After weeks of obnoxiously promoting his support for a taxpayer-funded automaker bailout, Rep. Thad McCotter (R-Mich.) voted for the bill last night. Erick has already explained why McCotter is just plain wrong and Michelle Malkin points out the hypocrisy, but I want to take it a step further.
McCotter was reelected chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee last month. Why is the No. 4 ranking Republican serving as the leading crusader for the automaker bailout? Does this not send the wrong message for a party trying to get back to the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility?
For the past several weeks, McCotter has aggressively campaigned for the bailout’s passage — even launching an online petition on his congressional website. As a Detroit native and Michigan congressman, it’s not surprising that he feels an affinity for the Big Three.
But when McCotter was elected Republican Policy Chairman, he became more than just your average congressman. He’s a member of the Republican leadership — and his actions are more meaningful than most other members. If he strays on important votes, it becomes much harder the GOP whip operation to impose discipline on other members.
If this vote is a sign of things to come, Republican Leader John Boehner is in for a rocky road in the 111th Congress. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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Dan Spencer
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Dan McLaughlin
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It is yet again do as I say not as I do...
JadedByPolitics (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 11:31AM EST (link)McCotter wanted what he wanted and voted for it and his small mind probably cannot even comprehend the hypocrisy of voting yes for this and no for the 700 billion….or it could be as simple as monkey see monkey do :-0
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10ksnooker (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 11:43AM EST (link)He voted for what his constituents wanted.
No,
Greg (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 11:59AM EST (link)He voted for what his Democrate constituents wanted. Having representatives that vote in the middle or center left costs the party..
I take it you're not from Michigan
mikefisk (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 12:09PM EST (link)The bailout is rather popular here (sadly)… Opposing said bailout would be political suicide, and an excellent way to put a far-left Democrat in McCotter’s seat (as Michigan seems very prone to finding the most left-wing people in the state and putting them in elected office… look at the state’s Senators and Governor).
I think McCotter’s positions should be taken as a whole, rather than cherry-picking stuff some group or another doesn’t like. Otherwise, the GOP just continues on with its circular firing squad.
“Once within the maw of Leviathan, degree of digestion is irrelevant.” – Michael Fisk
9.25, -4.77
Not From Michigan
Greg (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 12:21PM EST (link)However; I did seen any language stopping the government regulations that have cause down trun in the ability to sell cars. I did not see any language calling for union concessions. Just another bailout that will cost tax payers hundreds of billions in the long run. There is no fix in this bill except to get the big 3 down the road for three months.
Here's the thing
red_oakster (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 12:20PM EST (link)McCotter and Camp bailed on free market principles because to do otherwise IS political suicide for them. But Corker, who has been great on this issue, voted for a whole mess o’ Tennessee pork just before the election. Jeff Flake, who is great on spending, is bad on Cuba and illegal immingration. Duncan Hunter, who is great on defense, is terrible on free trade.
These guys are great 90% of the time. Until the bailout, Camp was widely regarded as a smart policy-savvy conservative on health care and tax issues. So Camp is now bad and Wally Herger is better because the latter has a totally safe district? This is circular firing squad stuff.
Even Mr Bluey’s employer, the Heritage Foundation, which has no voters to deal with, can mess up. Heritage’s Stuart Butler is back pedalling his version of government health care.
So let’s stop the bailout unless we get a good quo for our quid, and let’s cut local representatives some slack if they line up on the right side the vast majority of the time.
Like we didn't see this coming.
NightTwister (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 12:58PM EST (link)We need new leadership, top to bottom. Otherwise, I will not be following.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
GOP, AM Radio's Half As*ed Effort
klangston Thursday, December 11th at 1:07PM EST (link)The GOP and AM Radio is letting us down. Are they planning on making money along with Gore on the carbon trading exchanges as well? More proof that both parties are a** kissers of investment banks. Very disappointing.
From George Washington’s blog:
Carbon trading is a scam.
A big red flag is that our bailout buddies over at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and the other Wall Street pirates are buying heavily into carbon trading.
Since these firms contributed so heavily to Obama’s campaign, they will exert enormous pressure on Obama to push a huge carbon trading program. As University of Maryland professor economics professor and former Chief Economist at the U.S. International Trade Commission Peter Morici writes:
Obama must ensure that the banks use the trillions of dollars in federal bailout assistance to renegotiate mortgages and make new loans to worthy homebuyers and businesses. Obama must make certain that banks do not continue to squander federal largess by padding executive bonuses, acquiring other banks and pursuing new high-return, high-risk lines of businesses in merger activity, carbon trading and complex derivatives. Industry leaders like Citigroup have announced plans to move in those directions. Many of these bankers enjoyed influence in and contributed generously to the Obama campaign. Now it remains to be seen if a President Obama can stand up to these same bankers and persuade or compel them to act responsibly.
That’s right. The same companies that made billions off of derivatives and other scams and are now getting bailed out on your dime are going to make billions from carbon trading.
Moreover, even based on its stated goal of reducing carbon emissions, carbon trading might not work.
Carbon trading is a scam.
Now is the time to be Argus eyed, not wimpy
Marcus_Traianus (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 1:17PM EST (link)I am quite sick of the puling from alleged conservatives every time an issue of principal is discussed;
This is the weak, inept losing tones that are bereft of leadership and so far remove from sagacity it makes me hurl. If this party wants to continue promoting jerks like Cad Mc-Caitiff with no stones, so be it. But count me out.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Big 3
Greg (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 1:29PM EST (link)The Big 3 should ask Michigan for the bail out. Since Michigan’s are for the bailout. They can suck up the cost in higher Taxes.
With what taxpayers left?
mikefisk (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 1:31PM EST (link)n/t
“Once within the maw of Leviathan, degree of digestion is irrelevant.” – Michael Fisk
9.25, -4.77
Good grief guys...
RandomGuy (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 1:51PM EST (link)McCotter is a Congressman from a district in the Detroit suburbs. DUH he’s going to support it. He’d earn himself a quick trip back to Wayne County if he didn’t.
I’m fine with principle, and I oppose the bailout as well, but we have to be realistic. Sometimes, Congressmen have to vote with their constituents. McCotter is a very good conservative 99% of the time. Insisting that he vote against the bailout is foolish.
And this “he’s the Republican Policy guy” argument is equally foolish. NO Congressman isn’t going to have to vote his constituency over his party from some time or another.
This is the worst example of “eating our own” I’ve seen recently.
Draft Mitch Daniels for President ’12
I live about five miles from a very large GM plant
Bill S (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 1:55PM EST (link)and my GOP congressman voted “NO” on the bailout.
It’s possible to stand for the right thing, even if it conflicts with the interests of a certain portion of your constituency. Risky? Yeah. But that goes with the territory.
“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins
I would have preferred a Congressman ...
ZootSuit (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 2:01PM EST (link)Who would have explained why the automobile bailout is not good for the country, the automobile industry, and ultimately is not good for his local constituency.
The problem too many erstwhile conservative politicians have is that they articulate, campaign on, and may even believe in conservative policies and positions until it affects them. Then they (and too often their constituents) are just as likely to want a government handout as the most liberal of Democrats.
***** Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
If you were pissed off about Alaska's delegation
mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, December 11th at 3:51PM EST (link)voting for the “Bridge to Nowhere”, you should be every bit as incensed (more actually, this will end up being $100B v $300M) about MI reps who vote for the “Bridge Loan to Nowhere”.
Policy Committee & McCotter
PoliFanatic Friday, December 12th at 12:26AM EST (link)Do any of you even have an idea what Policy Committee really does in the House? Not much. It’s a position that could be something, but has been rendered useless by it’s chairman.
The elections for House Republican Leadership were ALL Boehner made, to include the whip.
The only real, actual, election, would have been Cole versus Sessions, but Cole stepped aside. He wasn’t “forced out” as the papers said. In fact, he nominated Sessions…. The members know what happened.
The Leadership in the House is wholly owned by Boehnercorp now. Don’t think it’s anything but that.
Why did Bacchus survive? The answer is pretty obvious.