In what has apparently become an ongoing series, tentatively titled “Sean Closson Receives Terrible Republican Campaign Literature”, I will now deconstruct a stupid plea for donations from Heather Wilson.
“Dear Mr. Closson,
We need to call a spade, a spade. America is at risk.”
Absolutely. I think it puts America at risk when we have the Speaker of the House playing politics with the debt ceiling. I think America is at risk when Republican presidential candidates are out there suggesting defaulting on our debt wouldn't be so bad. I think America is at risk when Republican members of the house are applauding the possibility that the government might shut down.
“Our free market system, our economy, and our tradition of limited government are all under assault. Our freedoms and future are being jeopardized by the irresponsible leadership of Washington liberals.”
If anything I think the leadership of “Washington liberals” has been lacking at best. It seems almost every opportunity they get to draw a stark contrast with Republican policies they demure. This is obviously a blanket statement and there are certainly exceptions, but this is how we end up with a budget compromise that extends the Bush tax cuts, instead of creating a new tier of UI benefits for 99ers. If there's anything about “Washington liberals” leadership causing any jeopardy, it's their reliance on Republican framing. We know where that road leads and it sucks.
“First and foremost, we must get our financial house in order. I know we can do it... but not with a Democrat-controlled Senate.”
Replace that last bit with Republican controlled house and you're on to something.
“I am running for Senate because I believe that the choices being made in Washington today – by this White House and this Democratic Senate – are pointing us in the wrong direction.
I am running for the United States Senate to bring much-needed fiscal discipline and reform to Washington.”
This kind of talk about “fiscal discipline” has become pretty popular among Republican politicians. Thing is, she served in the house from 1998 until 2008. She had every opportunity to prove she was cared about sound fiscal policy and chose not to. She's a National Defense Neo-Con, always has been and most likely always will be. I think one phrase we need to take back is fiscal responsibility. It isn't fiscally responsible to recklessly cut revenue and then act like all of a sudden we're spending too much.
They were projecting an almost 5 trillion dollar budget surplus by 2010 back in 2000. Even if that's wildly optimistic, we'd certainly still be in surplus territory. Think about the kind of recovery measures we could have enacted if we'd actually had a surplus, instead of a 1.5 trillion deficit. Elections have consequences and 2000 was a doozy.
“If elected, I will be a strong voice to restore fiscal discipline, and personal freedom. I will be tireless in my efforts to:
*Lower the tax burden on America's families and small businesses;”
I haven't heard that one before! I wonder how many of America's families make over $250,000 a year? (Answer:
about 2%) I have a feeling they'd be the only ones seeing a tax break under a Republican Senate.
"*Repeal and replace Obamacare with market-based reforms that are much more effective at controlling the skyrocketing cost of healthcare without compromising choice and quality;”
This one I'm really going to take issue with. First off, I like the meaningless boilerplate about repeal and replace. Very original. Second, the idea that there is any such thing as a market-based reform that isn't either a part of the current system or the compromise signed by the President that would do anything to control costs is absurd. Heather Wilson had an opportunity to help bring costs down on prescription drugs and she voted against allowing the government to negotiate prices like the VA does.
The fact is, it's in their financial interest to refuse you care and to make you pay through the nose for the privilege of receiving that denial letter. Every other western industrialized nation has figured out how to provide healthcare for their people at a fraction of what we pay. We even pay more than we should when taking our relative wealth into account. A lot more. If your goal is controlling the cost of healthcare in America, the only serious proposal is single payer. You know why the Republicans pushed so hard against healthcare reform? Because they know that once people see what life is like without medical bankruptcy and annual 30% premium increases, they like it, and it becomes impossible to take away.
Just to bring this full circle, it's pretty absurd to argue for fiscal responsibility and then suggest repealing and replacing the healthcare reform bill with some market voodoo. Not only would it not do anything to control costs, but it has a huge impact on our fiscal strength down the road. Almost all of our long term financial problems come from the fact that American healthcare costs are spiraling out of control and no ones doing anything serious about it. You can't be a deficit hawk and then turn around and suggest we're just going to leave healthcare to the market sharks.
“*Maintain a strong national defense.”
Never saw that one coming!
There's a second page consisting mostly of tragically uninspiring entreaties for cash. Some crap about voting for tax relief and that we need “fewer job killing regulations to get our economy back to strong economic growth”. Because that's the problem. If only the derivatives markets had been less regulated, we wouldn't be in this mess! A promise to extend the Bush tax cuts that wrecked our financial standing in the first place, an ego-inflated line about this seat determining control of the Senate, and finally a promise to “restore fiscal responsibility to Washington and ensure that New Mexico values are represented in the United States Senate.”
She signs it, you think it's over, but no, you're wrong. There's a P.S. Reminding you control of the Senate is at stake and the earlier terrible line about contributing copy pasted after.
Another thing I'm starting to notice in these mailers are insultingly moronic, borderline religious pledges in support of the campaign. To wit:
“Yes, Heather, I'll join your campaign team!
You are an experienced fiscally conservative leader... just what New Mexico needs in the United States Senate.
This will be one of the most important races in the country next year... and it could determine control of the Senate. In order to run a successful campaign, you will need the strong early support of fiscal conservatives like me. You've got it. Enclosed is:”
Seriously, they couldn't just stop at “Yes, Heather, I'll join your campaign team!”. They apparently felt it was completely necessary to go on in the first person about how important Heather Wilson is, and that her Senate race is life or death! I wonder, does Heather Wilson sit back in a comfortable chair and just read all of these, grasping at some kind of fleeting validation?