Inglorious Bastards: Republicans and their not-so secret hunger for federal pork

You may remember that ever since it was made into law last year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also know as the stimulus bill, has been derided by Republicans everywhere. Only three Republican Senators voted for it and not a single member of the House of Representatives supported the bill. So it’s a curious development that one by one, individual Republican members of Congress have been seen back home in their districts touting, and taking credit for, projects that were funded through stimulus money.

While debating the stimulus, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina said that it was, “Almost a trillion dollars of borrowed money on projects and programs that are unlikely to produce any real broad-based stimulus or create jobs that will still be here two years from now.” But more recently, the Senator was at the fire department in Bethlehem NC to present a $2 million dollar grant to build a new fire station. “This is a great thing for this county. We’re not accustomed to federal dollars in that magnitude finding their way to North Carolina,” said Burr. The funds to build the station came from stimulus money. 

Republican Senator Kit Bond of Missouri had strong words for the stimulus bill when it passed, saying, “Hold on to your wallets folks because with the passage of this trillion-dollar baby, the Democrats will be poised to spend as much as $3 trillion in your tax dollars,” Bond said, “Unfortunately, this bill stimulates the debt, it stimulates the growth of government, but it doesn’t stimulate jobs.” But when he’s back home, he sings a different tune. After passing an amendment to funnel $2 billion of stimulus bill money to Missouri for low incoming housing tax credits Bond said, “This is the type of emergency stimulus spending we should be supporting — Programs that will create jobs now and help families.”

Lastly, my personal favorite, from the writers at Think Progress; “Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) spent the morning of July 28th railing against the stimulus, yelling “Where’s the stimulus package? Where’s the jobs?” on the House floor. On the same day of his rant, Kingston’s office sent out multiple press releases bragging that he had secured hundreds of thousands in stimulus funds to hire additional police officers in his district.”

There’s a story like this for nearly every Republican member of congress, and the reason is simple: the stimulus bill worked. As reported by CBS, “According to the multiple highly-regarded, non-partisan economic research firms, President Obama’s economic stimulus package, which will likely ultimately cost around $862 billion, has in its first year saved or created at least 1.6 million jobs.” The stimulus bill and other spending initiatives are probably the only reason job losses are lessening.

Why would Republicans vote against the stimulus, call it a “failure” (Mitch McConnell R-KY), a “socialist way” (Richard Shelby R-AL), and say that it hasn’t “created a single job” (John Boehner R-OH) but then tout how successful the money they got from the bill will be in their district? Pure politics. It’s been the Republican strategy for over a year now. Demonize any Obama or Democratic proposal as a colossal waste of money and a “government takeover,” vote against it, then quietly take credit for the money you secured for your district when you get out of D.C.

This hypocrisy isn’t just about the stimulus bill. On every major issue Republicans say one thing and then do another. During the health care debate they said the reform would steal money from Medicare, which seniors need. But the majority of Republicans support abolishing Medicare altogether. They claim to be fighting the big banks that wasted bailout money on bonuses, and yet not one Republican supports the proposed modest tax on Wall Street banks to recover bailout money. For every claim of populist intentions, they side with the status quo.

Frank Rich, columnist for the New York Times, worries that this GOP manta may be working. “Their constant refrain, delivered with cynicism but not irony, is this: Republicans are the anti-big-government, anti-stimulus, anti-Wall Street, pro-Tea Party tribunes of the common folk.” “This is about the people,” as Palin repeatedly put it last weekend while pocketing $100,000 of the Tea Partiers’ money… This G.O.P. populism is all bunk. Republicans in office now, as well as Palin during her furtive public service in Alaska, have feasted on federal pork, catered to special interests, and pursued policies indifferent to recession-battered Americans. And yet they’re getting away with their populist masquerade.” A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Republicans beating Democrats on a generic ballot for the first time in months.

The battle over whether the stimulus bill was effective or not will continue on the national media over the next few weeks. If Republicans are allowed to define its success or failure they will continue to characterize themselves as the populists they aren’t. One thing is clear though, actions speak louder than words, and Republicans blatant hypocrisy on the recovery act is a telling sign that when the cameras are off, they know perfectly well what’s helping the people of their districts get a job. It’s that “socialist,” “failure,” “government takeover” they voted against: the Obama stimulus bill.