Saturday, May 19, 2007

Nice try, Andy

Andy Clem has decided the Republican Party can washout low-tax folks like us. He came up with this revelation upon reading this section in the party creed: "That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government" (RPV).

Andy then waxes philosophical (emphasis in original):
Fiscal responsibility -- i.e., making sure you've got enough money to pay the bills -- does not mean cutting taxes, the fad which Scott Sayre and many on the Right espouse these days. Indeed, it could be construed as justifying tax increases when necessary.
It all sounds perfectly reasonable; doesn't it? Unfortunately for Andy, he forgot (or ignored) the other part of the creed plank: budgetary restraints. That means holding the line on spending and cutting unnecessary waste. Now, it does not include stopping the government from doing things it should not do. That is covered in the first plank of the Virginia Republican Creed: "That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice." In other words, the less that government does, the better.

Of course, Andy's real target in all this is our buddy Chris Green, who mistakenly believed low taxes were written by name into the platform. Chris may have had his syntax wrong, but it is abundantly clear upon reading the entire creed in context that its thrust is limited government, minimal spending, and lower taxes.

Chris didn't remember the exact words of the VRC. Andy twisted the creed to claim it says something it doesn't. I'll take the honest mistake over the intellectually dishonest half-truth any day.

Cross-posted to the right-wing liberal

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8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

D.J. -- How in blazes can you claim I forgot or ignored "budgetary restraints" when it's part of the Creed text that I cited??? The Republican Party obviously stands for a modest-size government and keeping revenues in line with expenditures. IF our legislators succeed in shrinking the government, THEN we can cut taxes, but not otherwise. Say that last sentence to yourself over and over until you get it.

Frankly I'm puzzled by your retort. Is it that you doubt that I favor spending cuts? It's too bad the Bush administration has made tax cuts as a general proposition look irresponsible by failing to control spending. Tax-cut supporters like you need to distance yourselves from Bush if you want credibility with people who care about the nation's financial integrity.

If it were indeed "abundantly clear" that the Creed called for "lower taxes," it would have made that explicit, wouldn't it? Insisting on something that is arguable is not very convincing. Chris made an important assertion about the Creed that was not true, whereas all I said was that the Creed COULD BE construed as justifying a tax hike, depending on the current level of spending. That is not the same thing as saying the Creed DOES justify tax hikes.

It is important to note that the Creed is a statement of general aspirations, not a specific policy platform. "You can't always get what you want," and nowhere is this more true than in budgetary politics. Moral: Don't assume you're going to get spending cuts in order to recast a desired tax cut policy ex post facto as a fundamental principle.

"Intellectual dishonesty" is a phrase that should be used very sparingly. If you can point to some way in which I twisted the RPV Creed, please enlighten me. Otherwise, please apologize.

May 20, 2007 at 11:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ANDY, DJ JUST TOOK YOU TO SCHOOL---AND FAILED YOU.

May 21, 2007 at 9:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Which party is Clem a member of? Seems like he spends a lot of time insulting Republicans.

Clem, take the cloak off and reveal thyself!

May 21, 2007 at 9:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Apologize? Clem demands an apology? Sheeeeesh. What a guy.

Clem said, "Intellectual dishonesty" is a phrase that should be used very sparingly.

Hey Clem - Kind of like "Apostate Heretic?"

--not andrew clem

May 21, 2007 at 10:07 AM  
Blogger Spank That Donkey said...

Dr Clem New Strategery...

Attack the messenger.

Try the message Dr. Clem, Get full throated in defending Hanger's constant voting record for tax increases.

Let's hear some more about how those tax increases are lowering the burden on localities in regards to Real Estate tax increases?

Augusta County and City of Staunton 28% increases! Waynesboro is hoping to stave this off, but as usual they'll get some kind of increase!

All this talk just rings hollow with reality. It's obvious why you are the only blogger defending Hanger's record. No one else wants to wade into that hypocricy!

May 21, 2007 at 10:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tax and spend. Tax and spend. Do you not understand? There are no "out of the box solutions". All we can do is raise taxes! Even when there is a surplus we must raise taxes! Three cheers to raising more taxes!!

We RINO's must stick together. And remember our solemn creed; we must raise taxes.

May 21, 2007 at 10:44 AM  
Blogger Spank That Donkey said...

You know Dr Clem is upset when you get the "how in the blazes" bit!

Yeah Dr. Clem, I think D.J. is making the inference that you are not about lowering taxes, as you sing and dance a tune for one of the GA's biggest tax proponents..

Just an observation.

May 21, 2007 at 2:38 PM  
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