The Republican voter should be outraged. You go to the polls and vote for someone who campaigned and told you that they will represent you in Congress. You think you’re doing your civil duty by voting, only to realize later, that other companies and organizations are the ones pulling your congressperson’s strings.
Here’s an example. The Heritage Foundation recently sent this letter to all Republicans in Congress, urging them not to do the work of the people, but focus on so-called “scandals” surrounding the Obama administration instead.
Here’s the email, addressed to Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor
Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor:
For the first time, the activities of the Obama administration are receiving a sustained public vetting. Americans’ outrage over Benghazi is amplified by the Internal Revenue Service’s intimidation of conservative grassroots organizations and a cascade of negative headlines. There is the real sense the Obama administration has been less than forthright with the American people, the press and lawmakers.
Recent events have rightly focused the nation’s attention squarely on the actions of the Obama administration. It is incumbent upon the House of Representatives to conduct oversight hearings on those actions, but it would be imprudent to do anything that shifts the focus from the Obama administration to the ideological differences within the House Republican Conference.
To that end, we urge you to avoid bringing any legislation to the House Floor that could expose or highlight major schisms within the conference. Legislation such as the Internet sales tax or the FARRM Act which contains nearly $800 billion in food stamp spending, would give the press a reason to shift their attention away from the failures of the Obama administration to write another “circular firing squad” article.
Make no mistake, principled conservatives will still oppose bad policy if it comes to the floor. Rather than scheduling such legislation for consideration, we urge you to keep the attention focused squarely on the Obama administration. As the public’s trust in their government continues to erode, it is incumbent upon those of us who support a smaller, less intrusive government to lead.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Needham
Chief Executive Officer
Heritage Action for America
But then, who’s really surprised. In his first week in office, Republicans bought into Rush Limbaugh’s demand that Obama should fail. Heck, even Senator McConnell said that his main objective was to deny Obama a second term. And Republicans have put up stumbling blocks to every policy initiative the President pushed.
So no, we’re not surprised now when Heritage sends this letter telling Republicans what their goal is. But we do feel a sense of disappointment knowing that the average Republican voters have no say. We’re saddened that these voters think they’re participating in a Democracy, when in fact, they’re unknowingly taking part in a Plutocracy.
And these voters don’t know the difference.
