plan that they want, even if the debt ceiling was not raised by August 2nd. Furthermore, 57% of Republicans believe that a compromise is necessary even if they disagree with the plan and an astounding 72% of independents agree.
Republican and Democratic voters are decided on this issue. Republicans believe that we need to cut, cap, and balance without any tax hikes while Democrats believe that deficit reduction should involve a more balanced approach of spending cuts and tax increases. The fight is over the center. And the ability to relate to the independent center voters (those that are absolutely imperative for election/re-election) is quickly slipping away from Republicans in the House.
Republican and Democratic voters are decided on this issue. Republicans believe that we need to cut, cap, and balance without any tax hikes while Democrats believe that deficit reduction should involve a more balanced approach of spending cuts and tax increases. The fight is over the center. And the ability to relate to the independent center voters (those that are absolutely imperative for election/re-election) is quickly slipping away from Republicans in the House.
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| Google Image: Tea Party Patriots Banner |
As the tea party continues to radicalize a republican party that no longer has a moderate wing, republican lawmakers are increasingly left pandering and reassuring their own voters. This can be seen with cut, cap, an balance. Republicans know that this bill has no chance of becoming law but that's not what's important. What is important is that the act reassures tea party donors and super conservatives, which keeps money flowing in to republican coffers.
The problem with this approach is that Republicans are now ostracizing independent voters, allowing President Obama, who had consistently attempted (and mostly succeeded) in painting himself as compromiser-in-chief, to swoop in and snatch up independent voters with his centrist and pragmatic policies. While liberal democrats have become rather frustrated with Obama, there is no doubt that they will still vote for him in the end (however begrudgingly they may do it). What has always mattered (and especially matters now) is who can control the middle ground. And with Republicans moving farther and farther right, passing their latest cut, cap. and balance bill by more than 30 votes, they are moving themselves away from what is really important: the political center.
The problem with this approach is that Republicans are now ostracizing independent voters, allowing President Obama, who had consistently attempted (and mostly succeeded) in painting himself as compromiser-in-chief, to swoop in and snatch up independent voters with his centrist and pragmatic policies. While liberal democrats have become rather frustrated with Obama, there is no doubt that they will still vote for him in the end (however begrudgingly they may do it). What has always mattered (and especially matters now) is who can control the middle ground. And with Republicans moving farther and farther right, passing their latest cut, cap. and balance bill by more than 30 votes, they are moving themselves away from what is really important: the political center.
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| Google Images |
While Republicans in the House celebrate their victory tonight, the American people are worried, worried that political posturing and risky lies could make it so they no longer have access to credit and are at risk of losing their job. The debt ceiling is not something to play with, it should never be used as a political tool to inspire fear or as an excuse to lie through one's teeth.
Republicans are happy tonight; but rest assured, political commentators, historians, and politicians will look back on this past month and say that the Republican's handling of the debt ceiling situation was one of the biggest political blunders in the history of the Republican Party.
The radicalization of the republican party continues, and with it goes a missed, golden opportunity.
