The Republican Party is now officially out of touch with the vast majority of the American people. While there was no real doubt of this before, Republicans did a better job of feigning mainstream populism on and off. Until last week, when the GOP proudly stood its ground against not only core American values and principles but even mainstream popular opinion.
First, it was taxes. Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Republican Senate Minority Whip John Kyl petulantly abandoned debt negotiation talks with Democrats because the Republicans are firmly opposed to any repeal of tax breaks for the super rich. Here were are, a nation that has always relied on those who get the most out of America to give the most back — now at a time when, as the profits of the rich continue to reach record levels, unemployment and economic stagnation for the rest of us remains. All the Democrats want to do is restore the upper tax rates to the levels under President Clinton, then the economy was thriving — not even to the much, much higher levels under past Republican presidents like Reagan or Eisenhower. And almost two-thirds of Americans agree that we should raise taxes on the rich to address the deficit.
Yet the Republicans continue to push irresponsible and unpopular cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. It should now be apparent to every American that the Republican agenda in these respects does not prioritize the economic health and well-being of the hardworking American middle class but, rather, the greedy interests of wealthy campaign donors and Wall Street. The GOP would rather create even richer billionaires than create more jobs for working people. The GOP would rather give handouts to insurance companies than make sure our seniors can keep affording their health care.
Meanwhile, in an historic vote on the right side of history and basic human decency, New York has enacted marriage equality for same-sex couples. Four — count ‘em, four! — Republicans in the state senate voted in support of the law. Meanwhile, 53% of Americans — a majority — support same-sex marriage. And, as we know from the history of comparable civil rights struggles, public opinion will only grow more favorable. And, unless they do something, the Republicans will grow even further out of touch.
In the short term, this doesn’t bode well for Republicans in 2012. Apart from the fact that they don’t seem to have a candidate who possesses both a genuine smile and a genuine knowledge of American history, the Republicans are quickly losing public opinion on every political issue on which they’ve sought to demagogue in the past. It will get harder and harder to gin up fear about gay marriage and divide voters as public opinion tips further toward marriage equality. And despite having successfully elevated the deficit as a political issue in 2010, the Republicans are showing a pathetic lack of leadership in seriously solving the problem — meanwhile, putting our entire nation at risk of default. In fact, the very same deficit crisis Republicans played up to win in 2010 will likely be their downfall in 2012.
But in the long term, I worry about the health of our democracy, such as it already was, when one of the two major political parties is so beholden to special interests that it increasingly ignores the interests of not only all voters but even its own base. The Tea Party, albeit entertaining, has meant that Republican figures like Michelle Bachmann hold greater sway than someone like John Huntsman or Gary Johnson who, while I may not personally agree with their politics, I can objectively state they are more in line with the American mainstream than Ms. Bachmann could ever dream to be.
Which makes the surge of Bachmann and the pro-rich petulance of Cantor and Kyl a dream for the Democrats in 2012 — but, ultimately, a nightmare for our collective political future.
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13 Responses to Marriage & Taxes: Why Republicans Will Lose 2012 Elections
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Sally Kohn is a disgrace to her Jewish Heritage .She is a disgrace to her American heritage. She is a disgrace to her biological heritage. She can rationalize all she wants. She can spout her socialist, unisexualist, anti -Israel agenda all she wants. She isnt progressive she is regressive. She is wonderful to listen to on Fox Network. She is an educational lesson about what a die hard liberal is . That way they can define what we dont want running this country or defining our morals. Bolshevism is alive and Sally Kohn is its mouthpiece.
As a highly educated Jewish professional I was able to progress beyond the political jibberish my liberal professors pushed in college. Sally has unfortunately stagnated in every way . Its too bad really. She doesnt seem like a bad person.
absurd hyperbole.
You’ve obviously already made up your mind how to feel about Sally Kohn and the issues she covers in her blog. I doubt any sort of fact-based discussion would do anything to sway your premeditated opinions.
When you form your political ideology beginning with “the other side is wrong”, and work your way backward from that, you eliminate the possibility of intelligent discourse. This approach to forming personal political opinions is mostly prevalent in the uneducated and/or the misinformed. As I happily take you at your word of being “highly educated” I can only assume you fall under the latter classification. This is further evidenced by your admission to watching Fox News.
Where are your sheets? .you have been drinking the riech wing kool aid son…
Why, though, WHY did the GOP take over the mid-term elections? All in all, when you count mayors, governors, representatives–about 640 seats flipped. That’s why Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Florida house legislatures are voting in the toxic bills we are seeing today.
What happened? I think it’s because young people and Latinos didn’t get out and vote. Who voted? Old people. Apparently, old, white, Republican people.
I worry about the state of our democracy, too, especially when voters can’t be troubled to get out once every two years, go to their polling place and prevent the catastrophic wreckage of the middle class.
