G. Will: GOP Put Politics Over Principles (GOP House Earned Their Defeat)

[JPZenger]

Conservative George Will blasted GOP House members in his nationally syndicated column, published today in various papers.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/apr/16/republicans_put_politics_over_principles/?opinion

"Republicans Put Politics Over Principle

If, in November, Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives, April 5 should be remembered as the day they demonstrated that they earned defeat. Traducing the Constitution and disgracing conservatism, they used their power for their only remaining purpose — to cling to power. Their vote to restrict freedom of speech came just as the GOP’s conservative base is coming to the conclusion that House Republicans are not worth working for in October or venturing out to vote for in November.

The “problem” Republicans addressed is that in 2004 Democrats were more successful than Republicans in using 527 organizations — advocacy groups named after the tax code provision governing them. In 2002, McCain-Feingold banned large “soft money” contributions for parties — money for issue-advocacy and organizational activities, not for candidates. In 2004, to the surprise of no sensible person and most McCain-Feingold supporters, much of the money — especially huge contributions from rich liberals — was diverted to 527s. So on April 5, House Republicans, easily shedding what little remains of their ballast of belief in freedom and limited government, voted to severely limit the amounts that can be given to 527s.

David Dreier, R-Calif., explained, sort of. He said he voted against McCain-Feingold because “dictating who could give how much to whom” violated the First Amendment, but now he favors dictating to 527 contributors because McCain-Feingold is not violating the First Amendment enough: It is not “working as it was intended.” That is, it is not sufficiently restricting the money financing political advocacy. Candice Miller, R-Mich., said that restricting 527s would combat “nauseating ugliness, negativity and hyperpartisanship.” Oh, so that is what the First Amendment means: Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech unless speech annoys politicians."

[4_TN_TITANS]

1. I hate George Will....

In his last Newsweek article, he wasted the whole last page writing about baseball statistics. No conservative republican want's to discuss politics these days......

[classysassy]

2. Mr Wills

what do you know about principles?,you are just another lying repug mouthpiece,Rush,Sean,Bill,Ann,and all the other scumbags of the press and talk radio.

[Hand]

3. Ah yes, George Will... the quintessential honky. nt

[hatrack]

4. Will - Limbaugh with marginally better grammar and vocabulary

But beneath the faux polish and Beltway "charm", only two ugly possibilities:

(A) A genuinely stupid and oblivious ideologue

(B) Just another journo-ho

And does it really matter which it is?

George Will is Cokie Roberts with sideburns.