We talked yesterday about House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) latest "rebranding" initiative -- his fourth in four years -- including a speech at a conservative Washington think tank. How'd it go? You can watch the entirety of Cantor's remarks above, but there was something E.J. Dionne told Rachel last night that struck me as especially interesting.
"[I]f you read Eric Cantor`s speech, the terms of that speech were progressive terms. The question he was asking was, 'What can government do to help make people`s lives better?' That's not the old Republican question. The old Republican question was, 'How can we create a smaller government? How can we cut taxes on those job creators, the rich people?'"
Quite right. Two weeks ago, President Obama delivered an inaugural address focused on Americans acting together through government to help guarantee shared prosperity and opportunity. And yesterday, the conservative House Majority Leader delivered a speech of his own in which he, too, sees government as a tool to help make a material difference in Americans' lives.
At least rhetorically, this is a departure from the recent debate. The GOP line in the Obama era has been that government is necessarily wrong, inefficient, and fundamentally incapable of improving much of anything. Americans, the argument goes, shouldn't look to the public sector for support; they should look to themselves, the free market, and Ayn Rand novels.
Cantor's speech pointed in a different direction. His rebranding initiative, presumably based on a fair amount of polling data, is apparently focused on making Republicans seem less Republican. And given his party's abysmal public support, that might not be such a bad idea.
The next question, though, is whether the rhetoric is consistent with reality.
Not surprisingly, this is where Cantor's speech came up short. In fairness, the Virginia Republican proposed that his party take a more constructive course on immigration policy, which was a genuine, pleasant change of pace. Indeed, Cantor seemed to endorse the general tenets of the Dream Act, which represented quite a reversal -- Cantor himself has voted against the legislation in the recent past.
But on literally everything else, the Majority Leader took told GOP ideas, stuck them in the microwave for a minute, and tried to pretend he'd prepared a fresh meal. Cantor still wants to repeal "Obamacare," fund private school vouchers, and encourage colleges to "provide prospective students with reliable information on the unemployment rate and potential earnings by major."
At its core, the Republican agenda is still the Republican agenda. Slightly different packaging is irrelevant, and the fact that Cantor's speech was so thin reinforces the perception that the party isn't really prepared to change much of any thing, their recent defeats notwithstanding.
Cantor seems to realize that another "government is evil" speech is pointless -- for all the assumptions about the "center-right nation," he realizes that the American mainstream sees a role for a healthy public sector that promotes the general welfare. But the problem with this latest rebranding campaign is that Cantor wants to present a Republican agenda that will "benefit families across the nation," but he can't fill in the blanks.
There's a reason for this, which the right generally prefers not to admit: conservatism isn't an effective governing philosophy when it comes to using government to make a positive material difference in the lives of working families. Cantor spent 45 minutes trying to jam a square peg into a round hole, and it was ultimately unsatisfying because his pitch lacked any kind of persuasive depth.
Dionne is entirely right that Cantor now seems inclined to fight on Democrats' turf -- both sides can tell voters how they intend to use government effectively to bolster the middle class, and the electorate can choose the vision they prefer. But if Cantor's pitch is the best Republicans can offer, the GOP is in deep trouble.
Leave a Comment:
This is Frankenstein monster the Koch Bro's created ... Ladies and gentleman may I present... The Tea Party, who will soon be driving the car and any sensible talk no matter how obtuse will soon end
Until the Republicans can shed their Darwinian "Survival of the fittest" and extreme Capitalistic mindset, which is completely contrary to their alledged religious beliefs, they will never get my vote again and I doubt the majority of American voters won't either.
Correction: "I doubt the majority of American voters will either"
That's literally his plan. His proposals are really Tea Party dogma disguised as ideas to help people live better lives. G.O.P. rebranding=Trojan Horse with Rush inside.
Well, it's only sensible talk. They can repackage all they want, but they'll never change their attitudes and policies. Conservatives are afraid of everything, but most of all they're afraid of a new idea.
in my general experience fear is what drives conservatives.
Democrats are the people who want to see what is over the next hill and beyond the horizon.
Republicans hide behind barbwire fences with shotguns screaming "Get off my property you filthy hippie"
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/bu-ttf020513.php
In other words, Eric Cantor and all his buddies are nothing more than frightened little men who should've paid more attention in class.
Democrats will rue the day they dismiss the GOP's ability to better fool the American public. Stop being their enablers by underestimating their tactics.
Just another "compassionate conservative," and we know how that ended up.
