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Tags: Caucus | McCarthy | McConnell | Obamacare
OPINION

Republican Surrender Caucus Schedules a Vote for Show

Michael Shannon By Friday, 08 January 2016 02:45 PM EST Current | Bio | Archive

Kabuki dance is a clichéd term used to describe a political event with a pre–determined outcome. These shows are designed solely to appease.

Kabuki dancers show up at legislative hearings, news conferences, diplomatic meetings or Hillary Clinton interviews.

But America has a perfectly good term that more accurately describes a deceptive political performance that misleads or pacifies, but in the end only benefits the performers to the ultimate detriment of the audience.

Our word is Carny Show and it’s particularly apt since these midway shows were designed by city slickers to take advantage of trusting Americans.

Many times at the conclusion of the show these formerly gullible citizens were angry once they realized it was all a dishonest sham.


Republican leadership in Congress is starting 2016 off with a colossal carny show and I’m warning you to be angry now and inform the Republican Surrender Caucus that you haven’t been fooled.

This carny show is the combination “repeal” of Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood vote taking place in both the Senate and the House during January.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, acting as the carnival barker, takes to the pages of National Review to assure us this vote is a “great conservative victory . . . Today, the House will pass a budget-reconciliation bill that repeals Obamacare and stops taxpayer funding to abortion providers.”

And it’s all a lie, beginning with the word “great” and ending with “providers.”

This bill, as McCarthy grudgingly admits, will land on Obama’s desk where he will veto it with relish. It may bring tears of laughter to his eyes.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama holds a veto ceremony where he runs the bill through a shredder borrowed from Planned Parenthood and distributes the confetti to attendees.

All the while gloating that he’s saved healthcare for millions and single–handedly thwarted the Republican “war on women.”

The veto will stand because Republicans lack the 67 votes needed to override. This “repeal” is designed solely for campaign commercials, since all negotiating leverage was abandoned last year.

The carny show allows our sellout GOP leaders to claim (falsely) that they kept their promise to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood.

That’s some promise — similar to a Bill Clinton chastity pledge — since Obamacare remains the law of the land and Planned Parenthood is still cashing the checks.

These congressional collaborators even lose the PR war since Obama will maximize the impact of his veto, helped by the adoring media.

Their only real chance to keep the promise made to conservative voters was abandoned in December when Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell conspired with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to pass the $1.1 trillion Omnibus Spending bill.

Congress’ most powerful weapon is the power of the purse. If the repeal of Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood had been included in the omnibus bill and sent to Obama, then his veto would have shut down the government.

Courageous GOP congressional leaders would have had a golden opportunity to explain to the American people that protecting money for the organ–harvesters at Planned Parenthood and continuing the ruinous impact of Obamacare is so important to Obama that he would shutdown the entire country to get his way.

Unfortunately courageous and GOP leadership is mutually exclusive.

That’s why this “repeal vote” Ryan and McConnell and McCarthy are so proud of is all a performance. When the party of big government — the Democrats — combines with the party of keep the government running at all costs — the Republicans — there are no victories for conservatives.

The mainstream media is even part of the show. The Associated Press claims the Obamacare/Planned Parenthood vote “will answer conservative demands in an election year.” Just like Stalin’s show trials answered the free world’s demand for justice.

Our ruling political class and media elites hold the majority of the populace in utter contempt. In the classic carny show the freaks and geeks were on the stage or in the tent.

Establishment Republicans think the freaks are all in the audience watching the show. That’s why they’re convinced the average conservative and/or Christian voter is so stupid this geek show will convince them their vote wasn’t wasted.

Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher (for the League of American Voters), and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.





 

© Mike Reagan

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MichaelShannon
Our ruling political class and media elites hold the majority of the populace in utter contempt.
Caucus, McCarthy, McConnell, Obamacare
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2016-45-08
Friday, 08 January 2016 02:45 PM
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