As Roll Call reported this week, 239 separate bills have passed the House, only to find Senate Republicans "objecting to just about every major piece of legislation" that Harry Reid has tried to bring to the floor, whether it enjoys bi-partisan support or not.
Indeed, Senate Republicans -- the ones accusing Dems of being a "do-nothing Congress" -- are proud of their efforts. Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott boasted, "The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail. So far it's working for us."
Voters are understandably frustrated about the lack of legislative achievements thus far, but the explanation is surprisingly straightforward: Republicans won't allow up-or-down votes on anything of significance.
The Republican Party is also the Party of Hypocrites. They complained about the filibuster and even threatened to remove it, saying it was unconstitutional, but now they use it constantly. They complained about Democrats using procedural motions to stop legislation, but they do the same thing. That is hypocrisy, but does the national news media call them on it? No. Does the news media report that it is Republican obstructionism that is stopping important legislation, that enjoys popular support amongst American voters? Again, no. The media simply regurgitates whatever Republican talking points is available to them and reports on a "do-nothing Congress" and ignores the fact it is Republican obstructionism that is stopping the legislation. The news media doesn't even have to dig deep to discover this truth, all they have to do is ask Republican Senators like Trent Lott who basically stated that they are intentionally obstructing legislation to try to make the Democrats look bad, and the news media are their willing accomplices. What liberal media?
Here is the Republican message: give the Democrats a black eye and screw the American people. Go here and help expose the obstructionists.
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