Republicans Say "No" to Stimulus Plan -- Without Condoms

For want of political protection and fear of catching that socially transmitted disease every politician fears, Voter Distancing, every Republican in the House of Representatives voted against the Obama stimulus plan (package). But Republican representatives were merely practicing safe voting. After all, the stimulus plan that was put to a vote was without the millions of dollars for condoms.

The Obama stimulus plan that gripped the media for the past week went to the floor of the House of Representatives and passed Wednesday - but with foreboding results. Not one Republican voted for the legislation. In fact, 11 Democrats refused to support the measure as well.

But it was the Republicans that insisted that the condoms not be allowed. (A provision for condoms in the original legislation, for programs for the free handout of condoms to help in controlling sexually transmitted diseases, had been met with protests from every Republican from Mitch McConnell to Pat Buchanan.)

To be fair, it was not just the condom allocations that got a round of unanimous nays out of the Republicans. There were billions of dollars of questionable programs and allocations in the legislation.

Still, so much for the political bonding and the bipartisan atmosphere President Obama was attempting to cultivate in Washington to bring about some kind of economic stimulus plan that might pull the American economy out of its plunge toward depression. Although a victory is a victory, President Obama's first win as president shows signs of a rough four years ahead.

But many political experts say that it was to be expected and are quick to point out the fierce opposition faced by President Bill Clinton by most Republicans and several Democrats when he took office.

Still, perhaps the most annoying bit about this legislation is that nearly every Republican voting against this bill was merely posturing, giving a political nod to their constituents that they will not be awed by the new president, that they will not be swayed by his mesmerizing ability to get large groups of people to do his bidding. In other words, this first vote in the House was just a token gesture at defiance. It was symbolism in action. In the House, where each Representative is answerable to a narrow constituency, symbolism will be seen a lot in the coming years, but not like on this first vote. These politicians knew that there were enough votes for the legislation to pass, so they voted against it to placate their supporters.

Practicing safe politics, as it were.

And then there was the alternate economic stimulus plan that nobody heard anything about until a couple days ago. Representative John Boehner (R-OH) and company told reporters before the vote that Republicans had a plan that was half the price of the Obama stimulus plan and would stimulate nearly twice as many jobs. This eleventh hour showing of one's cards is known as political sandbagging.

In a time when doing something, anything, is paramount, the Republicans are playing politics as usual. And they can. They were politically safe in saying "no," in abstaining from committing to agreeing to the stimulus plan. They knew the measure would pass. They had nothing to gain by voting for it. And if all those billions of dollars -- if the bill in its final form passes through all of Congress to make it to President Obama's desk to be signed -- fail to produce the desired economic stimulus the legislation is planned to elicit, then even better for the Republican representatives (and the Democrats) that voted against it.

Just don't bet on such a solid phalanx of opposition against President Obama's and the Democrats offerings in the future. Completely stonewalling legislation could be seen as obstinance in the face of disaster, unproductive and short-sighted. Besides, wheeling and dealing is how things get done in Washington. Such solidarity cannot and will not last. It is virtual political suicide in the long run.

But in the short run, it looks good, especially for the voters back home. Conservatives and those in opposition still have their champions.

But in the end, it is just the same old Republican dogma. Abstinence from committing to the stimulus plan is the only way to ensure that no one gets screwed (although no one really knows how true that is). Saying "no" to such forwardness and recklessness is simply the right thing to do (even though doing nothing may erode the relationship and be detrimental to a productive future). Nature will take its course and the market will rectify itself.

Waiting around for things to change and refusing to make a move was the "do nothing" attitude that put the Republicans in the minority. You produce nothing by doing nothing. Sometimes engaging in unprotected politics, though dangerous, provides unexpectedly beneficial results. And Congress is left with little else. They have to get something started, to get something done, to produce something.

Even though a fully willing Congress is optimal, politics is full of theatre and show. Symbolism counts. Voters believe in it. But now that the Republicans have made their symbolic stand, it is time for Washington to begin looking for common ground, compromise, and mutual supportability.

Democrats just have to be a little patient. The rigid solidarity that the Republicans have exhibited thus far will not hold. Nor will the Democrats always have a consensus where making a symbolic stand will be politically beneficial. Politics is a game of cooperation.

Still, Democrats are probably regretting not having kept the money set aside for condoms...

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Source:

MSNBC.msn.com