Although not intended this way when I wrote my article yesterday, today we have another "Things I Don't Get" musing. Not getting Ron Johnson is one thing -- but Republicans not supporting the Covid Emergency Relief Bill is another. I just don't begin to get it.
To be clear, I get Republicans not wanting to spend money to help the general public in need. That's sort of their official branding. And I also get some Republicans, maybe even most Republicans, choosing to commit political suicide in order to please their base whatever the consequences. And I even get some Republicans, maybe even most Republicans, not wanting to help Americans during a pandemic because that would be admitting that the coronavirus exists and they've been deadly wrong for the past year. I get all that. What I don't get is basically ALL Republicans in Congress refusing to support a bill that 76% of Americans support -- and that 60% of Republicans support! And which would help all Americans -- Republicans included -- with health measures and assistance for opening schools and support for local businesses and aid to states, but more importantly by giving every American household $1,400. Giving away money to constituents is Politics 101, the easiest thing a politician has to do in office. Especially when 76% of Americans think this is A Really Good Idea, including 60% of your own party. And again, I get some or many Republicans not wanting to do this because they're Republicans and that's how they roll. What I don't get is (as far as I can tell) Every Single Republican in Congress NOT SUPPORTING this Emergency Relief Bill -- that gives $1,400 in free money to voters -- in the middle of probably the biggest crisis the country has faced in 100 years. Every single Republican in Congress. And to be clear about something: most issues in politics are very subjective and wide open to debate, full of gray areas, so even when they generally support something, the public has a barrage of conflicting opinions thrown at them, trying to make sense of the detailed specifics at stake. But pretty much the one thing the public grasps pretty well is when the government sends them $1,400. They may be uncertain about some of the nuance in aid to schools and businesses and states and coronavirus distribution -- but they absolutely get receiving $1,400. These are professional politicians at the highest level. They absolutely know what the TV ads will look like in two years. Democrats will run ads that say -- we gave you each $1,400. And money to help open schools. And money to help open businesses. And money to your state to help pay for services they needed. And money to help organize the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. And our opponent voted against that, against all of that. And every Republican voted against all that. Every one of them. So, vote for the party that gave you $1,400 and money to help make your life better and normal again and helped organize the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine that helped save your lives. That's what the ads will be. Of course, it's what the ads will be. Republicans know that's what the ads will be. And still, it appears that ALL Republicans are against the EMERGENCY relief bill. And against giving voters $1,400. Every single Republican in Congress. And we haven't even touched on the insurrection to overthrow the government, and 147 Republican House members voting in basic support of that, and 43 Republican Senators voted to acquit Trump who incited it -- and who lost the White House and left office with around a 39% approval. No, for now, this is just about the Emergency Relief Bill and giving away $1,400 to those in need during a disaster. Yet there was Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) blasting this Emergency Relief Bill as being so socially -- or, I guess, communistic -- that it was "left of Lenin." And all that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could do was say on the Senate floor with total bewilderment that he didn't know what in the world Mr. Kennedy was referring. "Left of Lenin???" he asked. A bill that helps schools and businesses and medical workers and states and the health of the nation?? So, it's sort of like Chuck Schumer doesn't get it either. I have the sense that Democrats would like to have Congressional support on this Emergency Relief Bill from Republicans because that would be very good for the nation -- but that Democrats are perfectly fine if Congressional Republicans don't support it, because a) they know they have Republican support from Republican officials on the state level, and Republican support of the public, and b) that gives them free sailing in the 2022 mid-term elections. See above. I absolutely get the concept of Republicans acting irresponsibly and not helping people in need. But what I don't get is ALL Republicans committing political suicide by ALL of them refusing to pet puppies while giving you $1,400 for letting them. Every single Republican in Congress. They didn't even apparently get together and say, "Y'know, this is a Really Bad Look for the entire party not supporting this. So, how's about we let two or three of you who represent purple states or purple districts vote 'Yes," because that will be good for you, and good for us as a party because then we won't be able to be painted as ALL being against it." But they couldn't even do that. Not one single Republican in Congress. I don't get it. By the way, if for some reason in the end two or three Republicans do vote for the Emergency Relief Bill, that still doesn't really help the Republican Party. Because it will still be their overwhelming brand, and because all those other Republicans who voted "No" will still have to run on that record and face that onrushing ad campaign they know is coming. It's just that voting unanimously against it -- every single Republican in Congress -- makes branding them oh-so much easier. That today's Republican Party has become fascist is one thing. That the entire Republican Party in Congress doesn't want to do the brain-dead easiest thing for any politician to do which 60% of their own party supports -- and 76% of the entire nation -- and which helps helps in proving EMERGENCY relief during the nation's biggest crisis in 100 years is another matter entirely. I don't get it. But maybe that "brain dead" reference is a good place to start.
2 Comments
Douglass Abramson
2/26/2021 07:09:16 pm
Chuck also pointed out that the Republicans were mysteriously in favor of almost the exact same bill less than six months ago and he just couldn't understand what had changed. It was a rare instance where Schumer being a lousy actor was a plus. But the GOP's collective brain just wasn't on Washington business this week; they were getting geared up for CPAC, where they had more important issues to yell about; like Hasbro taking "Mr" off of the Potato Head boxes because they're merging the Mr and Mrs Potato Head toy lines into one and packing both sets of accessories in one box (I assume for a larger price tag). I suppose Hasbro could have still called the product Mr Potato Head, but then the CPAC crowd would have injured themselves from their group pearl clutching once they realized that a beloved children's toy was now at least a cross dresser, if not a transsexual. I personally would have found that very entertaining. The other pressing issue seems to be the parental warning label Disney slapped on The Muppet Show on Disney+, so they can tell any hypersensitive parents from either end of the political spectrum that they were warned that the show possibly contained offensive material, so go jump off of Space Mountain. The GOP has their priorities and telling private companies what to do with their corporate free speech regarding corporate owned property (I could have sworn that they were in favor of the FREE market) is obviously more important than helping the country recover from the worst public health crisis in a century. One that they helped make worse.
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Robert Elisberg
2/26/2021 10:16:29 pm
What the Republicans clearly don't grasp is that they can make all these issues you note and rile up their supporters to the rafters -- but 76% of the American public and 60% of *Republicans* still favor the Emergency Relief Bill and getting $1,400 checks.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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