Why Pork & Tea Parties Fit Together
As I wrote here, people attending the St. Cloud Tea Party were upset with the wasteful spending in the stimulus bill. This Washington Times article ties into that theme:
Capitol Hill lawmakers still brag about the federal dollars and projects they bring home. But in an age of taxpayer-financed bailouts and massive budget deficits, members are increasingly on the defensive about pork-barrel spending. Pet projects are targets for charges of government waste during tough economic times, and earmarks stuffed into appropriations bills smack of Washington backroom dealing.
Republicans, laboring to re-establish the party’s reputation for fiscal restraint, are bearing the brunt of the criticism and being hit from all sides. Rep. Mary Fallin, a Republican contender in the 2010 Oklahoma governor’s race, was criticized last week by her primary rival for not “practicing what she preaches” when it comes to pork spending.
“She is just as guilty on the runaway federal spending that she rails against,” said state Sen. Randy Brogdon, who pointed out that Mrs. Fallin requested more than $243 million in pet projects for the upcoming fiscal year.
Republicans won’t get away with just talking the talk. Inspired conservatives will apply the same principles to Republicans as we apply to John Murtha or David Obey or Prime Minister Pelosi. One simple rule applies to everyone:
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS ACCEPTABLE WASTEFUL SPENDING!!!
Anoyone thinking that they’ll get a pass just because they’ve got an R behind their name would be well-advised to re-evaluate their thinking and re-adjust their habits. Those that don’t won’t get the enthusiastic support of energized fiscal conservatives.
It’s that simple.
This information put a smile on my face:
The National Republican Congressional Committee announced an offensive Friday targeting 43 vulnerable House Democrats with robocalls and TV and radio ads that highlight the $1.2 trillion in new spending authorized so far this year.
“Democrats have failed to be honest about their willingness to support a pork-filled stimulus package and a budget that taxes, spends and borrows in excess at the expense of their constituents,” NRCC spokesman Ken Spain said.
It’s great to hear that the NRCC is targetting vulnerable Democrats for a couple reasons. The first reason I like hearing that news is because it says they won’t shrink from an important fight. The other reason I like this information is because it tells me that their fundraising is improving.
It’s predictable that Democrats will accuse Republicans of fiscal hypocrisy. Instead of getting hit for being hypocrites, Democrats will get hit for simply being honest about their fiscal irresponsibility. Based on what I saw at St. Cloud’s Tea Party, I’m confident that people won’t give irresponsible Democrats a free pass just because they’re honest about their irresponsible behavior.
Technorati Tags: Pork, Tea Parties, Fiscal Restraint, Earmarks, NRCC, DCCC, Bailouts, Election 2010
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog