Spring Break
Republicans need to quit whining, start working
Sean Reed
Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: Opinion
As President Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill poises for passage Tuesday, Congressional Republicans are griping that they didn't get a fair shake on the debate.
These complaints come after different versions of the bill passed in the House and the Senate, both of which did so without a single Republican vote in the latter and only three in the former.
Only seven Democrats total voted against the bill, making this bill quite possibly the first thing since Bill Clinton held office that Democrats were more or less able to agree on.
Republicans, for their part, were nearly united in their opposition to the bill and expressed discomfort about the size and scope of a bill that, in the words of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, fails to be "timely, targeted and temporary," according to the Associated Press.
Now, unhappy with the outcome, many Republicans are attacking the president for his failure to fulfill his campaign promise to pursue bipartisan solutions to problems.
And, based on the final vote tallies, it would appear that they have a point.
However, the votes aren't the only story.
While it is true that the Republicans were, for the most part, locked out of the final decision over what to do to fix the fledgling economy, it would be foolish to say they were not given opportunity to do so, or that their complaints went completely unheard.
On his end, President Obama did meet with Republican leaders when they complained about the process to gather their input at the end of January, a meeting he left feeling "optimistic," according to the Washington Post.
Democratic lawmakers, too, have countered Republican criticisms with changes made to the bill meant to appease Republican criticism, including a surprise Saturday session in which $108 billion was cut from the bill.
Of course, these cursory attempts do little to erase that fact that the passage of this bill highlights the overwhelming truth that, if they want to, Democrats don't have to play ball with the Republicans to get things done.
These complaints come after different versions of the bill passed in the House and the Senate, both of which did so without a single Republican vote in the latter and only three in the former.
Only seven Democrats total voted against the bill, making this bill quite possibly the first thing since Bill Clinton held office that Democrats were more or less able to agree on.
Republicans, for their part, were nearly united in their opposition to the bill and expressed discomfort about the size and scope of a bill that, in the words of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, fails to be "timely, targeted and temporary," according to the Associated Press.
Now, unhappy with the outcome, many Republicans are attacking the president for his failure to fulfill his campaign promise to pursue bipartisan solutions to problems.
And, based on the final vote tallies, it would appear that they have a point.
However, the votes aren't the only story.
While it is true that the Republicans were, for the most part, locked out of the final decision over what to do to fix the fledgling economy, it would be foolish to say they were not given opportunity to do so, or that their complaints went completely unheard.
On his end, President Obama did meet with Republican leaders when they complained about the process to gather their input at the end of January, a meeting he left feeling "optimistic," according to the Washington Post.
Democratic lawmakers, too, have countered Republican criticisms with changes made to the bill meant to appease Republican criticism, including a surprise Saturday session in which $108 billion was cut from the bill.
Of course, these cursory attempts do little to erase that fact that the passage of this bill highlights the overwhelming truth that, if they want to, Democrats don't have to play ball with the Republicans to get things done.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 10
way2fun077
Lindsey
posted 2/16/09 @ 11:39 AM MST
The first thing that I have to say is wow, this is probably the worst newspaper article that I have ever read, worse than ones from my high school newspaper. (Continued…)
Arvensis
posted 2/16/09 @ 11:57 AM MST
Just lame Sean. I think you missed the point - it's not about partisanship and people whining. It's about the logic of the "stimulus".
Peace Love
posted 2/16/09 @ 6:26 PM MST
And we have a winner.
The new poster boy for "The Journalist Idiot".
And let me tell ya people the competition was fierce.
Congrats Sean.
I hear the NY Times, the DNC, and Planned Parenthood want to talk with ya. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 2/16/09 @ 6:44 PM MST
To quote you Sean, "Rather than complaining about being frozen out, they should step up and propose a long-term solution to the ridiculous debt Congress has voted to rack up. (Continued…)
anthony
posted 2/16/09 @ 10:25 PM MST
Sean you are some kind of idiot. You seem to think bipartisanship means voting for something no matter what aslong as our "savior" obama thinks it will work. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 2/17/09 @ 9:40 AM MST
You have such an interesting way with words, Mr. Reed.
For the entire eight years that the Democrats spent griping near-hysterically about virtually everything that the Bush Administration did; you liberals characterized your incessant complaints as "talking truth to power". (Continued…)
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