Turns out all those people who suggested that Republicans lack a coherent plan to counter President Obama’s proposals are wrong. As Politico reports:
House Republicans have begun unveiling detailed alternatives to President Barack Obama’s policies — a concerted effort to push back against Democratic efforts to label them “the Party of No.”
On Wednesday, it was a housing plan. Thursday, it will be a big, TV-friendly stack of budget blueprints, “The Republican Road to Recovery.” That’s to match the president’s own platitudinous budget title, “A New Era of Responsibility.”
This is good news, depending on what’s in the plans. I love tax cuts as much as the next Republican, but at some point you’ve got to go deeper. Health care begs for smart thinking. Novel energy and environmental proposals would be welcome. And of course the slow-motion entitlement car wreck should be a priority.
One tiny problem in the presentation so far is that Republicans seem to be in response mode as opposed to leadership mode.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said the housing proposal that he rolled out with eight other House Republicans on Tuesday was “in response to the administration — and the president himself, who continues to say that Republicans don’t have any ideas.”
“We’re here today to say yes we do,” Cantor said.
Not exactly a rallying cry, but I underestimated “Yes we can!” too.
And Republicans seem shocked — shocked! — that the president might misrepresent their positions.
“Contrary to the administration’s straw man diversions, Republicans do have our own ideas,” [Indiana Congressman Mike] Pence said….Cantor challenged the idea that Republicans are acting when the horse is out of the barn, with the administration already implementing Obama’s plans. “First of all, the president knows different when he says that we don’t have a plan,” Cantor said.
We’re told to expect more details — including charts and graphs — when the Administration fleshes out more of its budget proposals later this spring. Hopefully the GOP will come up with a few clear examples and some fresh-sounding ideas that will add some oomph to the “Yes we do!” message.
