The GOP’s makers-and-takers narrative is alive and well in North Carolina. Ned Barnett’s profile of state Senator Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg) highlights the victim mentality that defines the modern Republican Party. We saw it in the Tea Party protests and now we see it in the legislation being passed by the General Assembly.
In the narrative Rucho and his fellow travelers promote, the wealthy and big corporations have been under assault by government. High taxes and over-regulation took hard-earned money out the pockets of poor, beleaguered millionaires to subsidize the good life for no-good layabouts living off of government checks.
In their world view, we’ve made being poor too comfortable. If we just take away support like unemployment insurance and food stamps, all those lazy people will go out and find jobs. As Bill O’Reilly astutely noted, most poor people have refrigerators, microwaves and TVs. Really, if people here were truly poor, they would be cooking rotten food over open fires.
In a more reasonable era, Bob Rucho would not be taken seriously. He said that “JFK could have been founder and leader of the Tea Party movement.” And when he doesn’t get his way, he’s prone to temper-tantrums and drama. He should be a laughing stock. Instead, he’s Senate leadership.
And that’s the problem with the current breed of Republicans. They’ve let ideologues instead of pragmatists rule. The North Carolina Republicans are ridiculed by the press both here and nationally. In Washington, they can’t even fund the Department of Homeland Security at a time when terrorists are killing people in Europe.
Republicans like to blame the liberal media for their bad press. But it’s not that the press is too liberal; it’s that they are too moderate and pragmatic. Most reporters, like most educated people, believe in climate change and they believe that it’s impractical to deport 12 million people. They see that wage stagnation is harmful to working class families. They understand that income inequality is real and having adverse affects on our economy and social structure. Instead of looking for solutions, the Republicans ideologues driving the train are denying the problems.
In North Carolina, the GOP often points its fingers at Democrats, criticizing them for their years in power. But the North Carolina Democrats were never ideologues and, as much as the GOP denies it, the Democrats invited conservatives to the table. Dave Phillips, Jim Hunt’s Commerce Secretary, is now one the GOP’s largest donors. Phil Kirk, a former Republican legislator who was Chief of Staff for two Republican governors, chaired the state school board for Hunt. C. D. Spangler, another big Republican donor, was president of the University system.
The GOP in North Carolina is seeking ideological purity, purging pragmatic leaders like UNC President Tom Ross. Within their own party, they suppress the voices of moderation and reason like Senators Jeff Tarte and Fletcher Hartsell. Instead, we get embarrassments like Bob Rucho. What a shame.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Unfortunately, we are powerless to do anything about this situation except to raise our voices in protest. We cannot use our vote to remove the Republicans from office because of gerrymandered election districts for the General Assembly and Congress. Only when Democrats and progressives get fully behind and accomplish redistricting reform can there be any change in the status quo.
I was informed that there were no progressives in North Carolina, the Old Guard Democratic Party has worked hard to insure that. And, the current NCDP is dedicated to the pending coronation of Hillary, no matter what. Let us not forget that most Blue Dogs have been ousted. Why Republican Lite when you can have a bone fide Teabillies. Ask Kay!
Besides, the Old Guard has plenty of money having starved the NCDP for two full years. Lets see if the wealthy donors come back – right Patsy?
That is a very good synopsis of the problems with Republican rule. Not practical whatsoever. They seem to only pander to the billionaire and the other wealthy people in this state. I’ve lived in this state almost 25 years and used to brag about how progressive it was for a southern state. Now we seem to be racing to the bottom with the likes of Texas and S. Carolina.
The idea that Jeff Tarte and Fletcher Hartsell are in any way marginalized within the NCGOP is laughable on its face. These guys are both favorites of party leadership and have plenty of influence.
Try again, Thomas.
“Obamacare has done more damage to the USA then the swords of the Nazis, Soviets & terrorists combine.”
Literally translated from the original Teaspeak: “HE’S BLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (spittle not included in post)
Correct. No aspect of Republican ideology is untouched by race.
“Obamacare has done more damage to the USA then the swords of the Nazis, Soviets & terrorists combine.”
If Rucho thinks ACA is more damaging to the US than Nazi Germany (213,400 US American soldiers died in the European theater during WWII – thanks Hitler!) or the USSR (?????!), he’s no idealogue – he’s a fanatic. Brown shirts all around! Heil Heil Heil!
Is Rucho capable of reading? His rhetoric is foolish and irrational. He must review the history of the Nazi movement . Does he not see his party is leading the lemmings to the sea just as Hitler did ? Lack of reality ,knowledge and fear worked for Hitler. Wake up sir and look in the mirror of distortion.
Coming from the point of view of an ideologue…
Bill O’Reilly never fails to disappoint.