The Republicans ‘Pledge To America’ … The GOP Vision, So Much for the Party of No

So much for the GOP just being the party of no …

America is more than a country. America is an idea – an idea that free people can govern themselves, that government’s powers are derived from the consent of the governed, that each of us is endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America is the belief that any man or woman can – given economic, political, and religious liberty – advance themselves, their families, and the common good.

America is an inspiration to those who yearn to be free and have the ability and the dignity to determine their own destiny. Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute a new governing agenda and set a different course.

The Republicans offer a “Pledge to America” in the run up to the 2010 midterm elections. It is a 21 page (read here) ”pledge to Americans” to set forth a direction as to their vision and promise to America. They will formally unveil the PLEDGE TO AMERICA in Virginia this morning. The Weekly Standard weighs in and appropriately states the comparison between the 2010 Pledge to America and the 1994 Contract with America.

Jay Cost argues in this week’s issue of THE WEEKLY STANDARD that the “real worth” of the Republicans’ 1994 Contract with America “was in governing, not electioneering.” The same could be said of the House Republicans new governing agenda, a copy of which is now making the rounds.

For a breakdown of the document, check out “Pledge to America: The New Republican Agenda,” by CBS News Senior Political Producer Jill Jackson.

Jobs:

- Stop job-killing tax hikes
- Allow small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income
- Require congressional approval for any new federal regulation that would add to the deficit
- Repeal small business mandates in the new health care law.

Cutting Spending:

- Repeal and Replace health care
- Roll back non-discretionary spending to 2008 levels before TARP and stimulus (will save $100 billion in first year alone)
- Establish strict budget caps to limit federal spending going forward
- Cancel all future TARP payments and reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Reforming Congress:

- Will require that every bill have a citation of constitutional authority
- Give members at least 3 days to read bills before a vote

Defense:

- Provide resources to troops
- Fund missile defense
- Enforce sanctions in Iran

So who now is the party of “NO”? Looks like the White House and the Democrats.  The WH was quick to attack the Republicans “Pledge With America.” One would ask whether they read it first seeing that have had difficulties reading their own bills like Obamacare they forced on Americans. Obama and Democrats are hardly in a position to criticize as the America voters have given Obama extremely poor marks (41%) on his handling of the economy. Also, the voters chose the GOP over Democrats on handling the issue.

Democrats are running on nothing this election cycle as they try and distance themselves from President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid. They cannot campaign on Obamacare, the stimulus, deficit spending, the economy or the unemployment rate they stated would not rise above 8%.