Republican "Reform"

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January 19, 2006

Republican "Reform"
In 1994 Newt Gingrich swept aside Democratic leaders in the House and ushered in a decade of “reform.” He started a campaign to make “liberal” a dirty word, to reduce the power of the media by calling it the “liberal media,” and to build a symbiotic relationship between Republican legislators and business lobbyists on K Street in Washington, D.C. With the aid of super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Bush administration has developed this “reform” to such loftiness that the Republican Party is now looking desperately for a new means of “reform.”

As Sidney Blumenthal reminds us:

"'Ethics reform' gestures and suddenly hazy memories can't hide the truth: Abramoff is an integral part of the GOP machine that revved up with the '94 'revolution.'"
A little history, please - also from Blumenthal:

"After Gingrich whipped up a commotion against Democratic House Speaker Jim Wright, forcing his resignation over a union's bulk buying of copies of his memoir, Gingrich's staff was caught smearing the new speaker, the gentlemanly Tom Foley, as a closest gay, which he was not. Then Gingrich fostered a furor over the House members' bank, a kind of credit union from which they had always drawn loans against their paychecks."
OK. The Republicans were in. The talk of "reform" was everywhere. By "reform" they meant getting rid of Democrats in public offices. All Democrats were lumped into the "liberal" category and all were attacked mercilessly. To this day, Republicans reserve "liberal" as the worst epithet to call any one. They call liberals anti-God atheists, American haters, whimps, traitors - and worse. They have done such a good job with this "reform" that Democratic candidates are afraid to call themselves "liberal."

To neuter the influence of the media, Republican "reformers" stamped newspapers, magazines, radio and TV shows that criticized Republicans as the "liberal media." Today, any newsman or commentator that is to the left of George W. Bush is part of the "liberal media." Any newsman or commentator that sycophantly praises Bush and endorses his policies automatically has great access. Such people and the media outlets they work for have been welcomed into and have become an important part of the Republican establishment.

The biggest "reform" effort, however, was the merging of the Republican Party with Big Business. DeLay and Abramoff led this "reform" by arranging it so that there was a dearth of Democratic lobbyists. "Reformer" Santorum did his part too. They forced business organization to hire only Republican lobbyists. After all, what's the point in hiring a Democrat when you can do business only with Republicans?

The latter "reform" fizzled. "Reformer" Abramoff is "reforming" by spilling the beans. What should Republican "reform" leaders do? Legislate "reform," of course.

"Reform" is back on the Republican agenda. They want to cut gifts, eliminate fees for lectures, and get rid of free trips to exotic places. Whatever they are suggesting will make changes alright. But the cozy relationship between Republicans and Big Business will not change. So a legislator will pay for his own meal and get 10 times as much as a campaign donation. Instead of with fees and trips, legislators would be paid off in other ways.

Republican "reform" has poisoned the well. The only way to detoxify it is to vote Democrats into office. Yes, yes, Democratic "reform" suggestions are just as bad as those the Republicans are making. But voting in a new group will help break up Republican dominance.

True reform will come in a second stage. It will not come easy. We will have to persuade the new incumbents to reduce the role of money in election campaigns.

Posted by Paul Siegel at January 19, 2006 06:34 PM