Unemployment Extension Refusal: GOP's Turn To Play Scrooge

People like me voted for Obama precisely because he promised a more balanced, moderate and bipartisan approach. He also pledged to be accountable and transparent. Tired by eight years of the Madness of King George, we were dazzled by a candidate who could actually inspire us, kinda' like a rock star. He appealed to our better nature, and we elected him.

I still think it was the right thing. On election night, my half black grandson asked his mom for an Obama campaign sign and proudly planted it in his front yard. Thanks to some help from LV Congressman Charlie Dent, a nine-year old boy and his mother were able to attend Obama's inauguration.

Pelosicrats interpreted 2008's election results differently. They deluded themselves into believing they had a green light to shove their agenda, from health care reform to stimulus to cap-and-trade, right down our throats. For our own good, of course. We'd eventually thank them.

What they instead managed to do is to turn public sentiment against them. Instead of negotiating health care reform on C-Span, as promised, the President did it behind closed doors. For our own good, of course. We'd eventually thank him.

What happened instead is the rise of tea party movement, derided by liberal pundits as the Know Nothings of the 1840s. I've attended some of the monthly meetings of this 1300-member movement in the Lehigh Valley, and heard nobody speak about riots. Not even once.

But they vote.

An early indication of their populist appeal is the 2009 municipal elections. Don Cunningham, arguably the most powerful Democratic politician in the Lehigh Valley, was very nearly defeated by ultraconservative Scott Ott, winning by just 862 votes. In Northampton County, all five Republicans running for County Council were elected, something that had never happened since the inception of Home Rule in 1978.

I'm a Democrat who has little in common with the tea party movement, except for their emphasis on transparency, accountability and sound fiscal policy. Unlike them, I believe "limited government" pledges are essentially unworkable. But I voted for four of the five Republicans running for County Council last year. I did so because I hoped that, despite their conservative views, they would work better with Executive John Stoffa than members of his own party.

For the most part, that has happened. Instead of the usual County gridlock, we've had an unusual Council that has worked well together, even with bombastic Ron Angle at the helm. They've accomplished more in their first year than I've seen from any Council since 2001. Despite being extremely conservative, even on social issues, this Council has been accountable and transparent.

Moving from 2009 to the most recent Congressional elections, an energized tea party helped Republicans seized control of the House, and John "Hell No!" Boehner is Speaker-elect. Unlike Pelosi, Boehner has shown a willingness to reach across the aisles, and just yesterday, met with President Obama.

So far, so good. But what concerns me is that, just like the Pelosicrats, some within the GOP now think they have a mandate to be assholes. Nowhere is that more evident than in their refusal to extend employment benefits. A coalition of the nation's leading economists has argued in support of an extension because the money is spent, helping the nation recover from a dark recession.

But that's contrary to conservative theology. So they'll refuse money to people who need it the most. For their own good. At Christmas. We'll thank them eventually.

With idiotic moves like that, Democrats will be back in control of Congress within the next two years. Our job vacuum is our leading problem, and the GOP has just managed to look just like Scrooge.

By the way, Allentown Afterthought's Jeff Pooley has promised to provide a "Dent Watch," but has already dropped the ball by not telling us how Dent voted on this obviously crucial legislation. Dent did the reasonable thing, and voted to extend unemployment.

That's why he gets re-elected. We might have our own extreme views, but what we want are people willing to listen to each other and be reasonable.