Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), responding to Sen. Elizabeth’s Warren (D-Mass.) criticism of the $1.1 trillion government spending bill’s provision that allows banks to take more risk with taxpayer money, on Friday evening went after Warren and other Democrats who sided against the bill…. “If you follow the lead of the senator of Massachusetts and bring this bill down … people are not going to believe you are mature enough to run the place,” Graham said on the Senate floor. “Don’t follow her lead. She’s the problem.”…. “I’m sure on MSNBC you’re going to be well thought of, and on the liberal version of talk radio you’ll have your moment with that crowd,” Graham said, chiding Warren and other Democrats who deplored what has been called a Wall Street giveaway…. “You’re tired, you’re frustrated, you’re upset about a provision in the bill you don’t like,” he added of Warren.
It was as arrogant as it was condescending, but there was Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) “mansplaining” to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) how democracy works. Perhaps he thought Warren’s female sensibilities didn’t allow her to understand the intricacies of how the democratic system operates these days. Evidently, being in control of Congress requires a penis and means inserting giveaways to Wall Street which, if denied, would have the unfortunate effect of shutting down the entire government. Yes, evidently “democracy” means being able to put taxpayers on the hook for more than $300 trillion worth of risky trades of the sort that almost crashed the economy in 2008…and if Sen. Warren had a penis, she’d understand that.
The problem is that Graham and his fellow Republicans don’t operate well in sunshine. They understand their political tricks and giveaways aren’t going to be popular if they become widely known, so they bury them in omnibus spending bills knowing that voting down their tricks means shutting down the government. Essentially, Graham is advocating that Republicans hold the American people hostage for the benefit of Wall Street is just the way things are done…and those who object just don’t have what it takes (i.e.- a penis) to grasp the realities of modern politics.
For Warren’s part, all she did was ask a very simple question: “Who do you work for?” I don’t know about you, but I’m still waiting for an answer. Republicans in Congress may bleat at some length about how they’re doing the will of the American people, which is a coffee-spew moment if ever there was one. If Republicans were doing the will of the people, we’d already have things like:
Common sense gun control, which poll after poll after poll has shown to enjoy the support of the vast majority of Americans.
A health care system that works and provides for guaranteed basic health care for every American (single payer). Instead, the Republican health plan can be summed up in three words: Don’t get sick.
Tax fairness- a tax system that forces corporations and the super-rich to pay their fair share. If they’ve benefited from doing business in America, which they certainly have, they have a responsibility to pay their far share for that privilege. Corporations and individuals shouldn’t be able to park billions in offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes.
Financial support and health care for veterans. If we send people to fight and die for usin far-flung foreign lands, we have a moral obligation to provide for them once they return to civilian life. Fawning over veterans and thanking them for their service is all well and good, but it doesn’t feed the bulldog. We should be willing to put our money where our mouth is.
That’s by no means a complete list…but it would certainly be a good start. The fact is that while Republicans may claim to be doing the will of the American people, I suspect that bailing out Wall Street isn’t high on Joe and Vera Sixpack’s list of priorities.
To Sen. Warren’s credit, she’s working hard to shine a light on a truly sleazy aspect of Republican governance. Giveaways to Wall Street and the super-rich are the way democracy works. That’s the way a kleptocracy works. It’s the way oligarchy works. It’s what happens when you purchase politicians and expect them to protect your interests.
Contrary to Sen. Graham’s condescension and patronizing dismissal of Warren’s legitimate concerns, democracy functions best in sunlight. When you put together deals behind closed doors and then sneak them in to 1600-page omnibus spending bills that must be passed or the government shuts down for lack of funding, you’re not engaging in democracy. You’re trafficking in legalized corruption and graft.
If you know what you’re doing is wrong, you’re well-advised to aggressively chastise your adversaries. If you can keep the attention focused on them, your corruption and moral bankruptcy won’t be the focus of attention.
