Evan Bayh’s Moderate Gambit
This week the Wall Street Journal printed an editorial by Indiana Senator Evan Bayh. Senator Bayh had organized several other “so called” moderate democratic senators to oppose President Obama’s budget request. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell the senator from Kentucky called Bayh’s editorial “insightful.” According to the Wall Street Journal when asked about the Republicans' praise of his op-ed article, Bayh said he doesn't have a problem if Republicans were "honestly agreeing with me," but he does if "they were just using my point of view to score cheap political points." Evan, you know both of these points are true. Why are you organizing democratic senators against the President? Why are you allowing yourself to be used to undermine his policies? And not only are you doing it personally, but you have organized other Senators so that they can be used to undermine the President. Let’s look at some of the stances of your members.
Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate said “I have major concerns about trying to raise taxes in the midst of a downturn of the economy.” “On the one hand, you’re trying to stimulate the economy. On the other hand, you’re trying to keep money from going into taxpayers’ pockets. It’s very difficult to make that logic work.” Senator Nelson’s position begs the question, on whom are the taxes being raised. The answer is that taxes will be raised on those who make $250,000 dollars or more per year. Senator Nelson sounds like Rush Limbaugh! Senator Bayh have you become a “ditto head?” You have stated publicly that you think that President Obama should slow down, don’t move too fast. This sounds so much like the Dixiecrats, who were nothing but democrats, in the south when we were fighting for passage of the 1964 voting rights bill. They were counseling the nation to slow down on giving Black people the vote; they didn’t want to move to fast. The issue then was race. The issue now is economics. It appears that you have sided with the rich at the expense of the poor.
Senator Bayh: I saw you in Elkhart, Indiana. You heard directly the pain that the economic downturn is causing in that city. Elkhart has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. A couple of weeks ago, food had to shipped in so they could feed their families. This wasn’t people starving in Zimbabwe, this is in your home state; the state of Indiana. Those people represent the least of these. Your present position is neglectful, and against the economically depressed people in Elkhart. If you agree with Sen. Ben Nelson then you agree to make the fat cats fatter, by cutting their taxes. If anyone can stand a tax increase it’s the fat cats. Even Jayson agrees with that. They have so much money that paying an increase in taxes is just another expense that has no effect on their ability to maintain their lifestyle. Raising the taxes on the wealthy will raise much needed revenue for the country. Senator Bayh: What are you doing? Are you mad because President Obama did not pick you for Vice? What is it? Surely you are not supporting to give to the fat cats at the expense of the poor, are you?
Senator Bayh, let me assure you that we here in Indiana have a very close eye on you. You are very popular here in Indiana, and you should know that Bart Peterson, the previous Mayor, was also popular in Indianapolis. The state legislature increased people’s property taxes that caused bills to be two and three times what they were previously. Bart in this climate raised the people’s income taxes by 65%. People were mad. Bart chose the city’s budget desires over the people’s ability to own their property. Bart found out that when you side with the rich in economically challenging times then the people will rise up and let you know that you are not that popular. Bart’s campaign coffers was millions while Ballard’s was a few thousand dollars. Still, the people rose up and defeated Bart. Senator, do not sleep on that lesson. You cannot take positions that hurt the people in Elkhart and the rest of the state and think your popularity will pull you through. You must know that you are being watched with a very critical eye. It would not be in your interest to undercut what President Obama is trying to do for the little people. Siding with the fat cats on Wall Street is more of the same. It is the people on Main Street that vote for you. Do not support the fat cats getting fatter. If you want to oppose the President then push for him to give the money directly to the people on Main Street. Let the people on Wall Street make their profit off of the people’s consumption on Main Street. Support the President not giving the banks or AIG one more dime. Give the money to Main Street. Our consumption will kick start the economy. It is time for a change. Indiana for the first time in a long time voted for change. Change is in the air. Surely you feel it. If not, you will. Thank you for listening to AjabuSpeaks.