John Boehner is sending out emails to the Republican base asking for support against a president with a mandate. It is clear by the tone and content of this email (parts are quoted below) that he is continuing the old guard. There is no copyright referred to in his email of Nov 6th, 2008.
He specifically states that he will fight against the president and our majority in congress on these issues:
• If an Obama presidency means "spreading the wealth around" by raising taxes on small businesses, families and investment to pay for more spending in Washington, DC, Republicans will have no choice but to fight it vigorously in favor of a pro-growth plan for rapid economic recovery.
• If an Obama presidency means regulating free speech and stifling dissent on the airwaves, Republicans will fight it vigorously.
• If an Obama presidency means forcing people out of their private health insurance and into a government-run program, Republicans will oppose it and fight for real solutions that keep Americans' health care in the hands of patients and doctors, not government bureaucrats.
He misrepresents president-elect Obama's plan for health care. Boehner is misdirecting the Republican base by claiming that employees will be forced to take government issued health care. The plan, as most of us know, is to provide health care to those either have no insurance and those who find their current insurance lacking in substance. He also plans to offer breaks to small businesses who provide coverage for their employees.
Boehner's reference to the freedom of speech is simply baiting the base. What evidence could he possibly have that this would occur in an Obama presidency? Abridging our freedoms has been the policy of the Republican administration for 8 years.
He uses the "spreading the wealth" talking point of the McCain campaign. It is the nature of government to redistribute wealth. Up until now that has been mostly from the middle class into the hands of the well-to-do.
In short, Boehner's email struck me as the same old partisan politics now focused on destroying the mandate of the people:
While the 2008 election turned out to be every bit as tough as Republicans thought it would be, some of our opponents think we're going to surrender. They think we're going to raise the white flag and suggest that our principles of freedom, responsibility, and smaller government no longer speak to the hopes and dreams of American families.
Let me be clear: it ain't gonna happen.
Once again, a GOP hack is moving to circumvent the public will.