Democrat House Senate Leaders: Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Yesterday the US House returned. There is a lot of discussion of a potential economic stimulus package. Articles in The New York Times and The Hill report that Democrat leaders are calling for a bipartisan approach to the economy. But those comments are hard to square with Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer’s attacks on President Bush on Saturday. The Senate will return to legislative session on January 22.

The Politico writes today, “As Congress opens the 2008 session, it’s hard to find Iraq anywhere on the official agenda.” It appears very few hearings on Iraq have been scheduled in the next month, and there are no Iraq votes on the horizon. It’s quite a contrast from last year at this time when the new Democrat-controlled Congress kicked off with numerous Iraq hearings and constant talk of votes to disapprove of the surge or force an early withdrawal.

While some Democrats in Congress seem to be uninterested in discussing Iraq, Jonathan Last notes in The Weekly Standard today that during last night’s presidential debate, “the three Democrats tried to out-do one another in their commitment to speedily withdrawing from Iraq.” Meanwhile, in their haste to pivot to the economy, Democrats seem to have dropped their commitment to pay-go on a stimulus package, according to House Way and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel.

In a letter to President Bush last week, Speaker Nancy Peolosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Sen, Harry Reid (D-NV) appear to ask for bipartisanship on the economy: "We want to work with you and the Republican leadership of the Congress to immediately develop a legislative plan based upon these principles so it can be passed and implemented into law without delay." "We look forward to working together to develop a sound plan that injects demand into the economy, restores consumer confidence and purchasing power, and addresses the severe strains being felt by millions of our fellow Americans."

However, at the same time, The New York Times reported: ". . .a day after Democratic leaders urged Mr. Bush to cooperate on a stimulus plan, Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York used the weekly Democratic radio address to criticize the president’s economic policies."
Democratic Radio Address: "They continue to take a do-nothing approach as our nation’s housing crisis escalates, failing to come to grips with the escalating home foreclosures and devastating loss in home equity caused by the subprime mortgage crisis. . . . And despite all of the warning signs of a recession, the Administration has ignored the need for a change in policy—leaving hardworking families on their own to sink or swim. . . . We will not be stymied as the Administration is by an attitude that says ‘do nothing.' . . . We ask President Bush to take off his ideological handcuffs . . ."

The democrat leadership is returning but with one of lowest ratings in history, they are trying to mask their previous partisan and failed leadership in both the House and Senate. They are returning with a "two faced," "do as I say, not as I do" approach. Not having been able to attain their liberal agenda as easy as they had intended, they now ask the Bush administration to "cooperate" while attacking the administration. Ignoring the "attack" issues, what do they expect when they ask for cooperation? Do they want the President to pressure the Senate and House Republicans, not veto poor bills, or what?

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Tags: Charles Schumer, Democrats, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, US House, US Senate