Sometimes you read an article in the newspaper, and you just wonder aloud how some people’s views of the world can be so skewed, and wonder if they are even from the same planet as you. Now I admit that usually, in the context of politics, that is me reading the latest rant of a Howard Dean or an Al Gore. But in the article I am referring to today, it is Congressman Tom Davis of Virginia, a Republican, who heavily quoted in an article in today’s Washington Times entitled, GOP Left Slams Club for Growth.
Davis is the head of a GOP Congressional ‘interest group’ called the Republican Main Street Partnership. On their website, the RMSP proclaims that they were founded in 1998 to, "promote thoughtful leadership in the Republican Party, and to partner with individuals, organizations and institutions that share centrist values." The translation of this lofty mission statement is that this organization has been formed by wishy-washy liberal GOPers who are the greatest danger to our keeping our Republican majority. Why? Because it is this group that doesn’t seem to believe in taking the strong, bold decisive actions that our majority needs to take in order to clearly present a contrasting vision for leading America as compared to the agenda of Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats.
It is this group with whom the Congressional Leadership must constantly struggle as they whine and dumb-down proposal after proposal to cut tax rates, to reform social security and entitlements, and to really grapple with the number one problem facing the federal government in America – that it is too big, and has expanded in scope to an obscene level unimaginable by our founding fathers. It is with this knowledge that my eyes almost popped out of my head when I read this article.
The irony is that Davis, on behalf of the RMSP, throws out a red-herring argument that his organization’s members are being targeted (or ‘not supported’) because they are ‘socially moderate’ — but the reality is that the Club for Growth as an organization is not primarily focused on social issues! If you go to the Club for Growth website, here are their top legislative priorities… Making the Bush tax cuts permanent, Death tax repeal, Cutting and limiting government spending, Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts, Expanding free trade, Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits, Replacing the current tax code, School choice, and Regulatory reform and deregulation.
Hello? Earth to Tom Davis? Read the list. Do you see abortion? Prayer in school? Gay Marriage? Etcetra. Not that these latter ‘social issues’ aren’t important, but I think that Representative Davis is trying to mislead people from the rather obvious fact — if the Club for Growth is not supporting a Republican (or is opposing one), it is because that Republican is an ECONOMIC FISCAL LIBERAL who is ENDANGERING OUR MAJORITY by opposing the policy goals they list above. Over and over and over, "Main Street" Republicans, hiding behind rhetoric and excuses, play a pivital role in endangering the GOP majority by stopping us from passing true and meaningful reforms that address the fiscal woes of America, and tries to undo this unprecidented expansion of the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy.
So when Congressman Tom Davis talks about groups that are endangering the GOP majority on Capitol Hill, he needs to take himself and his fifty-or-so fellow members of the RMSP and find the biggest mirror in Washington, D.C. I’ve heard of the pot calling the kettle black, but this is ridiculous.
I will close by saying that since I had to go to the RMSP website to pen this column, I took the liberty of eyeing their membership list for Californians (after all, this website is focused primarily on California politics). Below are the names and contact information for the four California Republicans who are in this group. I encourage you to call or drop a note to any or all of them, and ask them why they want to endanger the GOP majority by being a part of an organization that wants to thwart a common-sense GOP agenda — one that we can be proud of and one that will allow the American people to see what a Republican Majority can do to renew the American dream, and restore freedom and liberty to the people. (I was suprised to see some of these folks in this group).
Congressman Ken Calvert – Phone #: (951) 784-4300 E-mail here
Congressman David Dreier – Toll Free #: (866) 373-6321 E-mail here
Congressman Jerry Lewis – Toll Free#: (800) 233-1700 Email here
Don’t miss the oustanding article penned for the FlashReport from Congressman Ed Royce that appears on the main page today. Congressman Royce just presided over a serious of regional Congressional hearings on the illegal immigration issue, and shares his thoughts…
Have a great day!
Jon
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