Yesterday afternoon, the House fell 12 votes short of the majority needed to pass an unprecedented and controversial $700 billion bailout package designed to avert the looming financial disaster. The (at times) bipartisan cooperation on the issue quickly crumbled as the Democrats castigated the two-thirds of Republicans who voted against the measure, and John Boehner, the House minority leader, blamed Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "partisan" speech for turning off Republican congressmen.
The Daily is not impressed.
First of all, if congressmen were so hurt by Pelosi's speech critical of the Bush administration's policies that they decided to vote against the measure, then they deserve a swift kick in the teeth. Representatives who thought that torpedoing a major financial bailout during an economic crisis would serve as a suitable band-aid for their wounded pride need to get out of Washington, and fast. Not only is that kind of thinking offensive and unbecoming of any adult, but it also places the financial futures of ordinary Americans in serious jeopardy.
But before you at home start mixing tar and stockpiling feathers, it is unlikely that this was the real reason for the "nay" votes yesterday. Elections for every single House seat are coming up in November, and the list of congressmen who voted "no" reads like a Who's Who of endangered incumbents.
Certainly, there were some representatives who voted against the measure for reasons of principle: Democrats because it would bail out fat-cat CEOs who ripped off the public, and Republicans because it violated their firm belief in a free market. These votes are understandable, and we at the Daily can respect them even if we disagree.
But the wanton cowardice of those representatives — men and women tasked with doing what is best for the nation — who saw polls showing waning public support for the bailout and ran the other way is revolting.
These congressmen will scurry back to their districts, flush with success at having dismantled a bipartisan solution to a fast-approaching economic catastrophe, and brag to their constituents that they have served the public will. In reality, they have served only themselves. They will blame an extraneous amendment or the opposing party or Wall Street greed or a socialist advance, but they have sold their country down the river in exchange for another two years in Congress.
Leaders from both parties have acknowledged that something must be done about this crisis and will get to work hashing out a new deal when the House reconvenes on Thursday.
We can only hope that, this time, representatives decide to work for the people — and not just for their own reelections.
