Today, the Republicans plan to unveil their latest document that they claim reveals the principles upon which they will govern. I found an advance copy of it here. [PDF] Most of the document is high sounding verbiage that adds nothing, but there are four statements that begin “We pledge…” that contain the significant part. Lets examine them one-by-one.
We pledge to honor the Constitution as constructed by its framers and honor the original intent of those precepts that have been consistently ignored – particularly the Tenth Amendment, which grants that all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Republicans have a track record for waving the Constitution about, while ignoring its content. The “original intent” means whatever they want it to mean, and they refuse to be swayed in their interpretation, no matter now much original documentation is available to the contrary. The reference to the Tenth Amendment indicates an intent to undo health care reform, but they ignore the commerce clause.
We pledge to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense, and national economic prosperity. We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values.
Greater liberty, wider opportunity and and national economic prosperity are for the rich and corporations to suck wealth from the poor and middle classes. Are you enjoying the prosperity they brought us during the Bush regime? A robust defense refers to more aggressive wars. The rest means ban all abortions, criminalize the LGBT community, and ignore the establishment clause, that separates church and state.
We pledge to make government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, and honest in its dealings.
Given that Republican administrations, especially the most recent, have been the most secretive, most wasteful, and most criminal, this is a bold lie indeed.
We pledge to uphold the purpose and promise of a better America, knowing that to whom much is given, much is expected and that the blessings of our liberty buoy the hopes of mankind.
This is empty rhetoric.
What surprises me is that there is no mention of tax cuts for the rich or dismantling the safety net for the rest of us. Those are their biggest goals, as Rachel Maddow demonstrates.
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The bottom line again is that Republicans will govern only for the benefit of greedy corporations and the richest 1%.
18 Responses to “Dissecting the Republicans’ New Pledge to America”
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I read this to simply say “We pledge to do everything we can to preserve the white America we grew up with.” Though I do think that we should follow their pledges and immediately cut off all earmarks sent to any state whose representatives sign on for this bullshit. Which would also include adding taxes to any faith based program because the original intent of the framers of the constitution was to make and keep this a non sectarian nation open to all.
Can we kill a few more trees so they can print 19,999,999,999,999,999 copies of this polemic drivel?
Mark, your idea fits right in with one of my favorites. If a state’s Senators/Reps vote against a bill, none of the spending that the law provides should go to that state.
The Republicans are offering nothing new or desperately needed here, and you did a great job in exposing that here, TomCat. All this is is just another hate-the-government-and-choke-it-to-death dog and pony show being staged with ridiculously great fanfare by Boehner, Cantor, and McConnell. They are the chief spokespersons for this worthless party of snake oil salesmen, and they and their party are the biggest waste of time and tax dollars this republic has ever seen.
Thanks, Jack. Wa agree completely, but we both knew it was coming, because the Republicans have nothing beneficial to offer 99% of Americans,
More yada yada yada…… am I right? Great post TomCat. !! As Jack says, there’s nothing new from them.
Excellent analysis, Gwen. 😉
Thanks.
“Empty rhetoric” it is. I just can’t believe that so many Americans believe this drivel.
Their sources are not telling them the truth.
I am stupefied every time I see Boehner smirk and say he’ll be talking to Obama a lot soon. Screw him! They pledge to help corporations and the wealthy and undo everything Obama did to help them. They will win some seats but the tan man won’t be taking over!
Jim, I expect that the Democrats will hols the House, but by a more narrow margin. What concerns me is that the Republicans, joined by Bush Dogs, will have a majority on many issues.
This is the miserepubilkans’ version of Obummer’s Operation NudeOn; in their case Contract on America, repug: BludgeOn Americans!
Bruce, from what I have seen, you seen to be against everything. What are you for?
The Teapublican “Pledge” documents that it is an UN-serious party populated by UN-mitigated hate-mongers who UN-endingly lie and are most assuredly UN-fit to govern.
UN-doubtably correct.
I briefly looked at the document and agree that it’s mostly rhetoric, with some bones thrown to the Religious Right. What was the point of this pledge again?
Ahab, I think its point as the same as that of the Constitutions with print to fine to read that thay wave about.
We pledge to uphold the purpose and promise of a better America, knowing that to whom much is given, much is expected and that the blessings of our liberty buoy the hopes of mankind.
Don’t we sound very impressed with ourselves? Got to love that mindless belief in American Exceptionalism, especially when most of the world is working to keep up to date in the 21st century and we are stuck in the 1950’s.
I agree, Beach. It is a clear statement of We’re better than everyone.