I wanted to share this video with you, which focuses on the health care debate and outlines the Republican plan for health care reform.

I’ve never heard of the guy, but apparently Ed Schultz is an MSNBC host. It should come as no surprise that he is engaging in a level of hyperbole that MSNBC, CNN, and the rest of the MSM gang would be blowing up as the lead story had a Republican done it.

Look, if you will, at what they do every time Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, or Glenn Beck says something “controversial.”

Schultz, talking about healthcare, went after Eric Cantor, who he no doubt hates because Cantor is Jewish. Parlaying his Cantor hate into his hate of the GOP, Schultz said, “Hold it right there! The Republicans lie! The want to see you dead. They’d rather make money off your dead corpse. They kind of like it when that woman has cancer and they don’t have anything for her.”

Hey Ed, why don’t you hold it right there. We all know that if any conservative host had said this it would be assailed on the front page of the New York Times.

Of course, the problem here is we don’t know whether this is media bias against Republicans or if it is because the media, like me, does not know who the hell this Schultz guy is.

Apparently some folks have encountered an intern in Eric Cantor’s office who is doing the man no favors articulating his position on Joe Wilson.

Eric Cantor was the first member of Leadership to stand with Rep. Wilson. On Sunday, he said that Rep. Wilson has already apologized, that the President accepted, and it was time to move on.

Second, earlier today, at the House GOP Conference meeting - Eric Cantor spoke to House Republicans telling them they need to stand with Rep. Wilson. The Members of the House GOP applauded. The Democrats are trying to play politics, poorly - and we will stand with our guy.

Here is a quote from Rep. Cantor’s speech:

“Eight months ago, the President stood before the nation during his inaugural and invoked Corinthians to say it’s time for us to put away childish things. It should have been a clarion call that it’s time for us to end our petty bickering and get things accomplished for the American people. That’s what we are sent here to do.

“How ironic is it that at a time when we should be debating jobs and the shape and scope of health care reform, the majority has sidetracked on a transparently political and trivial effort to demonize the opposition? The gentleman from South Carolina has apologized to the White House; The President has accepted his apology. It’s time to end the gamesmanship and get back to work on behalf of the American people.”

Nonetheless, John Boehner tells The Hill that members will be on their own if they want to vote against Joe.

GOP leader John Boehner says that House Republicans “have to make their own decisions” when the chamber votes on a resolution to disapprove of their colleague Rep. Joe Wilson’s notorious “You Lie!” outburst.

Though Boehner (Ohio) made clear on Monday that he would oppose the Democratic resolution, the leader is not going to press his membership to do likewise.

They should support Joe.

The Democrats just can’t get their talking points right on Eric Cantor (R-VA).

It was only last year when Cantor’s name was mentioned as a possible Vice Presidential pick that the Democrats wanted everyone to know he’s a Jew. They didn’t mention the religion of any of the other potential candidates.

Now, however, they are accusing Eric Cantor, who is Jewish, of fostering Nazism in the United States.

Hari Sevugan of the Democratic National Committee sent out an email earlier today with this:

It’s disgusting that rather than condemning this hate filled symbolism and mob activity, the highest echelons of the Republican party from Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck on down, are encouraging it - and that the likes of Michael Steele and Eric Cantor are fanning the flames of this is reprehensible. The repeated use of Nazi symbolism at community meetings by the Republican incited mob proves that these protests have nothing to do with health care, but rather that the Republican party is willing to sink to the lowest, most despicable levels to accomplish their goal of “breaking” President Obama.

That’s just how desperate the Democrats are — accusing a Jewish Republican of fanning the flames of Nazism and the use of Nazi symbols.

I would have liked to have gotten a comment from Eric Cantor on this, but he is in Israel this week. Ironic.

You’ll note that President Obama has all but dropped “health insurance for the 45 million without coverage” from his health overhaul stump speech.

Why? Because recent polling shows Americans don’t care nearly as much about the “universal” availability of health coverage when they have to pay extra to provide it, and, as the Congressional Budget Office noted, the health overhaul plans currently making their way through Congress will provide coverage for just over a third of the uninsured at most.

You’ll note that President Obama’s newfound emphasis on cost reduction as the chief feature of his health overhaul is accompanied at every stop by an attempt to smear and shut up those who point out that the bill he is demanding be passed will increase costs, not decrease them.