The Tea Party want a backlash against Republicans so it will be easier for the Fascist in the Tea Party, like Koch, Palin, Michele, the Christian Right, KKK, to name a few, to implement the Hitlerian policies. of 1933. Remember it was tried in 1934 by the American Librety League,– backed by some of the wealthy whose names are still around today.—Koch-Bush-Chase/Morgan as some.
Hmmm….I love contempt prior to investigation…don’t you?
Love your work
You just appeared all smug and as though you know it all. You certainly don’t speak for all women. When I was a kid I went to Planned Parenthood and was talked into an abortion. I had only gone there for a check up to see if I was pregnant. I was told by the staff how selfish I was to consider keeping my baby and on and on. Being young and niave and so influenced by their staff, I consented in writing. A couple of days later, when I was being wheeled in I was screaming no, please I changed my mind, no please, the lady made me sign the paper, please no…and I was put under and received an abortion I didn’t want. I’m not the only one. I get to live with that. And as far as other services, please spare me the bull. There are reputable doctors and clinics for women to go that take medicaid. I don’t want to use my taxes to pay for someone else’s mistake. I had been pro-choice back in the seventies – who knew any better..I was indoctinated by the likes of “women” like you. Now that I have children, I can’t believe how so many of us killed our unborn children so easily. And what about late term abortion – that’s just sick – if someone did that do a dog there’d be violent protests. My healthy neice was born extremely premature – yeah the age of a late term abortion. Planned Parenthood has long had an obvious political agenda and should be shut down. If people didn’t so easily have abortions they might be more careful when having sex. Why should our taxes pay for one group’s liberal ideals? There is no need for Planned Parenthood or any other abortion mill, certainly not paid for by the people.
I’ve been called a Republican, racist and every other name in the book by my fellow Democrats. I’m a Tea Party Democrat, and proud of it.
I also served in our armed forces, and although I disagree with the “far left” of my party, I served for the freedom for everyone to believe as they will.
The real problem is when other folks start thinking they know what is best for everyone else instead of just working to keep their own side of the street clean.
I’ve felt ashamed of my party, ashamed of their vicious comments to Palin, Hillary and now Bachmann. I used to believe NOW was supportive of all women. All three women I listed are strong women. I actually disagree with all three on some issues, but would be proud to call any of the three Madame President.
Our founders were brilliant. (When they weren’t arguing, of course!) It looked as though the constitution would never be written, until they knelt down and asked their creator for help. One month later it was done.
In Federalist Papers Number 10, our founders chose “freedom” for all men, feeling that would generate diverse opinions, great minds and the freedom to try anything…to succeed or fail based on one’s own merit.
In that very idea of individualism, they also warned that a few, or many, might become so arrogant that they would strive to take away rights of their fellow Americans, or have government do it.
I don’t think anyone heard us in 2010. I’m certain they will hear us in 2012. Many fellow Democrats have left the party. I choose to stay, and not be silent.
You liberal people are so stupid, you can’t even see the
truth if it came up and slapped you a crossed the face.
You don’t want to know the truth and furthermore you don’t want
anyone else to know the truth.
On Fox News you made the statement that people need
government to start up businesses. Have you lost your mind? We don’t need the government
to start up business; we need government to stay the hell out of our way!
Do you really think taxing the rich i.e. corporation is
smart? If you do, again you are so stupid! I started and run my own custom
cabinet business. I did it all on my own, no government help, just hard work
and long hours, something you probably don’t know about.
Yes, the government taxes me on everything, employee tax,
unemployment tax, property tax, sales taxes, personal property taxes, right
down to the hammers we use.
Let me give you a little lesson on taxes. If I build a
cabinet for you and it cost me $100 and in that $100 20% of that is taxes and
80% is cost, lumber, labor, electricity, ect… In order for me to make money I
sell it to you for $120 and that 20% is what I need for my profit. If you’re
willing to pay me that, then I make a living and you get a cabinet. If however, the cabinet now cost me a $120
because the taxes go up 20% like you have suggested, then do you really think
that I’m going to sell you the cabinet for $120? No…..I’m going to sell you
that cabinet for $140 so that I still make my $20. Who pays the increase in the
price of that cabinet? Me? Sorry……….Wrong again! You do! That’s right, the corporations, the rich man,
the people creating job do not pay taxes and never will. If you can’t afford it, then I can’t sell it,
therefore I must lay off workers. Then I don’t make the money I need, nor do
others! Others get laid off because you or I are not spending money! All
because the taxes went up on the “Rich Man” like you want.
Even a child can understand
this!
Dishonest people always lose in the end!
This author is out of touch with reality!
good article, yes republicans are so corrupt and disconnected it it scary. I pray that voters will remember this when we all vote in 2012 for our president. Even Obozo is much better than any of these Republican clowns that are candidates for president of our country.