Being accused of hypocrisy on stimulus is making Republicans nervous and desperate

[ProSense]

A WEAK DEFENSE....

<...>

Conservative economist Greg Mankiw summarized the GOP argument, calling the Democratic cries of hypocrisy "baffling." (thanks to reader C.L. for the tip)

It seems perfectly reasonable to believe (1) that increasing government spending is not the best way to promote economic growth in a depressed economy, and (2) that if the government is going to spend gobs of money, those on whom it is spent will benefit. In this case, the right thing for a congressman to do is to oppose the spending plans, but once the spending is inevitable, to try to ensure that the constituents he represents get their share. So what exactly is the problem?

Let me offer an analogy. Many Democratic congressmen opposed the Bush tax cuts. That was based, I presume, on their honest assessment of the policy. But once these tax cuts were passed, I bet these congressmen paid lower taxes. I bet they did not offer to hand the Treasury the extra taxes they would have owed at the previous tax rates. Would it make sense for the GOP to suggest that these Democrats were disingenuous or hypocritical? I don't think so. Many times, we as individuals benefit from policies we opposed. There is nothing wrong about that.

This is no doubt the official Republican line. Indeed, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) made the identical argument, with the exact same analogy, on "Meet the Press" over the weekend.

<...>

GOP officials can take one position or the other, but when they embrace one side in D.C. while talking to the media, and then the opposite side when dealing with their constituents, it's more than just stupid -- it's hypocrisy.

As for Mankiw's analogy to the Bush tax cuts, this also doesn't stand up well to scrutiny. The only way this would make sense is if Democrats opposed and voted against Bush's policy in D.C., and then went back to their states/districts to take credit for the tax cuts and boast about how effective they were.

The fact that the hypocrisy charge seems to make Republicans nervous is itself encouraging. That the GOP has not yet come up with a coherent response should encourage Dems to keep it up.

[rfranklin]

1. That's an old Republican talking point...

Of course, for most of us, the postage stamp on the return envelope would have eaten up most of the tax cut we got under Bush. Unless your income was in the stratosphere--then yhou were getting $50,000 or more in tax cuts.

[Arkana]

2. The tax cut analogy is false.

Democrats didn't protest the tax cut, then go out and talk it up to their districts.

The GOP did everything in their power to kill the stimulus bill, but they're only too happy to take the federal money--and then go home to their districts and gloat that they brought home the bacon.

[glowing]

3. But will they.. spineless idiots.

[KingFlorez]

4. The Democrats who opposed the tax cuts stayed consistent

There was no doing one thing and then saying another to constituents.

[Cha]

5. They're easily baffled..a requirement to be a

con is forgetting you ever had cognitive thinking skills.

[Better Today]

6. The analogy also fails because.... (and I am baffled that no one sees it)

the tax cuts were passed, the pols surely did their taxes as indicated to do otherwise would mean IRS wastes time fixing it and sending the refunds or ajustments anyway. That aside,


not only is it different because Dems didn't go back to their districts and tout the tax breaks,

they also did not ask for anything more or different. These Repubs weren't just following the new legislation, ie filing their taxes according to new rules, they were actively asking for more money and using stimulus supporting terms to do it.

They are not the same no matter how much someone wants to make them the same.

[BarackObama2012]

7. One Question

Why aren't the Dems Senators and house members pushing the fact that the Bush Tax cut
cause the deficit to increase. If they push the fact that those states who pushed
for tax cuts are really doing bad. Look at California and Louisiana. Louisiana
had a surplus until Bobby took office. Since him taking office, he has had to
cut jobs because he cut taxes was passed. They need to star pushing
these type of things needs to be push and needs to go viral on tweeter.

Why aren't they pushing this?

[butterfly77]

8. The other day I was listening to Rick Sanchez ...

and Jessica Yellin and Yellin had the nerve to comment on the Dems and ThinkProgress and she said "What took so long for the Dems to call out the hypocrisy of the GOP".

My mouth dropped open as I asked "Aren't you the damn media"? I ask what in the hell took you fake ass media so long?

[Jennicut]

9. Typical media. Does not do investigative work anymore.

At least Media Matters on CNN actually discussed if the media was lax in their reporting on Rethug hypocrisy.

[butterfly77]

11. Jessica Yellin acted like she was saying..

duh,what is wrong with the Dems when she is the media and knows what is going on she makes damn sure she tells us everything SHE thinks is wrong with Obama..

[karynnj]

10. The anology doesn't work

In 2000, Al Gore was also for a tax cut - for everyone. In 2001, when the Republicans were ramming through the bill, it was mostly Democrats who fought for the provision that gave every one the tax "rebate". They still voted against the bill due to the fact that it was so obviously unsustainable that it was temporary and ended in 10 years.

[DailyGrind51]

12. James Carvill would have been all over something like this during the Clinton years.