As voters watch another potential government shutdown, they expect Republicans to fold. Even though voters sent them to Washington in a historic landslide, they still didn't get the message.
The government shut down five times under Jimmy Carter's administration. Democrats had control of both houses of Congress, and they apparently were afraid of a shutdown. The government has been shut down 18 times since 1976. Why is it the Republicans never bring this up?
Sadly, too many Washington politicians subsist so deep inside the Washington bubble that they don't hear the rumble of the conservatives marching for their heads. Boehner was just the head of the octopus. Americans don't understand why politicians are so afraid to shut down the government, and why any politician would support the funding of Planned Parenthood. If there were ever an issue to warrant a shutdown, it is Planned Parenthood selling baby body parts for profit.
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Hopefully this list of reasons to shut down the government will find its way into the Washington bubble and into the hands of out-of-touch politicians who think a government shutdown is the end of the world.
Here are six reasons Republicans only win if they shut down the government to defund Planned Parenthood:
1) The government has been shut down 18 times since 1976. Everyone who had a government check coming was still paid, and the world did not end.
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2) Planned Parenthood is a private company. The government is funneling taxpayer money to a private organization! No wonder the pope dislikes our economic system here in the U.S.! This is the epitome of crony capitalism.
3) The last time the government was shut down, Republicans won big! Still, the pundits in the D.C. bubble claimed it was a victory for the Democrats. They say elected Republicans lost the support of the public after they used the tactic in 2013. But remember, after that shutdown, the Republicans won in a landslide!
4) The Planned Parenthood issue is the best reason for shutdown to come along in decades. The GOP base wants to end funding to Planned Parenthood. This would be a huge victory for the GOP, and might bring some of the more distrustful base back to considering their trust for those currently elected.
5) If the Republicans actually sprout a backbone and decide to do a government shutdown, the Democrats will invariably start their marketing mission of threats and lies about those affected by the shutdown. Republicans need to stand ready with their message: As soon as Democrats stop thwarting the will of the American public, and defund this crony capitalist entity (Planned Parenthood), the government is open for business again.
6) There are further talking points that can be used to define the government shutdown to defund Planned Parenthood, too. It was founded by known eugenicist Margaret Sanger, who wanted to "eradicate the black race." Planned Parenthood still gives an award each year in her name. Both Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are recent recipients. Secondly, Planned Parenthood does not do mammograms and provides very little women's health care other than dole out taxpayer-funded birth control, and that is also done at health clinics and doctors offices everywhere. Planned Parenthood is racist, and not needed.
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Every time the Democrats claim that the government shutdown hurt Republicans it is a bald-faced lie, but the saddest part is that Republicans themselves refuse to battle back at the false narrative.
Republicans in Congress need to understand that the reason there was such an outcry for Boehner to resign was precisely because of the disconnect on this issue of government shutdown. The only way the Republicans in Congress can re-endear themselves to their voting base, is to realize and be willing to use the leverage they have to shut down the government.
Perhaps the greatest offense of Boehner's career came when he laid all his cards on the table by telling Democrats that Republicans wouldn't use the government shutdown if needed. That was their only leverage, and he laid it down like a bad poker player. Again, they quoted the tired, old lie that somehow this had damaged Republicans in the past, when it actually resulted in an increase in Republicans seats. This frustrated that voting base beyond words, so they took action and demanded Boehner's head. Had Boehner stood strong on this particular issue, he may have never been ousted.
Republicans should take a very clear warning from conservatives, who are the party base, that they will not tolerate this weak-kneed approach to politics ever again. Now that Boehner will be gone, it is a chance for Republicans to restore the faith of their base by using the leverage they have in the power of the government shutdown.
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It is also time for Republicans to stop believing the lies that the Democrats put forth as narrative.
One thing that the Democrats have always told Republicans is that, to win an election, they need an "experienced" politician. The massive leads that "outsiders" have right now in the Republican primary should be a loud and clear message to elected Republicans that the base is perfectly willing to replace them with outsiders if the insiders with experience are going to act like imbeciles. Currently elected Republicans had better heed the experience of Boehner and take notice of the leverage they have in the power of a government shutdown.
The American people are ready. The question is: Are the Republicans in leadership courageous enough to believe their base over the well-marketed Democrat narrative?