This Drone issue is actually very complicated due to the circumstances that have occurred. Since it was very much Bush, Chenney, and their cronies that really amplified and caused this mess with empowering terrorists and implemented the use of Drones. Than you have our Military who basically just plainly is worn out and with too many of our Soldiers with PTSD committing suicide. It can easily enough be seen why President Obama wants to use these Drones and why there is this Assassination List which of course Bush and Chenney started under false pretenses. And than on top of it you had President Obama in some form or fashion forced to keep these certain people from the Bush and Chenney Administration for probably what is very much for one of the reasons as an avoidance of an impeachment of Bush, Chenney, and their cronies for war crimes and murder. So if you think President Obama would be impeached, you can probably forget it because it would definitely have to go back also to Bush and Chenney and that as all this is as devious as it is will not happen. So what is one of the answers to the dilemma, President Obama who is very surely aware of all the facts of the situation can finally fix the problem so it doesn’t happen again, since you can never rely on a Republican to get it done. Because what are we really fighting here and that is really poor people who have been forced into a situation by manipulating devious people. And those manipulating devious people have wealth behind them. You don’t see a corrupt Arab Prince get blown up because he was visiting Osama Bin Ladin on a hunting trip, but too easily they will blow up some poor person regardless if they are guilty or not. Why is that?
We will never know what facts they are using to justify it. They may have intelligence that points to intent We know that the government of Pakistan(and for the most part Yemen) has very little interest out side of accepting our checks to do anything about the people or the threats within their borders. So what do you do? Wait?
Bin Laden determined to Strike inside the U.S.
Ring a bell?
Me ? I want them all looking over their shoulders.
They are always watching for any potential threats to America so that is not the real issue. This issue of killing American citizens goes beyond just terrorists, when in reality it could open up to just killing anyone at a persons whim. It is a similar principle actually to a person carrying a gun on the streets who may not like you for some reason than chooses to shoot you dead. What makes a President different than just someone on the street with a gun. Just as we need proper gun regulations, we also need proper regulation of a President with such power to do whatever he or she wants to do at the snap of a finger.
Deb: The USA has technology and resourses that allow us to hear the terrorists conversations, and track their whereabouts. No way the public is going to hear details about this, we have to protect our advantages.
That we have always promoted democracy and condemned other countries for arrest without due process, it offends me that our country was dealing out torture to people accused of being a terrorist, by a third party that was PAID for that information. And now we are dealing out death penalties without any arrest or any kind of due process. Even war criminals had due process and in some cases in absentia.
We can get off our soapbox now and stop invading other countries to shove democracy up their butts. We have shown that we are no better than they are and we obviously don't support democracy around the world anymore. The next step is for Obama to come out of the closet and admit he's a republican and end the charade.
I am not saying to not go after the bad guys, but we do need to get the real culprits of these horrible things that happen as innocent people are protected. And as always it takes proper regulation to obtain that.
Phenner: Are you implying we should either ignore terrorists in Yemen or send in troops? I get and agree with your points about foreign wars and entanglements, but we are exactly where we are, and no wishing is going to fix that. I don't think ignoring is an option anymore.
But Lebowsky we do need a certain amount of transparency just as President Obama has promised.
Yes indeed Deb.
Nothing like putting a "Calvin Klein" label on a crappy pair of jeans to make people want them more!
Exactly! I mean in 2010 it was JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! Once in office it was - REGULATE WOMEN'S BODIES, REGULATE WOMEN'S BODIES, REGULATE WOMEN'S BODIES! Are WE really going to allow ourselves to get suckered again?
Will they try to re-brand rape as 'a chance encounter with privileges' or as 'a power point presentation', cutting food stamps as 'fighting obesity in the 47%' and war with Iran as 'bringing technology to the Middle East'? It is still putting lipstick on a pig.
Right on ! I call it lipstick on an elephant.
The question was "What can government do to help make people`s lives better?" but the answer is "Create a smaller government and cut taxes on the rich people."
Exactly, D.C.
The agenda is the answer.
Rhetorically the Republicans have been dancing around the fire, because they set the fire, and don't quite know how to control it! The fire is the irritable soft white underbelly of the worried, displaced, and discontented conservative white base of his party.
Yeah, Cantor is dancing with words and we know he'll be dancing with a pig if it will help him convince Americans he's an alright guy. Hell, Cantor will no doubt give that pig singing lessons and put lipstick on it to pretty it up!
But at the end of the day, the pig is still the pig just as the Republican platform will still be the Republican platform!
Oh, and Eric, we American people don't like listening to used car salesmen! -Kevo
The guy is such a snake oil salesman. Problem is there's a big market for snake oil.
Shorter Cantor:
"There's nothing wrong with the Republican Party that Frank Lunz can't fix."
OK, everyone -- chime in. Day nailed it.
And the ghost of Lee Atwater
Who knows this rebrand might work. Democrats need to think of a way to counter it. I like doing things. Force Republicans to show their cards by proposing and promoting legislation that Americans need to see passed.
