Why do Republicans constantly talk about compromise and bipartisanship when
Democrats almost never do and when they do, don't mean it? Democrats rarely
compromise when they are in the majority.
While John McCain promised those gathered at the Republican National
Convention in St. Paul that he would "reach across the aisle" and put
Democrats and Independents in a McCain administration, Democrats are busy
sending out fund-raising letters asking for donations so they can win a
"gridlock-proof Senate majority" and won't have to compromise with
Republicans.
Where are principles in this? Why aren't conservatives arguing in favor of
the superiority of their ideas rather than attempting to win "Miss
Congeniality" awards from liberals?
Republicans who practice politics of conciliation too often get their heads
handed to them. Recall President George H.W. Bush who reached out to
then-Speaker of the House Jim Wright at Bush's Inauguration in 1989,
promising unity, harmony and compromise. Wright's smile revealed he knew
that Bush could be had and that Mr. "Read My Lips, No New Taxes" seemed more
intent on keeping his promise to be a nice guy than he was in keeping his
promise not to increase taxes. When Bush compromised with Democrats and
signed-off on a tax hike, it doomed his re-election chances.
Bipartisanship should not be an end, but a means. Instead of talking about
populating his administration with Democrats and Independents, John McCain
should be listing the problems he intends to solve and the way he intends to
solve them. Only then should he recruit Democrats and Independents who agree
on the problems and his proposed resolutions.
A national telephone survey by Rasmussen Reports,
posted Aug. 27, finds that just 9 percent of likely voters give Congress
positive ratings, while 51 percent say it's doing a poor job. This is an
issue McCain should embrace. Harry Truman made the Republican "do-nothing
Congress" an effective campaign issue in 1948 and while lightning rarely
strikes twice in politics, McCain might consider a similar tactic.