Unity (or: No Charm for Charm City)
January 13th, 2011
Inspired by House Republicans heading to Baltimore for retreat to build unity (Washington Post 1/13/11), House Republicans Staging Annual Retreat: This Time, It’s Members Only (Politics Daily 1/13/11), and New Majority Ready to Serve as Outpost in Dem-Dominated Washington for People’s Priorities (John Boehner press release 12/17/10).
“To return our country to prosperity and restore the American Dream for our children, we need a smaller, more accountable government that honors our Constitution and respects the will of the people. This must be the focus of the new majority. The people’s priorities must be our priorities.” – John Boehner letter to House Republican majority
“The will of the people is neither unanimous nor in any real majority so to say one party represents the will of the people is the height of arrogance. I truly hope and pray that this congress will be about the country and the people because, all the rhetoric certainly doesn’t reflect that… A significant portion of this country does want social programs, including healthcare reform so offering up repeal legislation that hasn’t a chance of passing is just wasting the time of the people and wasting time which could otherwise be spent actually getting extremely pressing work done. Get off your high horse and join the ranks of the people. We don’t speak with one voice.” – comment 1/04/11 on John Boehner’s website
I’m surprised House Repubs
Are going to Baltimore.
After the political beating
They suffered there before.
For this year’s retreat,
They didn’t invite Obama.
I guess they didn’t want
All the political drama.
They’re also making sure
Meeting doors stay closed.
So that their extremist views
Aren’t publicly exposed.
(Funny that they claim to represent
The American public,
But aren’t willing to discuss
Their views and plans in public.)
House Republicans are
So out of touch.
They say they want to build unity.
I say they’ve got too much.
They claim the mantle
Of public opinion,
But they don’t reflect it,
And that’s not just my opinion.
On repealing DADT,
75% of Americans and 64% of Republicans agreed,
But Repubs opposed it anyway,
Except for a handful who didn’t join the stampede.
Majorities of both Republicans and Dems
Support most key aspects of healthcare reform,
In spite of GOP efforts,
The public to misinform.
On extending tax cuts for the rich,
67% of Americans and 50% of Republicans opposed,
But the GOP leadership
Still made sure the minority view was imposed.
So no, Speaker Boehner, you don’t represent the people–
Not even the Republicans in our midst.
When you get the urge to trumpet your popular mandate,
Resist.
American public opinion
Is fragmented and diverse.
Republicans, in contrast,
Are the reverse.
Either admit that or allow disunity–
You can’t have it both ways.
Especially on issues
Like taxes, healthcare, and gays.
Those are just three examples,
But I could come up with more.
Maybe that’s something you could discuss
In Baltimore.
The problem with you goal
For me as a Dem
Is that if you gets the unity you want,
I’m one of the “them.”
You want Republicans
To be united in opposition,
Punishing the slightest deviation
From the party position.
I wish the GOP would go back
To the motto “Country First” –
Because real party unity
Shouldn’t have to be coerced.
Real unity doesn’t mean
Diversity to smother,
Or to artificially create it
By inciting fear of “The Other.”
Even when we have different opinions.
Now there’s something to talk about in Baltimore
With your GOP minions.
***
Here’s Hardball’s 1/05/11 panel discussion on how good the Republicans are at listening to the people.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Read Country First, Snoverkill, Lesson Learned, True Colors, and My Worst Video for other takes on the GOP motto.
Sphere: Related Content
Tags: Baltimore, Chris Matthews, hypocrisy, John Boehner, Republicans
Posted in
Republicans |
5 Comments »
Get Music, Movies, and More With SuperPass - 14 Day Free Trial
Stream 7 million songs and download MP3s with free Napster trial
January 14th, 2011 at 8:37 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Newsericks and Newsericks, Newsericks. Newsericks said: #Republicans claim the mantle/Of public opinion/But they don’t reflect it/And that’s not just my opinion http://newsericks.com/unity [...]
January 15th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
[...] And tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, we’ll return to our usual attitude… [...]
January 17th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
[...] the voters you convinced healthcare reform was the Work of the Devil start to realize that they like most of what’s in the bill and actually want the system to be reformed? It’s too embarassing to admit you were lying all [...]
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:32 pm
[...] And an increasing number of Americans have started to embrace it. [...]
February 19th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
[...] Unity for more about how Republicans falsely claim to be representing or listening to the “will of the [...]