Political wing nuts grab all the headlines

Randi Kreiss

Sometimes silence is not golden. As Republicans and conservatives have embraced the mantra of “just say no” to anything Obama, they have failed to address in any positive way the critical problems we face. Where are the thoughtful, challenging alternative Republican plans to the Democrats’ economic stimulus package, proposed health care bill and foreign policy initiatives, especially in Afghanistan?

I heard a commentator ask a moderate Republican senator yesterday to name one — just one — element of the huge proposed health care bill that he could support, and he said he couldn’t even think about that because he’s so distressed by the “government’s plan to take over health care” vis-a-vis a public option to offer health insurance.

Over and over again, Republican spokesmen are singing the same well-rehearsed song: No, no, no, no. No to health care. No to troops in Afghanistan. No to environmental initiatives. No to new taxes. No to economic stimulus.

Actually, “no” is fine from the loyal opposition, as long as it offers its own suggestions for solving the nation’s problems. But the GOP default position seems to be: criticize everything; offer nothing that could in turn draw critical discussion.

Apparently, not one Republican can vote for the president’s health care program, yet there’s no alternative plan on the table. We will never solve our most pressing national problems without a consensus of ideas from all sides, yet one side is stonewalling.

The president needs intelligent, reasonable opposition, challenging suggestions about how to accomplish common goals of peace and improved health care and lower government spending. But proposals are not forthcoming. Too many Republicans have chosen a morally reprehensible stance: trash any ideas that come from the White House, but don’t take the risk of offering ideas.