fearlesshistory

The Conservative mantra espoused by GOP party leaders is to “tighten” governmental belts and that “earmarks” are the devil incarnate. No self-respecting Conservative GOP would be caught dead placing the dreaded “e” word into the recently passed stimulus bill, we’re told. Also, self-respecting GOP governors, such as Bobby Jindall, would refuse the “pork” being doled their way by an irresponsible Democratically-controlled Congress and populist Democratic President.

To prove their point, some of the GOP’s most prominant and conservative members voted against the stimulus bill; obviously the GOP has stuck to their guns and won the moral high ground in a time of financial irresponsability. To support the worth of their rhetoric, Slate.com has posted a list of the top ten (10) worst porkers in the most recent bill, using evidence provided by Taxpayers for Common Sense:

1. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.: $474 million
2. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.: $391 million
3. Mary Landrieu, D-La.: $332 million
4. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa: $292 million
5. David Vitter, R-La.: $249 million
6. Christopher Bond, R-Mo.: $248 million
7. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.: $235 million
8. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii: $225 million
9. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.: $219 million
10. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa: $199 million

Way to put your money where your mouth is GOP. Also, it should be noted that while Bobby Jindall - in the great tradition of keeping Louisiana stuck at the bottom of the list of most educated states, most improved states, most employed states, lowest crime rate, and other hallmarks of civilization - “refused” bail out money in a fit if fiscal conservatism, GOP governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlie Crist have both accepted (and even devised ways to get more) “bailout” money. Wonder why? If California was a separate nation, it would be the #6  in the world. Florida makes more money - and employs more people - than 70% of the countries in the world. If Louisiana were a separate nation, it’d ranks below Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala.

If the GOP wants to vote against the economic stimulus bill, fine. They should do so and retain the moral high ground. But to say you vote against it after putting your own pork barrel earmarks in it is duplicitous in the extreme.

What the GOP refuses to face is that their jobs are on the line; they got drubbed in the last two election cycles and are looking like a party led by a drug-addled windbag so they need to bring home some money to their respective states and districts.  It’s time for the GOP to come clean about their secret lives where they don dark glasses and a trench coat while accepting the money they denounced in broad daylight.

—————————Resources———————–

“Why the GOP should shut up about earmarks ” Slate.com

Bureau of Labor Statistics “Florida’s Economy at a Glance “

_______ “California’s Economy at a Glance “

_______ “Louisiana’s Economy at a Glance “

Taxpayers for Common Sense

Mitch McConnel’s website “McConnell votes against the Democratic spending bill “