David Broder: mostly garbageIn Sunday's
Washington Post, David Broder frets about the budget deficit, praises Republican senator George Voinovich, and
writes this:
[Voinovich quote] "The question is, are we willing to be honest with ourselves and the American people and make these tough decisions?"
The answer from Congress was to pass a two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts for capital gains and dividends -- a $70 billion package that mainly benefits those with annual incomes over $200,000.
Voinovich was one of three Republicans who joined most Democrats in opposing the budget-buster. His candor is unfortunately not contagious.
Setting aside the fact that Broder fails to identify it as a
Republican Congress, let's focus on this line:
Voinovich was one of three Republicans who joined most Democrats in opposing the budget-buster.
Dictionary entry for
most - 2 : the majority of <
most people>
What was the vote? How did it break down by party? The
numbers:
YEAs - 54 : 51 Republican 3 Democrats
NAYs - 44 : 3 Republicans 40 Democrats 1 Independent
93% of Democrats voting opposed the tax cuts. This, Broder will not tell you. Instead, he characterizes them as "most Democrats", which obscures the full force of their position and prevents them from getting proper recognition
for opposing a policy Broder himself doesn't like.
The fact that Broder is highlighting a Republican in the wake of last week's vote shows you one thing clearly: Broder is only interested in having Republicans handle policy. He'll nag Republicans, tout those that he finds sensible, but won't consider turning to the Democats
as a party for needed reform.
posted by Quiddity at 5/14/2006 01:17:00 AM
Well, what do you expect? Broder has completely internalized the "everybody knows" wisdom that Democrats are the party of tax-and-spend.
In Broder World, it is infinitely preferable to stick with the spend-and-borrow Republicans. After all, for people like Broder, having Republicans in control means a lifetime of free lunches.
The 2006 Republican campaign slogan is an existing bumper sticker: "We're Spending Our Grandkids' Inheritence"
Broder also does not bother to tell you that Voinovich voted for the initial Bush tax cuts that brought about the current situation.
