Based on details outlined in Jake Tapper’s blog, Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey lays out another example of Obama administration Chicago-style relationship building today. It seems that Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, noticing how well the first one – now being touted as really being designed to help us out NEXT year, you silly people – has worked out, dared to question the necessity of a second stimulus package.
“…the reality is it hasn’t helped yet. Only about 6.8 percent of the money has actually been spent. What I proposed is, after you complete the contracts that are already committed, the things that are in the pipeline, stop it.”
But in this strange, new land of “I won”, common sense is no longer allowed. Nor is telling the Obama administration to stop anything. The Arizona governor promptly received a few snarky letters:
“…from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar all pointing out the billions headed to Arizona.
“Kyl ‘publicly questioned whether the stimulus is working and stated that he wants to cancel projects that aren’t presently underway,’ LaHood wrote to Brewer, a Republican. ‘I believe the stimulus has been very effective in creating job opportunities throughout the country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know.'”
And there you have the perspective of America held by Obama and his administration. The royal “we” are making money available but if you don’t want it, they won’t send it to you.
How quickly the royal “we” has forgotten that the money they are “making available” belongs to the people of Arizona and the rest of the people of the United States in the first place. They feel they can threaten to keep YOUR money from you. Kyle and Senator John McCain didn’t hesitate to remind them and call them out on their blatant political games:
“We were very disappointed to learn of the letters that you and other members of the Cabinet sent to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer about stimulus spending and that you would allow your good offices to be used so obviously for political purposes.
“Secretary LaHood’s suggestion that the Administration will “make available” to Arizonans tax dollars that they pay is patently offensive.
“We hope this does not characterize your dealings with the Congress in the future.”
Dr. Phil is fond of saying that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. We’re not alone here in noting how many times President Obama or those in his administration resort to threats when confronted with common sense or the Constitution so I’m afraid Kyle and McCain, indeed the entire country, are going to be pretty disappointed.
Senator Kyl said:
“It’s unfortunate that President Obama and his administration seem unwilling to debate the merits of the stimulus bill and acknowledge its shortcomings. Instead, they have resorted to coordinated political attacks with the Democratic National Committee and the politicization of departments of government by using cabinet secretaries to issue thinly veiled threats to the Governor and the people of Arizona. Since even the President acknowledges the stimulus isn’t working as well as he hoped, the administration should instead be willing to consider whether the unallocated stimulus money could be put to better use.”
Unfortunate, indeed. But I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for the teleprompter to tell me things are going to change any time soon.