(MSNBC)–“Americans tend to like investments that improve their local economies, so members of Congress tend to put a lot of effort into directing as many federal funds as possible to their states and districts. The trouble comes when Republicans celebrate — and too often, take credit for — investments they voted against.
The usual response from GOP lawmakers caught up in hypocrisy controversies is simple: They argue that they might’ve opposed the legislation, but if the federal government is going to make the investments anyway, these members figure they might as well make the case for directing some of those funds to their own constituents.
This is a flawed defense, but it’s at least coherent. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, on the other hand, faced related questions, and as The New Republic noted, the Florida Republican struggled in unusually cringeworthy ways.”
(The New Republic)-“Florida Representative Maria Salazar said she doesn’t remember voting against two key pieces of legislation—even though she’s regularly claimed credit for their successes in her congressional district. In an interview on CBS News Miami, Salazar aggressively skirted direct questions about her voting record on the CHIPS and Science Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, at one point telling the host that she needed to speak to her staff to remind her of her voting record in Washington, D.C.”
It’s a tradition as old as the 4th of July. Politicians, taking undeserved credit, for public enhancements. When they were vehemently opposed to spending the money on a particular project, during decision time. A practice almost exclusively Republican in the modern era, due to the Party’s consistent opposition to common sense legislation.
These instances have only increased since the Biden Administration’s historic list of federal programs was passed and are now being implemented throughout the country. Republicans who voted against these measures are the first ones to publicly take kudos from constituents at ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Maria Salazar, Republican from Florida is just the latest example of the hypocrisy that plagues the GOP in many forms.
(Gen Z to Gen X translation “No Cap”= “No Lie”)
If not for the confrontational reporting of CBS Miami correspondent Jim DeFede. Salazar may have tricked her base into believing she had supplied the funding for the local projects in her district. However, DeFede was having none of that. He directed his line of questioning to get to the bottom of the discrepancies regarding her voting record. To which Salazar froze up, like a Minnesota lake in January, forgetting she voted on the wrong side of each issue while celebrating their results. Either that or she knew exactly where she stood on the matter and was embarrassed for getting caught.
So I ask what is worse, being hypocritical or not remembering your political record on some of the most important legislation of the 21st century? You must consider whether you’d prefer to elect someone who has sinister intentions or is totally ignorant, of the consequences, of their actions. Those seem to be your only options when you are part of the Republican electorate. Thankfully, as Democrats, our candidates don’t come with a “Sophie’s choice” of ineptitude and can honestly accept the credit for helping to build a better America for its citizens, in all districts, including Salazar’s.
For the full MSNBC article quoted in this column click the link below
The-Anti-Social-Media Pro-DEMOCRACY WING 