The Tone-Deaf, Insulated, Suicidal D.C. GOP

Hugh Hewitt.com ^ | February 26,2014 | Hugh Hewitt

[Hojczyk]

Camp’s Wall Street Journal op-ed today says he wants to fix “our appalling tax code.” The first question is who deputized him? Sure, he is chairman of Ways and Means by virtue of hanging around D.C. for 20 years, and no doubt he is a wonderful guy and much beloved by his Midland, Michigan neighbors.

But he doesn’t represent the country, he doesn’t represent any sizable portion of the GOP, and he has never, ever tried to sell this plan int he give and take of political debate. But this is a new GOP. Does the base want a face on the U.S.-Mexican border? The be sure to produce a bill that doesn’t build a fence.

Does the base want to take care of active duty military and their families?

Then slam only that very group with the only benefit cut in the budget package.

Does the base want tax reform? Then develop a bizarre plan in secret that punishes them and especially slams two-income couples who make $450,000 a year and leaves the Facebook billionaire class to fund climate change because, after all, why take care of the voters who send you to D.C.?

It is remarkable what D.C. GOPer talks themselves into by talking only to themselves. No one –no one– ran in 2012 on eliminating the mortgage interest deduction or the charitable deduction. No one barnstormed across the state in pursuit of limiting the charitable deduction or the state tax deduction. It is all hocus-pocus, dreamed up by staff economists and lobbyists looking to advantage this or that special interest, and more power to them. That is their job.

But it is the job of the D.C. GOP to represent their base, to consult with them, campaign in front of them and answer their questions.

[Georgia Girl 2]

The GOP. Only slightly less loathesome than the Dems.