The New York Times has an article today entitled, "Sharp Reaction to G.O.P. Plan on Gas Rebate." You can say that again! Check this out:
Aides for several Republican senators reported a surge of calls and e-mail messages from constituents ridiculing the rebate as a paltry and transparent effort to pander to voters before the midterm elections in November."The conservatives think it is socialist bunk, and the liberals think it is conservative trickery," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, pointing out that the criticism was coming from across the ideological spectrum.
Now here's my favorite part:
Angry constituents have asked, "Do you think we are prostitutes? Do you think you can buy us?" said another Republican senator's aide, who was granted anonymity to openly discuss the feedback because the senator had supported the plan.Conservative talk radio hosts have been particularly vocal. "What kind of insult is this?" Rush Limbaugh asked on his radio program on Friday. "Instead of buying us off and treating us like we're a bunch of whores, just solve the problem."
C'mon Rush, tell us how you REALLY feel about this $100, help-save-Republican-incumbents-from-defeat-in-November gimmick. And everybody else, please, don't be so harsh to Republicans. Seriously, I mean, it's not like the Republicans haven't had over 5 years to get a grip on U.S. energy policy but have done nothing. It's not like they're totally in the pocket of the Big Oil companies (does G.O.P. stand for "Greedy Oil Party" or what?). It's not like they only care about keeping tax breaks for companies making record profits at a time of war (isn't that sort of like war profiteering, and didn't Harry Truman call that "treason?").
Hey, here's an idea: if they DO give us $100, why don't we turn around and donate half that money to whoever is running against our local Republican Congress Critter? Now THAT would send these guys a message, eh?