America For Purchase

Calling out Republican Hypocrisy!  The American Recovery and Investment Act, passed by Congressional Democrats in the wake of the worst economic disaster since the 1930’s, was implemented to create new jobs, save existing jobs, spur economic development and invest in long-term growth.  Additionally the stimulus offered financial aid directly to local school districts, expanded the Child Tax Credit and invested in a process to computerized health records to reduce medical errors and save on health care costs.

The $787 billion stimulus gave $288 billion in middle class and small business tax cuts, $275 billion for contracts, grants and loans to rebuild America’s infrastructure and $224 billion in Entitlements to fund police, teachers, firefighters and unemployment programs.  (See Recovery.gov)244 Democrats voted for the stimulus plan, 177 Republicans voted against the stimulus, but many are now quietly and cowardly touting its benefits of the President’s Plan.  Republicans Who Opposed The Stimulus Continue To Pan It As A ‘Failure,’ While Also Taking Credit For Its Success.  These exact same deceitful Republicans Who Opposed the Stimulus Line up To Criticize It Publicly, Request More Money Privately, deliberately fail to tell their constituents where the money came from!

No wonder RNC Chairman Michael Steele declared recently, “You have absolutely no reason, none, to trust our word or our actions at this point.”

Economists have consistently praised the Recovery Act for rescuing the economy, projecting that without the “boldest countercyclical fiscal stimulus in American history,” unemployment would have hit 10.8 percent and there would have been another 1.2 million lost jobs. Today, unemployment stands a full percentage point lower at 9.7 percent.

Republicans and their fringe ‘teabagger’ Party railed against helping American families and businesses during this crisis and they continue to want American families to fail.

• Shrill Republican Hypocrisy on the Stimulus: “At least 22 lawmakers have touted the money from the recovery package they voted against” reports ThinkProgress.

• “Republican lawmakers nearly unanimously resisted supporting the president’s $787 billion stimulus package, but what has proved irresistible is the temptation to take credit for at least a few of those billions,” penned the New York Times.

• Salon.com writes “GOP governors take the (stimulus) money and run, which includes more double-faced gems of governors, including, of course, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of “thanks, but no thanks” phoniness”.

Must see video by Rachel Maddow who pointed out Think Progress has done a lot of great work on the subject and here are a few examples.

THE LIST:

Republican Representative Hypocrites – All these Congressional Representatives voted against The Recovery Package Twice [See Roll Call Vote #46; Roll Call Vote #70]

1. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) Congressman Boehner Regularly Blasts The Stimulus And Instructed His Caucus To Oppose It. [Huffington Post, 1/27/09]

Hypocrisy: “With Ohio’s unemployment rate the highest it’s been in 25 years, I’m pleased that federal officials stepped in to order Ohio to use all of its construction dollars for shovel-ready projects that will create much-needed jobs.” 6/15/09]

2. Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) has continuously railed against the Plan.

Hypocrisy: Washington Post: “Nearly half of the 30 organizations participating in a job fair Cantor is holding Monday in Culpeper were recipients of the stimulus” and now Cantor supports funds to build a Washington to Richmond Rail. [Washington Post Virginia Blog, 11/18/09]

3. Mike Coffman (R-CO) Attacked the Recovery Package, Stating: “I Think It’s Going to Have the Reverse Effect That It’s Intended to have.” [CBS4, 2/2/09]

Hypocrisy: Now he advocates for the benefits of the Recovery “I see myself in two roles as a congressman. I think the first role as a policymaker in Washington and the second as an advocate for people inside this district and there are elements we’ll probably be discussing the mortgage proposal, there are probably elements that I disagree with that but if there’s somebody in my district eligible for that, I’ll fight to make sure they get them.” [KUSA-TV, 2/22/09]

4. Congressman Reichert (R-WA) Attacked The Recovery Package, Declaring It To Be Spending That “Won’t Create Jobs.” [McClatchy, 2/13/09]

Hypocrisy: The Boston Globe reported: “Reichert acknowledges that the stimulus bill will deliver tangible good news to his constituents… ‘I feel a responsibility at this point to make this still work.’” [Boston Globe, 2/24/09]

5. Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) stated “The Federal Government Does “Not Create Wealth.” [Enid News and Eagle, 1/28/09]

Hypocrisy: “I will work with you as I worked with your member of Congress (Mary Fallin) and your U.S. senators that we will get our fair share.” He added, “We all need to work very aggressively to make sure that every community that qualifies should be a recipient of whatever we can find in that bill” [Edmond Sun, 2/18/09]

6. Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA) Bashes said the Recovery Act is doing “nothing to encourage growth.” [Shuster press release, 9/4/09]

Hypocrisy: Congressman Shuster has been quietly claiming credit for its benefits in his district, as well as advocating for an expanded role for Recovery Act money in his community:

