10 Years Later: Whatever Happened to "The Contract With (on) America"?
Two months ago Tom Fitton, of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, spoke to the National Press Club on the decaying ethics of the GOP Congress:
"A little history is in order. This Republican majority, allegedly conservative, was elected 10 years ago by a public fed up by a Congress where corruption seemingly ruled. Think back - we had the check-kiting scandal and the stealing for funds from the House post office. The public was outraged and Republicans were swept into the majority.
"Rather than change the regime and create a rigorous ethics system as promised, Republicans over the last 10 years have eviscerated the ethics process and actually curtailed some of the minor ethics reforms they did institute.
"The party of small government has become the party of big corruption, or at least a party that countenances big corruption."
This week David Baumann provides a cover story for National Journal reflecting on the 1994 incoming class of Republicans, and on the "Contract With America" that they used to convince voters of their high moral stature. He notes that a primary goal "was to restore 'the faith and trust of the American people in their government.'" We will let you make your own judgment on that. But perhaps the best reflection was provided by '94 GOP alum Joe Scarborough, of MSNBC's heavily conservative "Scarborough Country":
"Scarborough pointed out that the same GOP lawmakers who attacked Clinton for failing to develop a balanced-budget plan now contend that deficits do not matter and have allowed federal spending to go through the roof. 'It's shameful the way the Republican Congress has retreated,' he said. 'We made great progress and then retreated.' He added: 'In the end, it's all about getting re-elected, staying in power, and keeping the Democrats out of power. It's disgusting.'"
Two months ago Tom Fitton, of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, spoke to the National Press Club on the decaying ethics of the GOP Congress:
"A little history is in order. This Republican majority, allegedly conservative, was elected 10 years ago by a public fed up by a Congress where corruption seemingly ruled. Think back - we had the check-kiting scandal and the stealing for funds from the House post office. The public was outraged and Republicans were swept into the majority.
"Rather than change the regime and create a rigorous ethics system as promised, Republicans over the last 10 years have eviscerated the ethics process and actually curtailed some of the minor ethics reforms they did institute.
"The party of small government has become the party of big corruption, or at least a party that countenances big corruption."
This week David Baumann provides a cover story for National Journal reflecting on the 1994 incoming class of Republicans, and on the "Contract With America" that they used to convince voters of their high moral stature. He notes that a primary goal "was to restore 'the faith and trust of the American people in their government.'" We will let you make your own judgment on that. But perhaps the best reflection was provided by '94 GOP alum Joe Scarborough, of MSNBC's heavily conservative "Scarborough Country":
"Scarborough pointed out that the same GOP lawmakers who attacked Clinton for failing to develop a balanced-budget plan now contend that deficits do not matter and have allowed federal spending to go through the roof. 'It's shameful the way the Republican Congress has retreated,' he said. 'We made great progress and then retreated.' He added: 'In the end, it's all about getting re-elected, staying in power, and keeping the Democrats out of power. It's disgusting.'"
posted by Gary at 8:05 AM
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