Mr Yarmuth and the bottomless pit
In a recent article in the Huffington Post newly re-elected Congressman John Yarmuth sought to explain away his party’s loss of the US House of Representatives. Mr Yarmuth used a lot of imagery about light and dark, assigning the darkness to the Republicans, of course, and even throwing in a Moses reference when speaking about the light Americans are looking for. As any good propaganda writer would, Mr Yarmuth showed a flair for hitting all the right buttons, throw in some fear, a little pandering and some half truths and voila, the kind of opinion piece long time readers of the LEO have come to expect from the former columnist turned congressman.
The accusations come fast a furious: Republicans want to return to the 15th century, Republicans have no ideas on how to govern, with Republicans in charge there will be no opportunity to make a better life for Americans, Republicans will not be able to show Americans the light at the end of the economic tunnel, and Republicans are a bunch of callous, self serving rich white men who are only out for themselves. He even throws in enough mia culpa to trick you into believing that Democrats have learned their lesson, and it’s just us wayward, short attention span Americans, that can’t see how much the Democrats love us and want nothing but the best for us. But even this suspiciously sincere humility throws enough blame at Americans in general to make his statements lack believability. Americans aren’t looking for a Moses, they are looking for a little respect. And the Democrats didn’t lose because we “stupid” Americans fell for a bunch to T-Shirt slogans as Mr Yarmuth implies. They lost because they governed badly. Pure and simple.
Contrary to what Mr Yarmuth would have you believe, Republicans are not heartless and cruel. Republicans also, believe that everyone should have equality before the law, a value Mr Yarmuth would claim is uniquely Democrats’. Republicans are supportive of business building green technology and efforts to preserve our environment. Republicans want government to be efficient and effective so that our security and economic stability are ensured. Republicans are against fraud and corruption and believe in working diligently to prevent such illegal activity. And probably most importantly, Republicans believe that government should help create the framework in which all citizens have the opportunity to succeed.
Compare this last statement about the Republican’s belief in the role of government to Mr Yarmuth’s statement about the role of government:
“Most important for this time in history, we also believe that government can and should be involved in creating and assuring opportunities for every citizen.”
It sounds similar but the subtle difference between the two statements has a significant impact on the type of policies each party would enact and how they would spend money.
The Democrats believe government should create and assure opportunities for citizens, the Republicans believe government should create the framework for citizens to have opportunities. Directly creating an opportunity vs creating a framework for opportunities dictates a difference in government policy and in spending money. To directly create an opportunity a Democratic Party run government would:
- create a government job,
- prop up a failing company to ensure jobs don’t go away, and
- take over the health care system bringing millions on to the federal payrolls and creating millions more government jobs in administration.
To create a framework for opportunities a Republican Party run government would:
- ensure security and create a peaceful environment for business and citizens to grow and live,
- promote competition by breaking up monopolies thereby encouraging more businesses to enter the market, and
- crack down on fraud and corruption encouraging legitimate business and job growth.
Mr Yarmuth incorrectly demonizes Republicans in this propaganda piece he would not dared have written during the campaign. Republicans want this country to grow and for opportunities for all citizens to abound. Republicans no longer fit into the stereotypes that Mr Yarmuth would have you believe. Young conservatives in particular are a diverse group of serious minded individuals that truly care about the future of this country. It is the younger generation that will have to make the sacrifices to ensure that this great country continues to be great. As this new breed of Republican comes of age and starts to assert itself, the accusations that Republicans want to keep this country in the dark, just won’t fly. We believe that every citizen should have the opportunity to succeed unencumbered by an over bearing government intent on absorbing as much power and market share as it can in the name of “fairness.”
While Mr Yarmuth has been “trapped in a mine” the younger generations of this country have been shoved into a bottomless pit. Debt and deficits are mounting and it will fall on us to find the rope and climb out of the pit toward the light. The light Republicans know how to get to, and the light the new breed of Republican will bring us all toward again.
Inga Schweitzer
Chair – Louisville Young Republicans
