The number of times the Republicans try and change the facts to ones that meet their needs is amazing. First was George’s WMD’s, then Issa’s Benghazi, and finally Cruz’s denial over the government shutdown. The only rational argument for the Republicans arguments can be its complete irrationality. Or the insanity of doing the same thing and expecting different results. Or quite simply, Oops I did it again.
How many times did Bush change the rationale for attacking Iraq? In 2003 the reasons for the Iraq war were based on Saddam’s possession of WMD’s and a link to al Qaeda. When that appeared to be false, from 2003-2005 foreign insurgents against the US Occupation were blamed for the war in Iraq. In 2006 the Bush Administration still called Iraq part of the terror war, while military leaders and troops on the ground say it was a Civil War. In 2007 there was a new justification, Iran was now sponsoring terrorism in Iraq. That’s at least 4 rationales for attacking Iraq.
Just recently the Washington Post came out with a story that the attack at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi was a result of anger over a video disparaging Islam and not a coordinated attack by al Qaeda. This fabrication comes to us compliments of Darrell Issa Representative for California’s 49th congressional district. Issa spent spent numerous hours looking for proof that Benghazi had been made possible by al Qaeda and was proof that Obama’s assertion that al Qaeda was finished was a lie. Instead, it turns out al Qaeda had nothing to do with the attack and it was as the Obama administration originally reported, anger over a U.S. made film.
Finally, comes Texas Senator Ted Cruz who orchestrated the government shutdown in an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This despite the fact that it was already a law which had been upheld by the Supreme Court. Cruz refused to take any blame for putting people out of work for 16 days, but instead blamed Harry Reid and President Obama for a failed policy that many felt was doomed from the start. Most Republicans feel Cruz’s opposition to the Affordable Care Act and the following government shutdown lacked an exit strategy. Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner was particularly harsh in his criticism of Cruz as were other Republicans.
Certainly, the Republicans have shown a propensity for lying, but usually these are less substantial. Lies like, “my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.” – Dick Cheney. Or, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), “from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Akin said of pregnancy caused by rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Finally, Steve King (R-Ia), “for everyone that’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there that they weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”
These are so ridiculous they border on farce. But some of the Republican lies border on immoral. These lies involve war, death, and loss of employment. How can the Republicans be so wrong? In the immortal words of think tank guru Britney Spears … Oops, I did it again.