-November 20, Shuster attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a sewage treatment plant for the Blairsville Municipal Authority. Republican State Senator Don White noted that the project was only possible because of the stimulus, which allowed the state Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to provide a $10.4 million grant and a $3 million low interest loan for construction. [Blairsville Dispatch, 11/25/09]
-On November 4, Shuster asked Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) to use some of the state’s stimulus money to reopen the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children. Shuster noted that using the Recovery Act money for the school would save 134 full-time jobs. [Waynesboro Herald-Mail, 11/4/09]
-In July, Shuster joined 14 Pennsylvania lawmakers, including fellow stimulus-opponents Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), and Todd Platts (R-PA) in writing a letter asking that stimulus money be used towards public universities. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/10/09]

-In June, Shuster hailed the stimulus-funded initiative to build a high-speed rail line between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The Post-Gazette quoted Shuster praising the project: “I believe we are about to experience a new era in passenger rail in this country. I want Western Pennsylvania to participate in this new era and to enjoy the benefits of increased and expanded passenger rail service.” [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/23/09]  (Rep. Shuster Bashes the Stimulus as a Failure While Taking Credit for Its Success)

7. Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) attacked Stimulus, Stating: “If this is truly supposed to be a stimulus that produces jobs, this bill fails on that account. There are much better ways to produce jobs and keep jobs than to send money they way there are spending money.” [The Oregonian, 2/13/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Mail Tribune, Rep. Walden said, “I figure my job is to try and do whatever I can to clear the hurdles and get the projects going and the people back to work using these funds. They are going to spent somewhere.” He added, “I hope they are spent mostly in this region. The part that is encouraging is the speed in which the agencies appear to want to move forward with projects.” [Mail Tribune, 2/19/09]

8. Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) Criticized the Recovery Package, Stating: “How Does Borrowing from Foreign Countries Actually Benefit Us?” [The Daily Collegian, 2/2/09]

Hypocrisy: “Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, who represents the 5th District at a national level, said he hoped the residents within the county would benefit from the plan’s massive spending and tax cuts.” In opposing the stimulus, Thompson cited “reckless spending and insufficient tax cuts.” [The Daily Collegian, 2/19/09]

9. Congressman Leonard Lance (R-NJ) Penned an Op-Ed Writing “Only A Fraction Of The Dollars Are Targeted Toward ‘Shovel Ready’ Projects That Will Keep and Create Immediate Jobs.” [Cranford Chronicle, 2/12/09]

Hypocrisy: “In New Jersey, Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., toured a Army Corps of Engineers construction site that will likely get stimulus dollars. ‘This is a classic example of a ‘shovel-ready’ project,’ Lance said. As the liberal website BlueJersey.Com notes, Lance had penned an op-ed against the bill, writing ‘Only a fraction of the dollars are targeted toward ’shovel ready’ projects that will keep and create immediate jobs.’” [ABC News, 2/19/09]

10. Congressman John Mica (R-FL)

Hypocrisy: According to McClatchy Newspapers, “Rep. John Mica was gushing after the House of Representatives voted Friday to pass the big stimulus plan. ‘I applaud President Obama’s recognition that high-speed rail should be part of America’s future,’ the Florida Republican beamed in a press release.” Additionally, according to the Politico, Congressman Diaz-Balart was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09; McClatchy, 2/13/09]

11. Congressman Don Young (R-AK) Was Reportedly “Gnashing His Teeth After The Stimulus Bill Passed,” Remarking, “I Think It’s An Unfortunate Day For America.” [Anchorage Daily News, 2/13/09]

Hypocrisy: According to McClatchy Newspapers, “Young boasted that he ‘won a victory for the Alaska Native contracting program and other Alaska small business owners last night in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.’” [McClatchy, 2/13/09]

12. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)

Hypocrisy: Hailed Education Benefits of Recovery Package As “What The Economy Needs.” According to KTVO-TV, “Luetkemeyer said the project is considered ‘shovel ready’ and that’s what the economy needs. Luetkemeyer boasted about the educational benefits of the economic recovery package.” [KTVO-TV, 2/17/09]

13. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) Congressman McCaul Brags About His Opposition To The “Pork-Filled” Stimulus

Hypocrisy: On his congressional website, McCaul features a story from earlier this month about a largely stimulus-funded project to expand Highway 36 in Texas. In the story, he is thanked for “taking this project to the next phase of reality.” Noting its importance, McCaul says the highway expansion will “cut down on fatal crashes and ensure commerce can continue to move efficiently through Austin County and the rest of this important region.”

14. Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX) Congressman Olson Criticized Stimulus As “Wasting” Money: “The Fact of the Matter Is the President Has That Money, And He’s Been Wasting It.” [Politico, 1/28/10]

Hypocrisy: Politico reported that Olson, “whose district includes the Johnson Space Center, circulated a letter in October requesting that $3 billion in stimulus funds be redirected to NASA.  Olson said he was just helping the president choose the “right priorities” — which just so happen to be centered in his congressional district. [Politico, 1/28/10]

15. Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) Complained That The Recovery Package Forces The Middle Class “Onto A Troubling King Of Public Dependency.” [Inland News Today, 2/20/09]

Hypocrisy: According to The Press Enterprise, Rep. Calvert said, “All of us in the Inland Empire will do what we can to direct as much money as we can.” [The Press Enterprise, 2/13/09].

16. Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) Attacked The Recovery Package As A “Spending Spree.” [Grand Haven Tribune, 2/14/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Hill Blog, Rep. Hoekstra communicated through Twitter: “If you know of someone thinking of buying first home, now may be the time. Stimulus incentive is very generous! Up to 8k! Check it out.” [The Hill’s Brief Room, 2/18/09]

17. Congressman Adam Putnam (R-FL) Congressman Putnam Penned An Op-Ed Attacking The Recovery Package As Spending Taxpayer Money “With Reckless Abandon.” [St. Petersburg Times, 2/11/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congressman Putnam was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

18. Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) Congressman Stearns Condemned the Recovery Package As an “Unprecedented Big-Government Grab For Citizen Reliance On The Federal Government.” [New York Times, 2/16/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congressman Stearns was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

19. Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) Congressman Posey Criticized the Recovery Package as “Very Little To Really Stimulate Activity and Just A Lot Of Money Thrown Around.” [Fox 35, 2/14/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congressman Posey was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

20. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) Congresswoman Brown-Waite Released A Statement Deriding The Bill As A “Pork-Ridden Bailout That Produces Few Jobs” And Compared It To A “Deal With The Devil.” [St. Petersburg Times, 1/29/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congresswoman Brown-Waite was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

21. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) Voiced His Opposition to the Recovery Package, Stated, “We’re Going to Be Embarrassed, it’s Not Going to Help the Economy.” [KIMO-ABC, 2/16/09]

Hypocrisy: according to the Politico, Congressman Diaz-Balart was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

22. Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) Decried The Recovery Package Because He Said It “Levees Our Economic Future On The Backs Of Our Children While Spending Billions On Projects That Will Do Little To Stimulate The Economy.” [Herald Tribune, 2/13/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congressman Rooney was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

23. Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) on the same day as he took credit for the recovery funds, Congressman Davis blasted a separate release claiming that the stimulus had “failed.” [Davis press release, 12/16/09]

Hypocrisy: On December 16th, Congressman Geoff Davis sent out a press release hailing $1,044,140 in stimulus money Carroll County school system, while crediting himself for securing the money. “I am pleased that our office was able to assist them in obtaining these funds,” noted Davis in the release. [Davis press release, 12/16/09]

24. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) state, “This Opportunity Lost Is More Than sad, because the American People Believed That This Was Sacrifice for Modernization, For Higher Productivity, For Creation of Jobs, And That Is Not What It Is.” [Voice Of America, 2/13/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congressman Diaz-Balart was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

25. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) criticized The Recovery Package, Stating “This Bill Doesn’t Get Us the Economic Security Where We Want Our Folks to be.” [PBS, 1/27/09]

Hypocrisy: According to the Politico, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen was among the “nine GOP House members from Florida, all stimulus no’s,” who, “joined nine of their Democratic colleagues, all yeses, in asking the feds to grant a waiver giving them access to, you guessed it, hundreds of millions in state stabilization stimulus cash.” [The Politico, 2/18/09]

26. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) subsequently criticized Gov. Tim Kaine (D) for being “slow” to spend the stimulus money allocated for Virginia even though if Wolf and his Republican colleagues would have had their way, there would be no extra money for the state at all. “We could use that money desperately,” Wolf told reporters. “We’re in a critical situation.”

27. Rep. John Mica (R-FL)

Hypocrisy: Gushed over the bill, which he, too, voted against. “I applaud President Obama’s recognition that high-speed rail should be part of America’s future,” he said in a press release.

28. Rep. Don Young (R-AK)

Hypocrisy: Boasted that he “won a victory for…Alaska small business owners” in the recovery bill he refused to vote for.

29. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), “You lie,” Wilson railed against President Obama

Hypocrisy: he elbowed his way into the rush for federal stimulus cash in a letter he sent to Mr. Vilsack on behalf of a foundation seeking funding.

