Democrats out of Mainstream
DEMOCRATS OUT OF MAINSTREAM -- (House of Representatives - May 26, 2005)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to put the lie to House Democrat rhetoric. The Democrat leadership, from Howard Dean to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), claim that House Republicans are out of the mainstream. Well, Mr. Speaker, if we are out of the mainstream, they are swimming downriver in some backwoods tributary.
From a parent's right to know what their children are doing, to protecting citizens across the country from the growing threat of gang violence, the House Democrat leadership is simply out to lunch.
Eight pieces of landmark legislation that passed this House with strong support from rank-and-file Democrats, and still the minority leadership refuses to see the light. On every one of these important bills, the gentlewoman from California (Leader Pelosi) chose to vote against legislation that the vast majority of Americans, Democrats and Republicans alike, approve of.
Bankruptcy reform, 73 Democrats voted for it, but Leader Pelosi did not. Class action reform, 50 Democrats voted for it, but Leader Pelosi did not. The Gang Deterrence and Protection Act of 2005, 71 Democrats voted for it, but Leader Pelosi did not. A new energy policy for America, 41 Democrats voted for it, and, you guessed it, Leader Pelosi did not. Protecting a parent's right to know before their daughter has an abortion, 54 Democrats voted for it, and Leader Pelosi did not.
It is as simple as this, Mr. Speaker. The House Democrat leadership is engaged in a strategy designed to do one and only one thing: prevent any and all action sponsored by Republicans from becoming law. Their obstruction of House Republicans' solutionist agenda shows just how far out of the mainstream they really are.
Mr. Speaker, it would be one thing if House Democrats tried to block legislation based on policy disagreements, but it is quite another for them to block legislation based on politics. And that, Mr. Speaker, is just what they are doing.
Democrats believe they can win at the ballot box by obstructing, and they would rather win the next election than move America forward. Make no mistake: the votes I just spoke about are telling. Rank-and-file Democrats, those who believe what is best for America is more important than election politics, are brave in their defiance of their leaders. They understand that simply being the Democrat Party of No will not increase our security, build our economy, or create jobs.
If you need more proof, just look at retirement security. Republicans, led by President Bush, have the foresight to address the looming crisis facing tomorrow's retirees. We know that sometime in the near future, our Social Security system will be bankrupt.
If we do not make tough decisions now, future Americans will have to make even tougher ones. But Democrats just do not see a problem. Or is it that they would rather pretend there is not one?
When President Bush announced his intention to reform Social Security, he and other Republicans crossed the country to engage the American people in dialogue. He declared that nothing was off the table and signaled his willingness to consider any and all options. The Democrat response: refusal to come to the negotiating table.
One poll shows that by 61 percent to 29 percent Americans under 40 say that Social Security needs to be fixed. At the same time, many in the minority stick to their head-in-the-sand argument that there is no problem. Democrat leaders are not only out of the American mainstream, but are also out of the Democratic mainstream. Yet they have the gumption to accuse Republicans of being out of touch.
The American people must not buy into the Democrat rhetoric. They are doing a lot of talking. But do not confuse activity for achievement. What tangible results can the minority point to? The answer is none. They have no agenda. They have no vision and they have a fundamental misunderstanding of the issues we face as a Nation.
Democrats, not Republicans, Mr. Speaker, are the ones who are out of the mainstream.
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