What Would Happen If Voters Actually Know Not Just What "G.O.P." Stands For But What The Republican Party Stands For?

When I read about how Republican Establishment conservative Frank Wolf (VA) had decided to blame Grover Norquist for Congress' historic-- and disintegrating-- popularity and its inability to get anything done, the first thing that popped into mind was an R.E.M. song from 1987 (which happens to have been inspired by Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues, the song we featured on Tuesday).

{{Frank Wolf}} has a lifetime ProgressivePunch score of 7.17, the 54th "most progressive" among Republican congressman. (That's very conservative, but not crossing over into the domestic fascism camp of most of the GOP caucus these days. And he is one of only sic Republicans who never did sign Norquist's ironclad no-taxes/drown the government in a bathtub pledge. Saying he was compelled by his conscience, Wolf got up on the floor of the House Tuesday and let loose on ole Grover. No one does that... and lives to tell. He reminded Members of Congress that Norquist is, bottom line, nothing but a crooked lobbyist who has been "working with 'unsavory characters' (terrorists and money launderers) and pushing a pledge that makes it harder for Congress to achieve meaningful deficit reduction and tax reform."

Wolf said the Taxpayer Protection Pledge created by Norquist and ATR has had the effect of “paralyzing Congress” and making it impossible to even discuss ways to reform the tax code:

WOLF: Everything must be on the table, and I believe how the pledge is interpreted and enforced by Mr. Norquist is a roadblock to realistically reforming our tax code. When Senator Tom Coburn recently fought to eliminate the special interest ethanol tax subsidy, who led the opposition? Mr. Norquist. [...]
Have we really reached the point where one person’s demand for ideological purity is paralyzing Congress to the point that even a discussion of tax reform is viewed as breaking a no-tax pledge?

...Wolf is, unfortunately, correct that Norquist’s pledge has paralyzed the GOP, as Republicans remain shackled to the no-taxes platform and continue to oppose any measure that would reduce the nation’s deficit by raising tax revenues, whether through tax increases or by ending expensive subsidies. That intransigence is what took the nation to the brink of default in August and caused the first downgrade of the nation’s credit rating in American history.

Norquist is at the heart of the Republican obstructionism that has been behind the disintegration of, not just Obama's presidency and American governance in general, but the economy and financial well-being of America in particular.

Hackish New Jersey career politician Leonard Lance is one of the Republicans who did sign Norquist's venal pledge and who sits by fearfully-- and idly-- as New Jersey families in his own district see the middle class American dream disappearing before their eyes. This morning we asked his opponent, Blue-America endorsed Ed Potosnak how Lance could be so disconnected from the interests of the voters in central Jersey.

Rep. Lance consistently takes his cues from others, whether it is the Norquist pledge, repeal of the discriminatory Don't ask Don't Tell policy, or how to cut spending... he is following the wrong crowd. Abdicating leadership to megadonors, big banks, the oil and gas industry and right wing extremists is destroying our chances of a recovery and ruining opportunities for the families and businesses in our communities to grow our economy. When elected, I will lead us out of this recession through sensible policies based on data, science, and reason which stands in stark contrast to my opponent's approach of letting special interests dictate his stances.

Yesterday Karl Frisch addressed a twin phenomena-- governmental paralysis by the rise of the faux Constitutional Conservative. He calls it a virus and a plague and points out just how these right-wing zealots are trying to destroy and undermine the parts of the Constitution they don't like.

Take the 14th Amendment for example. For my conservative friends reading at home, I’ll save you the time of retrieving that illustrated pocket-Constitution you picked up at your first John Birch Society meeting. This Amendment zeros in on citizenship, due process, and equal protection among other things.

Appealing to their xenophobic, nationalist base, many Republicans appear to have abandoned efforts to transform their party into a big-tent large enough to include naturalized immigrants. Instead, they’ve advocated a repeal of the birthright citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment.

Then there’s the 16th Amendment-- this one gives Congress explicit permission to levy taxes on income. Deep-sixing this one is a no brainer for tea party Republicans like Texas Governor Rick Perry. Common among his ilk is the notion that Libertarian magic dust can defend our country, pave our roads, educate our children, provide for our poor, and attend to our sick and elderly.

Perhaps most perplexing of all is attacks made by Republican Senators on the 17th Amendment-- the very Amendment that provides for their direct election by voters. Prior to this Amendment, every day Americans had little say in who would represent them in the Senate.

Leading the charge on this front has been Mike Lee, the Senate’s foremost “constitutional delusional.” Voters elected Lee just last year but as far as I’m concerned, if he doesn’t think “we the people” should elect Senators, he should resign his seat.

What these “constitutional conservatives” are advocating is no less than a full-scale retreat on the 20th century.

The story of our constitutional progress should be an inspiration. As members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus recently pointed out to their colleagues, that progress has “eliminated slavery, expanded the right to vote, protected liberty and equality, and given the federal government important new powers and resources.”

For 223 years, Americans have sought a “more perfect union” improving through Amendment on the best form of government the world has ever seen. The arc of constitutional progress has made us a stronger, freer nation.

Our elected representatives take an oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution-- all of it.  They don’t get to pick and choose and perhaps that is the fundamental difference confronting us when is comes to our most cherished document.