Politico takes notice:
If Republicans break through the spending gridlock that has seized Capitol Hill, the rest of their agenda is starting to come into focus: defunding, investigating and otherwise beating up on liberal causes.At every turn, the GOP is attacking sacred cows of the left. The party has already voted to kill all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, a longtime conservative nemesis. NPR may lose its federal support. Republicans have targeted the Environmental Protection Agency for investigation and are moving to kill a federal program that benefits environmental activist groups like Defenders of Wildlife.
Even AARP — once untouchable because of its political and demographic power — is being targeted.This week, House Ways and Means Committee Republicans unveiled a 34-page report on AARP’s alleged abuse of its tax status in health care reform. The GOP has also gone after teachers unions, which were a target in the House-passed bill to encourage school vouchers in the District of Columbia.
Republican attacks on some of these well-known names in the liberal brand are only beginning, aides and lawmakers say. And nevermind that few of these initiatives stand a chance at becoming law, conservatives are getting in their whacks and sending a message.“Each of these initiatives is designed to save taxpayers’ money or create jobs or help needy children. The goal is better public policy for the American people,” said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner. “When conservative policy goals are opposed by liberal special interests, our goal is to break their rice bowls.”
I cannot remember a time when conservatives were in a position to do more than simply aspire to cut NPR funding. I can remember a time not that long ago when it was generally folks on the sidelines — I think Lagrangeville, N.Y., insisting people pay attention to the Planned Parenthood menace (though our Jonah made an important contribution to the effort in his Liberal Fascism). And AARP? Ask the guy from 60-Plus who looks like Ted Turner what a sacred cow that is.
Thanks, House Republicans. You are making waves. Even with only one chamber of Congress.
Just a few minutes ago, I caught the tail end of an advertisement on Fox News that had a picture of a baby, then black screen with large white type and voice over:
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Save the EPA. Save the children."
I didn't catch who paid for it.
I cannot understand why conservatives cannot play the "for the chldren" game?
How about ads saying (in essence), "eliminate debt, fix SS, fix entitlements, save the children, give them a future"?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe first step to unraveling the entitlement mess is to dismantle the stranglehold of AARP over the government... but please, K-Lo, avoid talk of such things as "chambers". Who knows what rightwing nutjob will take that as a cue to exercise his supposed second amendment right! #newTone
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"I cannot remember a time when conservatives were in a position to do more than simply aspire to cut NPR funding."
Really Lopez? How about 2001 through 2006. Or is that in the too distant past.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs K-Lo finally admitting that the Dubya, Lott, and DeLay gang weren't conservatives?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGWB was certainly not a conservative, but I will be forever thankful that he was President on 9/11 rather than Gore. I loved him for his foreign policy, however ill-managed some parts my have been. He talked the talk and in most areas at least tried to walk the walk. Where would the fight in Libya be now if Quadaffi hadn't looked at Iraq in 2003, put a call into the White House, and gave up his WMD's?
That said, GWB's domestic policies leave very much to be desired for a conservative. For this I place much of the blame on Lott & Delay and the GOP Congress in general. They had over the years morphed into Tip Oneill politicrats.
This foreign/domestic difference made it difficult for us conservatives. So I am not one to point fingers at past NR positions.
The fact that I hear a little tinge of inside the beltway elitism now is more troubling.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMom, The political and moral imperative to defund NPR did not exist in the same way as it does today. Both NPR and Planned Parenthood have made the sort of PR tactical errors which have given the GOP some sort of advantage to make cuts that are far easier to defend.
Still, the GOP's spending spree during this time is impossible to defend. BTW, would you have been sanguine over cuts to NPR and PP during this time?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseKathryn,
I have been making a point of informing people that PP's profit center is its abortion business. I have quit being amazed at how many people think of PP as only providing contraceptives and "family planning advice." I also now educate everyone I can about the reality of abortion law in our country. The only way for us to win on these issues is to inform the casual, middle-class voter who only hears the liberal line. This matters to people--they are outraged when they find out.
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