As I watch what is going on with the various bailout discussions, I can’t help but step back and look at the bigger picture. The entire mess is a completely nightmarish GOP public relations debacle.
And while I’ve been for no bailouts in principle, that taxpayers can’t be held responsible for the private failures in the marketplace, the fact that Bush and McCain very publicly supported the financial bailout gave Republicans the black eye. In other words, though Democrats were all for it, we get all of the ire from a public that was strongly opposed.
And potential gubernatorial candidates like Congressman Zach Wamp supported the financial bailout because they were “lied to.” Uh-huh. And he didn’t see the problems with empowering Treasury Secretary Paulson to pick and choose winners? He couldn’t google Paulson or the Constitution?
Now look to a bailout of the Big Three automakers. Suddenly we’ve got bailout religion? No bailout unless the monkeys dance first? Socialism lite? You’ll get your taxpayer dough if you jump through hoop A and walk under bar B? It’s easier to take a stand against the autoworker than the banker?
To the average man on the street who is out there working for the capital that our political slime and Wall Street thugs are trying to steal from us, it looks like nothing short of hypocrisy.

GOP to Automakers: Dance for your bailout!
Or perhaps this is the public perception of the entire negotiating process?
Unions: “Give me my bailout, GOP clowns! ”
GOP: “But we want you to make your wages competitive…”
Unions: “Whatever! Just give us our bailout, funny guys!!”
Now I’m not advocating that because you were wrong the first time you need to be wrong the second time. No bailout. Sorry.
But we really missed a chance to speak to larger issues that Americans do understand. Getting government out of our lives. Reflecting on the problems like the fact that Washington telling Detroit how to make cars is a failing disaster. That our Congressional energy policies and Wall Street lawlessness gave us $4.70 a gallon gas that in turn killed not only the SUV business, but many a business across this nation. That government is part of the problem. That we’d like to help with any advice or assistance that we can (like encouraging the unions to be competitive), but we’ve got our own entitlement issues to deal with. That our CAFE standards have hurt Michigan but not the foreign companies. That the big three need to respond to the market.
Heck, Saturday Night Live did a great job of putting it all in perspective. Watch the clip here.
But instead, we carry chief negotiator Bob Corker on our shoulders as a hero who is taking it to the unions.
He’s done nothing of the sort. He only amplified our hypocrisy and furthered a false stereotype that Republicans are the party of the ivory tower when in truth, it is the Democrats and Barack Obama who are the hedge fund candidates of choice.
Why for instance, would someone like national radio host Laura Ingram say Senator Bob Corker is a new face of conservatism as she did on her radio program last week? We’ve praised Senator Corker on the radio when we like his votes, for instance, his vote against the big housing fiasco bill that passed anyway.
But Corker was for expanding SCHIP, that is, making taxpayers pay health benefits for 25 year old children who may be married and have their own children, who may in some states make up to $86,000 a year. It’s socialism creep. And Corker was for the Wall Street bailout, that is, getting $866 million of it for First Horizon in Memphis.
And Corker was quick to join a gang, the Gang of 10 that created a so-called energy plan that allowed only a minutiae of drilling, yet generated new taxes, and gave out pounds and pounds of pork for government intervention in the energy sector in the name of independence.

Suddenly the boys from the Gang of 10 are our heroes?!?!
And now folks are saying they are so proud of Corker for taking it to the unions? He’s pointed out many of the problems with our American auto industry that our friends at the CATO Institute and the Heritage Foundation have pointed to. Unions. Unions. Unions. And that discussion is welcome and for that he should be praised.
But let’s be realistic. Because Senator Corker was negotiating for unions to make concessions, we’re all supposed to get thrills running up our legs? The reality is, he was still negotiating for a taxpayer surrender. You and I were still going to be on the hook for kabillions. And so are our kids. And grandkids. Bush is wrong. The Democrats are wrong. And though Corker took the opportunity to point out the problem of unions, he’s still wrong.
Senator Corker is emblematic of THE problem with the GOP. There is no consistency. No governing principles. They see government as the answer in some form or fashion, maybe with just a little more flavoring here or there and elephant instead of a donkey. And the American public sees it. Witness the ‘06 and ‘08 ass kicking.
He was for the financial bailout. Then he’s against the auto bailout. Do you know how damaging all of this has been for the Republican Party?
Many Republicans in this nation have become fans not players. What is the difference? A fan can only bring enthusiasm and encouragement to the team and dollars to the star. But a player affects the game.
Too many Republicans have rested on their hindquarters assuming the clowns in Washington will carry their principles for them. You have got to get involved and sometimes that means flat out educating your Congressmen or his staff. You’ve got to not only tell them where you stand and how you hope he/she will vote, you must explain the why.
Trust me. Most of these politicians aren’t any smarter or well versed or recipients of more than their fair share of common sense than you are.
You have to stop cheering for your team when you know in your heart they are wrong. You need to take them to the woodshed in love. Meet with them. Call them. Call them out. Help get them on the right track. Like it or not, you really are a player in this representative republic.
It’s time for the GOP to go on offense. A good defense prevents a score, but its main purpose is to give you the opportunity to run your own ball over the goal line. I’ve got my own ideas about what we should be addressing. I’ll discuss that tomorrow…
In the meantime, look at Fred Thompson’s video in case you missed it. We played portions of it on air when it first came out. It’s good stuff.