OPINION: The Filibuster, A Dangerous And Heartless Political Game

Filibustered. 

Last night – Republicans proved they’d rather protect billionaires from a one-half of one percent tax increase rather than keep 400,000 teachers, firefighters, and cops on the job.  Despite once again acquiring enough votes to pass a portion of President Obama’s American Jobs Act under normal procedure – the legislation fell short of receiving the 60 votes needed to overcome a unified Republican filibuster. 

A handful of “Conserva-Dems” – including Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman - also sided with Millionaires in the vote, but the Democrats still had a majority.

After his bill was blocked – President Obama slammed Republicans, saying, “For the second time in two weeks, every single Republican in the United States Senate has chosen to obstruct a bill that would create jobs and get our economy going again…Every American deserves an explanation as to why Republicans refuse…to do what’s necessary to create jobs.”  The explanation is fairly clear though – they’re trying to crash the economy.  Yesterday – it was discovered that a Tea Party Nation activist wrote to members begging them NOT to hire anybody until President Obama is out of office.  And then there’s what Moody’s said about the Congressional Republicans own job creation plan – that it will “likely push the economy back into recession.”

The writing is all over the wall – Republicans are playing politics with the economic well being of all of us – hoping that if we all lose our jobs, our homes, our pensions, our healthcare, our livelihoods – then they might win the White House in 2012.

It’s a dangerous, and heartless political game.