House Minority Leader John Boehner did a nice job last week of reminding us that his party has an inviolate commitment to enriching the privileged:
They're not campaigning on it in earnest -- at least not yet -- but Republican leaders say that, given the power, they would like to do away with Wall Street reform much like they have already discussed repealing health care reform.
"I think it ought to be repealed," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, in response to a question from TPMDC, at his weekly press conference this morning.
One of his top lieutenants, Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence agrees. "We hope [the Senate vote] falters so we can start over," Pence told TPMDC yesterday. "I think the reason you're not hearing talk about efforts to repeal the permanent bailout authority is because the bill hasn't passed yet."
This isn't too remarkable -- this is the same guy who compared stronger financial accountability standards to using a nuclear weapon to kill an "ant" and who issued a call for a one-year moratorium on all new federal regulation. Simply put, Boehner and his colleagues don't believe the federal government should have the ability to regulate the bankers, hedge-fund managers, and Wall Street lobbyists who nearly destroyed the economy. Indeed, even with long-term unemployment hitting unprecedented highs, Boehner and co. reserve their sympathy for nation's most privileged people.
This is actually fitting in its own way. During George W. Bush's presidency, Republicans worked hard to present themselves as the party of the ordinary American. Now, with a Democrat in office, Republicans have given up thecharade and have all but pledged their fealty to wealth and entrenched privilege. It's appalling, yes, but I appreciate the honesty.
-- Jamelle Bouie
