Can we just call the Blue Dog Democrats exactly what they are: Republicans prancing around under the Democratic Party flag? Enough of the façade already, because you’re not fooling anyone.
Yes, the Blue Dogs are lining up behind a radical Republican measure that would put forth a Balanced Budget Amendment that would eliminate 15 million jobs across the country, in addition to gutting the social safety net. From Think Progress:
It’s hard to overestimate the negative effects such an amendment would have on the country’s economy. In addition to destroying millions of jobs, it would force such massive spending cuts that House Republicans’ own budget would be unconstitutional. According to a recent study by Macroeconomic Advisers, enacting a BBA now would double the nation’s unemployment rate and cause the economy to shrink by 17 percent — a far cry from the 2 percent projected growth that would occur with no such amendment.
Unfortunately, according to another analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the consequences get worse. The draconian budget cuts caused by a Balanced Budget Amendment would force lawmakers to gut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), among other programs, the analysis found.
Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) - Blue Dog Dem
But that’s not going to faze the Blue Dogs, who came out in support of the disaster-waiting-to-happen:
“We were advancing a balanced budget amendment when balanced budget amendments weren’t cool,” a co-chairman of the coalition, Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), told reporters on a conference call. [...]
“If any Blue Dog does not vote for it, I’d have to question how much they’re a Blue Dog,” [Blue Dog Rep. Jim] Matheson [D-UT] said.
Well, I’d have to question how much they’re a Democrat.
As we’ve reported before, the Balanced Budget Amendment is a Republican policy that they have tried to force down our throats before. In fact, Washington’s resident turtle-head, Sen. Mitch McConnell had this to say about it back in July:
“The time has come for a balanced budget amendment that forces Washington to balance its books. If these debt negotiations have convinced us of anything, it’s that we can’t leave it to politicians in Washington to make the difficult decisions that they need to get our fiscal house in order. The balanced budget amendment will do that for them. Now is the moment. No more games. No more gimmicks. The Constitution must be amended to keep the government in check. We’ve tried persuasion. We’ve tried negotiations. We’re tried elections. Nothing has worked.”
No, it hasn’t worked because most sane-headed people realize what a clusterfuck it would mean to the country.
Thanks, Blue Dogs. You may now relinquish your membership to the Democratic Party, because we know that you are Democrats in name only.
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