Karl Rove, Sarah Palin and now Dick Morris. See elections do have consequences.
Karl Rove is back on fux news, if that is what you are referring to. he was just suspended for awhile.
Compassionate smoke and mirrors-ism.
So, Republicans are filling the airwaves with talk. How new.
Until Republicans start compromising, until they start working with the president, until they start allowing our government to function again, maybe even helping the national recovery instead of inhibiting it, until their actions show they're serious about change, every last thing these Republicans say is empty manufactured chatter.
The Republican Party is becoming an embarrassment (becoming?...)
This is the inevitable result of effectively saying anything it took to get elected. They fall over each other trying to outdo the next guy, slowly twisting further and further Right.
But, for me, the worst of it is the virtual enshrinement of ignorance as a virtue to be lauded and actively pursued. Down with all the smart people!
Don't we want smart people running things?
It's part of the Tea Party scare tactic. They need an "other" to be the enemy to unite their base, and since most of them don't have a lot upstairs, this meme really works. As in, "Don't let the smart people take over! They're just trying to fool you!! Before you know it, they'll have all your guns and we'll be in a Fascist, Marxist totalitarian police state. You just watch. . . ."
It is "down with smart people". Remember, they hate education. Mitt made that plain. I used to think ignorant people could be educated on the issues...then I moved to East Texas. This state is busy dumbing down its citizens..especially in rural areas. A lot of this is accomplished every Sunday morning. You would not believe some of the lies they are told. I can't even figure out how these preachers come up with this crap. Guess if folks are easily brainwashed they will believe anything. My favorite..."If Obama is elected he will be able to appoint Supreme Court Justices and we will not be able to pray 'in Jesus name' any more". They're waiting for Mr. Obama to deploy storm troopers to every church in the nation on Sunday to see if they use the words..."in Jesus name".
This is totally unscientific, but it's something I started noticing when I've gone through profiles on Internet dating sites. Ready? Almost all the men who said their politics were conservative wore their hair short, parted on the side and combed over. I'm not talking about the "comb-overs" to hide a bald spot, but just a very regimented, conservative style. See if you agree.
;-)
I liked the tone, but let us not forget; "a sheep in wolfs clothing". I have been hearing a lot of good things coming from the mouths of republicans, but their actions speak much louder then their words. They can not be trusted!! They are a fringe group who still believe their values are the only values. They are the chosen ones!! Please they need to all go away!!
Eric Cantor - an embarrassment to Jews (of which I am one) around the world. I have a theory about Jews who are members of the GOP - they are members of The Lost Tribe. Additionally, Mr. Cantor found it necessary to steal from President Obama's speach given in Kansas in 2011 (thank you Rev. Al and your crackerjack research team!). No matter how the GOP slice it, phrase it or steal it - when we peel away the rhetoric their policies are the same. For shame!
See? The teapubs have to steal everything including speeches.
I didn't recognize him without his back stabbing knife.But Boener wasn't in front of him ??? They can't stand each other how can they say they love someone of another color when they can't stand themselves... Maybe that 's why they have to wear sheets when they have a gathering???????
Mr. Cantor referred more than once to Mr. Kelly saving his children from a public school that had 8 security guards. I have two questions for Mr. Cantor:
1) Who paid the tuition for his children to attend a private school? Private school tuition is an expense most middle class families can't afford.
2) What happens to the other 400-500 children still attending that public school? One success and 400+ failures doesn't sound like a very good outcome to me.
If you look up "bait and switch" in an online dictionary, you will be redirected to a video of Eric Cantor's new speech.
The stuff that is in the old brown bag on your front porch the kids light has poo in it. Same goes for the pretty new, fancy package with a red bow on it delivered in the dead of night the GOP lights has the same poo inside of it. When the kids at the GOP rings your bell in the middle of the night don't step on the package to get rid of the fire because you are still going to get poo on your shoes.
POUND THIS POINT: This gambit is exactly what Rmoney and Rayn did in the campaign, Luntz has found relevance and an invisible cloak that used to hang in grandma's closet, he had it green dry cleaned at a focus group and handed it to the GOP.
Are voters actually that stupid (insert your own metaphor) these days?
This so resembles the Wizard of Oz movie line, "They're morphing..They're morphing!" Cantor's morphing constructive course correction on immigration policies is very suspect at the very least. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig! Cantor leads the pack in holding the budget as the top priority, cutting entitlements and protecting the top tiered 2%. Cantor has already said he'd allow sequester to happen. He's acting in collusion with McConnell who sent out Marco Rubio to get publicly exposed on different issues to side track the real issues of immigration reform, extending the debt ceiling and passing legislation to stop the effects of the sequestration. Cantor is TEA-speaking to change the subject matter.