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Unconscionable

Economic stimulus plan passes the U.S. House, despite not a single Republican voting for it. You read that right - the GOP voted 178-0 against this critically-needed legislation.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night with spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of the young administration's plan to revive a badly ailing economy. The vote was 244-188, with Republicans unanimous in opposition despite Obama's frequent pleas for bipartisan support.
Is it really possible that not a single Republican congressman thought the stimulus plan was a good idea? I doubt it. The GOP, for all their America-first, flag-waving patriotism, don't care nearly as much about America and its citizens as they do about playing nice within their little party sandbox. The American economy is collapsing, and they all vote the party line instead of doing what's right. Shame on them.

January 29, 2009 in Current Affairs | Permalink

Comments

I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Remember when McCain tried to say that Obama voted against funding for troops, but his objection was specifically with the lack of a timeline?

I don't think it's fair to say no Republicans thought it was a good idea (although that may apply to some). From what I've read, they object to all the special-interest stuff tacked on. And while I support most of those interests (the National Endowment for the Arts, for one), I can see their objection given the bill's price tag.

Maybe knowing it would pass without them gave them more freedom to object without preventing this much-needed action. That said, 0 votes just loses even more brownie points with an increasingly frustrated/unemployed voting base.

Posted by: beth at Jan 29, 2009 12:06:29 PM

Yes, there were probably many Republicans who wanted to help the American people. But given the choice between helping everyday people and being faithful to their little right-wing club and its discredited ideology - tax cuts are good! government is bad! - the people lose out. Some Republicans might insist they care, but talk is cheap.

And yes, maybe the Republicans voted against because of their opposition to all of the special-interest goodies. But their alternative plan consisted almost entirely of tax cuts, which the last eight years of empirical evidence as well as the consensus of economists both indicate are ineffective as economic stimulus. So it wouldn't fix the problem, or do little to help. And while I haven't read the details of the Republican plan, my guess is that it also had plenty of special interest goodies, but ones which favored corporations instead. So their plan would have been yet another case of enriching the few under the guise of populism - or simply more of the same, which the American people so convincingly voted against in November. The Republicans are simply tone-deaf, listening to their rigid party leadership instead of the will of the people.

Posted by: Pete at Jan 29, 2009 1:19:37 PM