CONNOR HOFFMAN
Special to The Leader
Republican mania has taken over the country after they kept control of the house and gained a majority in the senate. The Republicans have taken a very tough tone against the Democrats, but they should watch what they say. The Republicans must work with the Democrats if they hope to keep control in 2016.
Even before President Obama took office, the Republicans vowed to resist him at almost every step. The Republicans would gain the reputation of the party of “no.” The Republicans obtained this nickname because to many it seemed like they would rather say “no” than work with the Democrats.
The Republicans are going down a slippery slope of no return with some of the comments they’ve made. They must watch what they say; if they don’t, the American voters will blame them in 2016 — not Obama.
Speaker of the House John Boehner has threatened Obama not to issue executive orders on immigration.
“When you play with matches, you take the risk of burning yourself, and he’s going to burn himself if he continues to go down that path,” said Boehner on Obama’s proposed immigration executive orders.
“I’ve made clear to the president that if he acts unilaterally on his own outside of his authority, he will poison the well and there will be no chance for immigration moving in this Congress,” said Boehner.
Boehner has chastised Democrats who voted for Obamacare, saying that was the main reason they lost.
“I don’t believe a thing he says,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus when asked about working with President Obama.
“[The] era of Obama lawlessness is over,” said prominent Tea Party Republican Ted Cruz.
Soon-to-be Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has taken a slightly different tone on the party’s recent victories.
McConnell has said that the party’s recent victory is due to America’s disappointment with Obama, but also that dysfunction in Washington was a big factor, too.
The Republicans have to realize before it’s too late that this badmouthing is going to have them voted out. The American people are sick of a Congress that would rather trash talk each other than legislate. According to a Gallup poll, 65 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the how the government system works.
Even with all the tough rhetoric, the Republican leaders have been saying there is some hope for bipartisanship. Both Boehner and McConnell have said they currently don’t plan to completely repeal Obamacare but rather repeal some of the most controversial parts of it. They have also expressed that they hope to do this bipartisanly, according to an Op-Ed that Boehner and McConnell published in the Wall Street Journal.
“The Senate in the last few years basically doesn’t do anything,” said McConnell. McConnell has said how his first plan is to get the Senate back to normal
The Republican leadership may say that it is willing to work together with the Democrats now, but not every part of the party agrees with that. According to conservatives such as Ted Cruz, Republicans need to maintain a harsh tone against the democrats and not include them that much in lawmaking.
McConnell and Boehner should adhere to the conservative values that the party believes in, but must also be willing to compromise. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, the American people believe one of the most important issues is dysfunctional government. McConnell and Boehner have to be leaders and tell the conservative wing that this country needs both sides to agree.
A Ramussen poll conducted on Oct. 28 shows just this, with 62 percent of those polled believed that Congress is doing a poor job. 80 percent of those polled believed Congress listens to their political party more than the people they represent. Only 10 percent believed their congressman listen more to their constituency.
In January the House of Representatives will be composed of 244 Republicans and 180 Democrats. The Senate will be composed of 52 Republicans, 43 Democrats and two independents. Although the Republicans may have a majority, this is not a strong enough majority to override the president’s veto.
Let’s hope the Republican leadership makes the right decision and reaches across party lines to work with Obama and the Democrats. I guess we will just have to wait until 2016 and see how it all unfolds.