Perhaps pointing out hypocrisy from the GOP is akin to letting people in on the secret that the sky is blue, but what the heck ...
Over the past nine months, House Republicans have worn their Party of No badge with pride, opposing every spending bill to come down the pike and littering the airways to moan about America's descent into socialism. And while no one is arguing that an entire state should be punished because their congressman puts politics over country, their blatant hypocrisy in scurrying home to take credit for the money they voted against must be noted.
Which brings us to just a few examples from the 67 members of the House Republicans Hypocrisy Hall of Fame, compiled by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) from various media reports, press releases, and in the case of Pete Hoekstra, a tweet:
- Representative Phil Gingrey (GA-11) – Earlier this month, Gingrey presented a giant check of $625,000 in stimulus funds to the city commission of Cedartown, Georgia, to help fund the installation of new sidewalks and infrastructure –
- Representative Don Manzullo (IL-16) – Don Manzullo announced today he has secured $714,000 in federal funding to help improve health care services and higher education opportunities for residents at three institutions in Rockford.
- Representative Kevin McCarthy (CA-22) – "I applaud this funding for the Bakersfield Federal courthouse. Over the years, we have faced many obstacles related to this project, but worked together as a community to ensure that this project remained a high priority and would come to fruition."
- Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) – Representative Ed Whitfield sent out a press release calling himself "a tireless champion for community health centers both in Kentucky and throughout the country."
- Representative David Dreier (CA-26) – Representative David Dreier said, "The nation relies on Southern California’s infrastructure and innovation. Strategic federal investments in these areas will yield tremendous returns from coast to coast."
- Representative Tom Petri (WI-06) – Representative Petri is a "strong supporter of the allocation" of $754,000 to restore and maintain navigable channels in the Two Rivers harbor, as "maintaining navigable waters in the area is essential for the local economy."
- Representative Aaron Schock (IL-18) – "The biodiesel plant is ready to go. I want to call for a meeting with the state to guarantee $20 million in loans for the building of the plant. This could produce real jobs and a real stimulus in the next 30 days."
- Representative Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) – "This funding will provide much-needed assistance to local residents who are at risk of losing their homes or experiencing homelessness... I am pleased that our community will benefit from this funding."
- Representative Judy Biggert (IL-13) – "These important investments will create local jobs and help keep our area’s road and transit systems working for commuters."
- Representative Pete Hoekstra (MI-02) – "If you know of someone thinking of buying first home, now may be the time. Stimulus incentive is very generous! Up to 8k! Check it out."
Of course Washington is rife with people who try to take credit where none is due (see: Bush, George; "Mission Accomplished"), and if it was just one or two shameless hypocrites pulling this nonsense we could dismiss it as just that -- shameless hypocrisy. But sixty-seven times? That's not coincidence, that's policy.