Look out Democrats, it’s time to party like it’s 1994! Well, kind of.
Thursday, Republican leadership fronted by House Minority Leader John “I-Spray-Tan-Too-Much” Boehner proudly showed off its new shiny toy: “Pledge to America.”
Sound familiar? That’s because it is.
Sixteen years ago before the 1994 midterm elections, then Minority Whip Newt Gringrich unveiled the GOP’s “Contract for America,” a plan that is often credited for the Republicans’ bump in the midterms, enabling them to take control of the House.
It’s no surprise the Republicans want to go back to the good old days of being the majority party, and this “pledge” (though seemingly less binding than a “contract”) is their ticket in.
So what’s in this pledge exactly? It might be easier to tell you what’s not.
Though filled with countless talking points about ending government spending, holding on to the Bush tax cuts, boosting national border security, fixing the economy and restoring Americans’ trust in Congress, the pledge has a few gaping holes in comparison to Gingrich’s contract. For starters, there is no pledge for a balanced budget amendment. There is no pledge to end congressional earmarks.
There is nothing about privatizing Social Security, and there is no mention about the two wars we are fighting overseas.
You know, all things the Republicans have talked about repeatedly, yet they avoided in their one pledge to show voters what they are all about.
Honestly, it seems to be a 21-page talking point memo with no real teeth. Just a few thoughts about our current system of politics:
“In a self-governing society, the only bulwark against the power of the state is the consent of the governed, and regarding the policies of the current government, the governed do not consent.”
“An unchecked executive, a compliant legislature, and an overreaching judiciary have combined to thwart the will of the people and overturn their votes and their values, striking down long-standing laws and institutions and scorning the deepest beliefs of the American people.”
“An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.”
Where did these quotes come from, you might ask? “Pledge to America.” That’s right. The congressional self-appointed elites making decisions without the input of many called themselves arrogant, self-appointed elites. They might have a pledge for us, but here’s a note for them: When calling out members of the legislature, it’s better not to be a member of the legislature. You can’t just call the legislature “compliant” and “out-of-touch” like you have nothing to do with the system; you’re in the system.
Just because you vote “no” on every bill that comes through the House does not exclude you from Congress as a whole.
Full disclosure: I am a Republican. I’m willing to give John Boehner and his elitist friends the benefit of the doubt until I see if their empty promises turn into concrete votes. But some friendly advice: Don’t underestimate the intelligence of the American voter.
Just because you pledge to do something does not guarantee votes. Try actually proving to people you can do something other than say “no.”
Talk is cheap.
Brittany Fox is a fourth-year political science student.
