It has been reported that a few hours before President Obama made his first trip up to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans that they had already decided as a group not to assist in the governing and to try and block anything and everything this president attempts to do. This report has been proven to be true and the only voices being heard are those of the Tea Party. It’s as if being in the minority means that all a party is required to do is impede progress of a nation risk-free while most of us thought that they were elected to serve the people.
Yesterday, President Obama met with Senate GOP representatives and instead of getting solutions to the problems that this country faces, here is the majority of the kind of rhetoric he received.”I told him I thought there was a degree of audacity in him even showing up today after what happened with financial regulation,” said Bob Corker of Tennessee. “I just wanted him to tell me how, when he wakes up in the morning, comes over to a luncheon like ours today, how does he reconcile that duplicity?” “I told him there was a tremendous disconnect from his words and the actions of his administration.” “He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans,” Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told reporters. “He’s pretty thin-skinned.” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., complained to Obama about the partisan genesis of the health care law, enacted without a single Republican vote in Congress.” “Sen. John Thune, R-S.D “What we haven’t seen is sort of the matchup between the rhetoric and the actions to follow through.”( Babington, Charles; Davis, Julie Hirschfeld ; Kellman, Laurie; Kuhnhenn, Jim; Pace, Julie; Werner, Erica, May 25, 2010, Associated Press Writers, Obama gets an earful in clash with GOP senators, Retrieved from www.associatedpress.com). Is this what is meant when they say that they wish to work with this president when facing the cameras but offers little in the way of solutions? Is this what has become of the Party of Lincoln? Abraham Lincoln brought in both his allies and his detractors while governing to get a broader view of opinions, this group of republicans seem to refuse to show the slightest interest in governing.
But just like all of the times before, these great republican minds lose again. One of these brilliant thinkers mentioned that this president was pushing a “liberal” agenda. I assume that the previous one was pushing a “conservative’ one because they were so quick to support him and even acted as if they did wish to govern. Let’s take a few minutes to examine these two agenda, assuming that this is what he meant of course. The “conservative” agenda gave us two (2) wars, a trillion dollar deficit, failure of Wall Street and the Auto Industry, Lax regulations on Big Oil and Coal, and a reputation of the bully on the block. Oh, sorry I almost forgot that the “conservative” agenda also gave us “No Child Left Behind” and the largest funding of AIDs research for Africa. The “liberal” agenda has so far given us the Lilly Ledbetter Law which for the first time means that a woman who does the same work as a man can no longer be cheated out of their deserved pay. Stem Cell Research which scientist will now have a better chance of finding cures for the most devastating of illnesses. Healthcare which now will save millions of Americans from losing their homes by reducing medical costs which drives many to bankruptcy. Much stricter regulations on Big Oil, Coal and the Auto Industry as well as Wall Street Reform. A more civil working relationship with the other countries of which shares this universe with us and let’s not forget for the first time in a long time, America has decided to no longer discriminate and honor the civil rights of all Americans by allowing gays to openly serve in the military.
For the first time that I can remember, we finally have a president set on and showing that campaign promises is more than just saying anything to get elected, they can also be fulfilled. Yes, he does not accomplish these things as quickly as we may like but they are getting done. When was the last time anyone witnessed a politician making good on his/her campaign promises? I only wished that the real Lincoln Republicans would begin to speak up because in their absence, the Tea Party is seen to be speaking for them. I guess it’s really their choice if they want non-responsive representatives and a group bent on “taking back” their country as if it only belongs to them. Maybe its wishful thinking but it could happen, right? Either way, if this is pushing a “liberal” agenda instead of just doing what he was hired to do for this nation as a whole, then there is only one thing left for me to say. May I have some more of this “liberal agenda” please?
