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Republicans must protect us
Following President Obama’s 2008 election, a Canadian relative sent congratulations, adding, “I didn’t think the U.S. was ready for a black president.”
Unfortunately, she was probably right. Following Obama’s election, Southern Poverty Law Center documented a big hate group spike. At the outset of Obama’s presidency, Rush Limbaugh said, “I hope Obama fails,” the tea party arose and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated the singular Republican Party priority was Obama’s 2012 defeat.
Before his inauguration, Republican leadership, including Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, plotted to obstruct every Obama policy, even if previously Republican-enacted (e.g., Obamacare and Mitt Romney; immigration reform and Ronald Reagan). The Secret Service reported, “Obama faces more death threats than any other president. More than 30 a day.”
Obama’s grasp of history was exceptional. Parroting Great Depression solutions to avert a probable repeat, his 2009 economic stimulus saved or created 1.4 to 3.3 million jobs (nonpartisan CBO) - many more if necessary Republican votes hadn’t insisted 40 percent of stimulus be tax cuts.
Republicans now praise President Trump’s preemptive Syria strikes, but denied Obama support for the same. Republicans’ blatantly obstructionist strategy has gained them full legislative control, so they’re singularly accountable for protecting us from Trump’s quality of life reversals. But they’re caving.
Norm Luther
Spokane