The Grand Old Party’s Grand Old Tradition: Getting It Wrong.

Sometimes, when the Republican rhetoric gets shrill and begins to drown out everything else, it’s a good idea to take a step back and remember that the GOP track record ain’t so hot. There are more, but here are a few that I can recall without dragging out some reference books:

* Republicans opposed the right to vote for women.

* Republicans opposed the creation of Social Security.

* Republicans opposed lend lease which sent military equipment to Great Britain when they stood along against Hitler and the Nazis.

* Republicans opposed the Marshall Plan which send food and essential supplies to a starving Europe after World War II, and is now credited for preventing a Communist take-over of many countries.

* Republicans opposed the creation of Medicare.

Clearly, the GOP has been on the wrong side of history more often than not over the years and it would be a good idea to bear that in mind as we debate the big issues of today.

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So … Do we detect a pattern here?

Republicans voted against a woman’s right to vote.

Republicans voted against Lend Lease, which sent ships and weapons to England when they were fighting the Nazis … alone.

Republicans voted against the Marshall Plan, which sent aid to a devastated Europe after World War 2 and is now credited with preventing a Communist take-over.

Republicans voted against Social Security.

Republicans voted against Medicare.

Republicans voted against the Clean Air Act.

Republicans voted against the Clean Water Act.

And now 100% of Republicans in the House and the Senate have voted against health care reform.

How’s that for a consistently lousy track record!
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What's That Definition of Insanity, Again?

I sometimes wonder if Republican voters ever stop to consider their party’s track record when it comes to the milestone pieces of legislation that have come before the Congress.

The fact is, when the break-through moments have appeared, Republicans have been on the wrong side every time.

Republicans opposed giving women the right to vote.

Republicans opposed Lend Lease, which provided obsolete ships, planes, and other war material to help England battle Nazi Germany before the U.S. joined the conflict.

Republicans opposed the Marshall Plan after World War II which helped to rebuild Europe and is largely credited with preventing a Communist take-over.

Republicans opposed the creation of Social Security.

Republicans opposed the creation of Medicare.

And today, Republicans are in lock-step opposing health care reform.

Still, a significant number of our fellow Americans continue to support the Republican Party and vote for their anti-damn-near-everything candidates. It really makes you wonder, doesn’t it.

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Wrong Again, and Again, and Again, and …

The Republicans have blathered for months about wanting a bipartisan bill for health care reform. By now, however, it’s quite clear they have only one goal: killing any bill in order to weaken the Obama presidency. Or, failing that, they will try to delay any vote (with help from the miserable little weasel, Joe Lieberman) until next year when, they hope, they will gain enough seats in the 2010 elections to defeat any bill that may come to a vote.

How irresponsible. How cynical. How partisan. And how typical for the Party of No.

The Republicans, after all, have a long tradition of opposing reforms and progress. Here are four examples (there are many more):

* The Republicans opposed the creation of Medicare.

* They opposed the creation of Social Security.

* Before World War 2, they opposed Lend Lease, which provided obsolete ships to help a desperate Great Britain defend itself against the Nazis.

* And – here’s a nice little bookend for you – after World War 2, they opposed the Marshall Plan which is credited with keeping millions of Europeans from starving and their countries from falling under Russian domination.

Let us hope that they will not be able to add health care reform to that shameful list.
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