Kicking the canard down the road
The day after they gave in on the fiscal cliff, Congressional Republicans vowed to hold the line on the debt limit.
They’ve already backed down. Just 22 days after some Republicans hinted they’d even go so far as to try to shut down the government rather than to pay the nation’s bills — they’ve kicked that canard down the road. By a 285-144 vote the House of Representatives gave President Obama another victory in, what could have been, yet another failed Republican stand-off.
Now, instead of taking the country through a protracted public snit over guaranteeing the payment of bills they’ve already made, those bills will be paid at least until May 19.
I’m wondering whatever happened to that bold sounding “Boehner Rule,” essentially decreeing that Republicans wouldn’t sign off on any increase in the debt limit without there being a dollar-for-dollar cut in spending?
Oh, the stage had been set on New Year Day, when Republicans stepped over each other to get in front of TV cameras to admit President Obama had won the fiscal cliff battle, but that he’d find new Republican resolve on the debt limit.
Obama countered by proclaiming he’d never sign off on any debt limit increase if any strings were attached. That led to Republicans, almost in unison, claiming “THERE WILL BE STRINGS.”
OBAMA: No Strings.
Republicans: Strings.
Obama: No Strings.
Republicans: No Strings.
Obama: DEAL!
Something, besides getting vanquished in the presidential election, has caused Congressional Republicans to speak louder but to act squeamish. It’s called public sentiment.
Obama’s job approval ratings (+50%) remain high, but Congressional Republicans, in general (around 15%), and House Speaker John Boehner’s specifically (just above 20%), so it’s been, well, sobering.
Republicans might kick up a little dust, but they know they’re only slightly more popular than leg cramps.
So, when the president indirectly scolds them with his rhetoric about Americans not being “takers” during his inaugural address, the best Republicans can do is grumble — but only for a day or two. They’re aware that the rest of America cheered him.
They had depended on the sound and fury of the Tea Party to do their talking for them. But those days seem to be over. Tea Party candidates aren’t nearly in as much in demand as they were in 2010.
In fact, two years ago, if Republicans had signed off on a deal that handed Obama yet another victory, the Tea Party might have staged a million pitchfork march on Washington.
However, the Tea Party has been silent. It’s suffering, too, in the eyes of the American public. The most recent polling shows that the Tea Party is only viewed favorably by 30 percent of America’s voters. And only 8 percent claim to be associated with the Tea Party.
So how can Republicans get out of their funk? How can they overcome their growing image of being nothing more than boisterous but feckless?
Bake sales. That’s right — bake sales.
There’s a market out there for our conservative friends who might want to ingest immense helpings of humble pie. And for the main course — crow.
They’re getting real good at telling the American public what they’re definitely not going to do, and then doing it, and with sheepish smiles on their faces. It’s making Obama appear to be downright decisive, even, at times, when he’s not. He doesn’t have to be. He has Republicans to help him in that regard.
There was a time when Republicans could be counted on as the Democrats’ loyal opposition.聽 Instead they’ve become whiney complainers.
All Obama has to do is advocate for anything, and there will be a Republican voice calling from the shadows, “You lie!,” without any other Republican denying the claim. It’s come to that. It’s when well-meaning Republicans don’t get nearly the time in front of TV cameras, because Republican attack-dogs won’t share the spotlight.
Obama approaches his second term knowing his Republican adversaries are only equipped with a toothless bark without a bite. And that their canards mean nothing to the bulk of Americans.
Uniontown native Edward A. Owens is a three-time Emmy Award winner and 20-year veteran of television news. Email him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.