Republican Senatorial Hypocrites – All these Congressional Senators voted against The Recovery Package Twice [See [Record Vote 59; Record Vote 60]

30. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) Senator Crapo Decried The Recovery Package As “Dangerous” Because “We Can’t Spend Our Way To Prosperity.” [Idaho Mountain Express, 2/11/09]

Hypocrisy: Senator Crapo gushed: “Approximately $400 million plus, maybe as much as $465 million will come to INL right here in Idaho for hundreds of new jobs and a significantly expedited clean up activity.” [KIDK News, 2/17/09]

31. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) Stated, “Unfortunately, This Bill Stimulates the Debt, It Stimulates the Growth of Government, But It Doesn’t Stimulate Jobs.” [Forbes, 2/9/09]

Hypocrisy: Bond “This is the type of emergency stimulus spending we should be supporting programs that will create jobs now and help families.” [Bond 2/17/09; KOLR-CBS Springfield, 2/17/09]  But behind the scenes, the Missouri Republican quietly sought more than $50 million from a federal agency for two projects in his state. (Kit Bond Touts Effects of Stimulus Bill He Voted Against)

32. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) slammed the stimulus on Fox News: “This isn’t a stimulus package, this is a spending package.” [Fox News, 3/1/09]

Hypocrisy:  The Hickory Daily Record reported that Burr appeared in Bethlehem, North Carolina, to deliver ARRA funds, $2,008,515 federal grant from the stimulus fund.

33. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

Hypocrisy: asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to steer $50 million in stimulus money to a constituent’s bioenergy project. Gates didn’t do it, the AP reported.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/18/09]

34. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Senator Graham Attacked The Recovery Package For Missing “The Mark A Long Way. We Increased New Government; We Did Not Increase New Jobs.” [ABC News, 2/15/09

Hypocrisy: told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Graham was asked whether South Carolina should “take the [stimulus] money,” to which he replied, “I think that, yes, from my point of view; I don’t want to be crazy here. I mean, if there’s going to be money on the table that will help my state, but I’ve got a job to do up here, and that is to try to help people and not damn the next generation.” [CNN, 2/11/09]

35. Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) Claimed “Unfortunately, The Only Thing This Bill Will Stimulate Is The National Debt.” [ABC-4, 2/16/09]

Hypocrisy: “Bennett spokeswoman Tara Hendershott said Central Utah Water’s funding is an example of how the senator worked to get money for ‘Utah projects that would create jobs’ in the stimulus bill.” [Salt Lake Tribune, 2/20/09]

36. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Hypocrisy: asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to steer $50 million in stimulus money to a constituent’s bioenergy project. Gates didn’t do it, the AP reported.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/18/09]

37. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Consistently Blasted President Obama for the Stimulus Package

Hypocrisy: Took credit for the $5,876,000 in stimulus money used for new construction at the Blue Grass Army Depot Project and took credit for an additional $5 million he put into the 2010 budget; bragged: “This is going to be a source of significant employment. (In KY, McConnell Brags About Stimulus Projects, Requests More Money; In DC, McConnell Says Stimulus Should End)

38. Senator Kay Hutchison (R-TX) Railed against the stimulus package

Hypocrisy: Subsequently Hutchison tried to pressure the Obama administration to give Texas $3 billion in stimulus funds.

39. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) Blasted the President for the Stimulus package

Hypocrisy:  Subsequently Cornyn tried to pressure the Obama administration to give Texas $3 billion in stimulus funds.

Republican Gubernatorial Hypocrites:

40. Gov.  Mark Sanford (R-SC) waged a high-profile war against the economic stimulus package, claiming that accepting the $700 million for which his state was eligible would lead to “a thing called slavery.”  He told Fox News host Glenn Beck that taking the money would be akin to “fiscal child abuse” Hypocrisy: He wants to demand $300 million in stimulus money for education.

41. Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) railed against the stimulus

Hypocrisy: he toured his own state handing out checks with his own name on them, as if the money came from him rather than the stimulus package. (Jindal Tours Louisiana Attacking ‘Washington Spending’ While Handing Out Jumbo-Sized Stimulus Checks) (Jindal takes credit for stimulus, presents constituents with jumbo-sized stimulus check.)

42. Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) complained that the “federal government is spending money they don’t have,”

Hypocrisy: told Rachel Maddow he would nevertheless accept funds for Minnesota: “Our view is, if you buy the pizza, it’s OK if you have a slice

43. Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) said that he was rejecting $556 million in federal funds for unemployed Texans because it had too many strings attached.

Hypocrisy: Perry reversed his decision and asked the federal government for a $170 million loan to ensure the state is able to continue paying out unemployment benefits.

In the 2010 Congressional elections, U.S. voters MUST remember who courageously stood up for them, and who, instead, stooped to tend to their own political ends over the health, financial and well-being of American families.

Tags 2010 Election child abuse Eric Cantor Fox News Guns hypocrite Joe Wilson John Boehner John Cornyn Kay Hutchison Mark Sanford Mitch McConnell news politics NPR Rachel Maddow republican hypocrisy Republican Politics Rick Perry Sarah Palin slavery Stimulus Bill Support Democrats unemployment

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