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Brutal Video: Dems Demand Action on Green New Deal, Vote 'Present' on Own Legislation, Blame GOP

Guy Benson
Guy Benson  |  March 28, 2019 10:30 AM

A leftover from earlier in the week, but it's too good not to highlight.  Democrats have talked a big game on climate change, demanding urgent legislative action -- with some even claiming that we're within a decade or so of irreversible doom.  There's no time to spare.  As I've previously made clear, I believe that mankind is contributing to climate change, and that moving toward cleaner and sustainable sources of energy is a worthy and important goal.  I'm not convinced, however, that the climate alarmists have been good faith actors, that their proposed government-enforced solutions are remotely viable, or that America should cripple its economy (especially unilaterally) in pursuit of fractional and hypothetical improvements.  For instance, since the US pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords, our emissions have fallen, whereas some signatory nations are failing to hit their required marks, even as they simultaneously endure spikes in energy costs.  Coercive governmental decrees are not necessarily effective or wise.  

Enter the 'Green New Deal,' a sweeping proposal to remake the US economy, at an estimated cost of $93 trillion over ten years.  Its particulars are radical, including uprooting the entire American healthcare system and moving toward a guaranteed income regime.  It's been championed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the House, and was introduced in the Senate by Ed Markey.  Multiple Democratic presidential candidates have endorsed it.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held a vote on the resolution two days ago, resulting in a 57-0 defeat.  Nearly every Democrat in the chamber effectively boycotted the proceeding, casting meaningless "present" tallies while condemning the exercise as a sham and a stunt.  To review, multiple Democrats introduced and/or endorsed a piece of legislation to address what they say is a defining crisis of our time, then complained bitterly upon being given an opportunity to vote in favor of it, then failing to do so.  Republicans released the following clip contrasting their opponents' rhetoric versus their official actions, and it's a doozie.  Bold leadership:

Let's just say that their messaging is a bit muddled:

The Senate's dumbest and most bigoted member, Mazie Hirono, struggled to square this circle on MSNBC:

"This was just a sham, so-called debate by Mitch McConnell," Hirono said. "He wanted to divide the Democrats and the bottom line is the Green New Deal is an aspirational document that says we recognize the science behind climate change unlike Trump and the Republicans..." Tur was not satisfied with Hirono's response and pressed her on whether Democrats should have voted for the Green New Deal. "McConnell may be trying to make it a show vote, but if—you signed on to this and you're one of the co-authors of it. If you believe that this is something—even if it's aspirational that needs to get done, why not take a stand and vote yes for it?" Tur asked. "And here's what the Democrats stand for. We don't care that it's a show vote from Leader Mitch McConnell. It seems like you're trying to have it both ways, not be hung by it politically, but also not say that you don't support it." Hirono denied that this was the case and asked why Democrats should participate in McConnell's "sham shenanigans."

Democrats refused to vote for their own proposal because of that damned Mitch McConnell, you see.  They did the same thing on single-payer healthcare a few years back, too.  They've got big plans to blow up and re-engineer the US economy...until they have to go on the record with actual votes.  Then it's Republicans who are cynical; not the Democrats running away from the bills they've introduced, all while blaming Republicans.  AOC's current line is that "present" votes were okay with her -- "the boss" -- because there weren't exhaustive hearings into the GND's components.  Some Republican and conservative strategists are recommending that the party take her up on this challenge and continue focusing attention on the legislation's provisions:

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I'll leave you with this -- they want 'solutions,' you guys, but not that one: