Legal Commentary

The GOP's Post-Partisan Schtick

By TChris

Maybe President Obama's "post-partisan unity schtick" is paying off, or maybe growing numbers of Republican legislators have come realize that they will remain an endangered species if they reflexively oppose every bill that Democrats support. Maybe there's no real difference between the schtick and political reality. Theorize as you will, growing numbers of House Republicans are finding reasons to support legislation that their party leaders oppose.

Thirty-eight House Republicans voted for a broad public lands bill that set aside millions of acres, 70 supported a national service bill and 70 supported new Food and Drug Administration curbs on tobacco. In recent days, 105 of the 178 House Republicans backed the credit card bill, and 117 the financial fraud bill. The mortgage legislation drew 60 Republican votes despite opposition by the top three Republican leaders and the senior Republican on the banking committee, who said it would make it more difficult for qualified homebuyers to get loans.

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When GOP leaders clamp down (as they did in their opposition to stimulus spending), Republican representatives will no doubt fall in line. Still, the decision not to clamp down on issues that have been central to GOP philosophy -- a preference for private development over public stewardship, an abhorrence of business regulation -- may signal a willingness to allow nervous party members to engage in their own post-partisan schtick, if that's what it takes to hold their seats. Slapping away the post-partisan hand extended by a popular president is only smart politics in a dwindling number of bright red congressional districts.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on May 10, 2009 (boomark / email).