Why? Because with recent polls showing that high cost is far and away the number one concern among Americans about health care, and because 60% of Americans believe real health care reform can be accomplished without costing them any more money, Obama needs to be able to say that costs will come down as a result of his legislation — and, as everybody from Blue Dog Democrats to the director of the Congressional Budget Office (who was appointed jointly by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Robert Byrd) have noted, the bills being considered by Congress and demanded by Obama will cause health care costs to skyrocket and cause the deficit — already a record, thanks to Obama’s demand for one spending bill after another — to continue its unprecedented growth unabated.

Read More →

This is a time of great opportunity for conservatives. Americans are beginning to render a verdict on the ’stimulus,’ the economy, and the Obama administration’s approach. The nation continues to shed jobs, and unemployment shows no signs of leveling off any time soon. The American people are growing more and more concerned about the deficit. And the Obama administration seems split on whether another ’stimulus’ is needed, or whether Barack Obama wouldn’t do a single thing differently.

For conservatives, the time is right to tell the American people the truth: the porkulus was always a bad idea. It cannot help economic growth. It should be repealed. And if you want to promote growth and hiring, reduce the tax and regulatory burdens that deter job creation.

Congressman Eric Cantor - hailed by many as one of the party’s rising stars - almost seems to get it. But when it comes right down to it, he can’t even state clear opposition to the porkulus:

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Monday he will request a meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss another stimulus package, but he said it should be paid for by cutting waste from the first one.

“I don’t think there’s any question that our priority over the next month should be this economy,” Cantor told reporters on a conference call. “We stand ready and willing to stand with the president and produce a bill that will generate results….”

Read More →

According to the online left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is whipping Republican votes for H.R. 2346, the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act.

You need to get your members of Congress to toe the line on this. We need to defeat this bill.

The GOP had been signaling it would vote en masse against the legislation. That Hoyer is getting Republican votes means he can’t get enough Democrats to go along with bailing out European banks.

Folks, this is bad news.

Go here. Put in your zip code in the box on the right. Get your Congressman’s name and direct phone number.

Call and tell your Congressman to vote NO on H.R. 2346.

We cannot have Republicans voting to bail out European banks via the International Monetary Fund.

During the Clinton years, Newt Gingrich and Ken Starr were household names vilified as Republican Torquemadas. During the Bush years, the Democrats turned the Republicans into the party of Trent Lott, Tom DeLay, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and Mark Foley. It was this type of politics that candidate Barack Obama campaigned to end. In fact, Obama was often quoted saying we need to get away from ideology and work together. But that must have been the teleprompters talking. Not yet into his first hundred days in office, Barack Obama and his political advisors have proven themselves to be a most ideologically liberal administration practicing the politics of personal destruction against anyone who dares to challenge them — even their own. They would have us believe they are defending the country from Rush Limbaugh, Congressman Eric Cantor, and a relatively unknown private citizen named Rick Scott.

Sustained attacks on character as proxies for assaults on policy are a consistent left-wing construct. Conservatives have lately pointed out these attacks are derived from Rules for Radicals, the book written by leftist agitator Saul Alinsky, of whom both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are students. Alinsky wrote “the greatest enemy of individual freedom is the individual himself” and encouraged radicals to “go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)”

That Barack Obama would participate in attacks against Rush Limbaugh and Eric Cantor shows how much a student of the left he is. In less than one hundred days, Barack Obama has proven himself to be the most ideological President in American history — far more ideological than his predecessor who dabbled in liberal pablum like “No Child Left Behind” and the prescription drug benefit. Obama has yet to propose and pursue any policy that is not a bedrock leftist idea. Use of the word “and” is necessary because Obama tends to propose some moderate policies, but he only pushes for those on the left.

Read More →

So. Last week, Representatives Cantor and Hoyer had a bit of an exchange over where the money we’re giving the International Monetary Fund is going. Cantor wants to know why we’re going to be giving countries that don’t like us at all the opportunity to take our money, and Hoyer wants to know why Cantor is ignoring the way that Hoyer is brandishing Reagan’s name like an apotropaic talisman:

CANTOR: Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time. I will tell the gentleman, New York Times, May 27, 2009, pointed out Hezbollah, the Shiite militant group involved in Lebanon and its government, had talks with the IMF to discuss the possibility of the extension of credit…We are very, very concerned. There is a real possibility that some of the world’s worst regimes will have access to additional resources that will be provided to the IMF, and is he not concerned about that?

[possible snip: the Congressional Record transcript is down]

HOYER: The reason the Reagan administration and the first Bush administration–and I might say, although I don’t have a quote from the second Bush administration, the second Bush administration, as well, was a supporter of the IMF as the gentleman, perhaps, knows.

The fact of the matter is the United States will play a very significant role in the decisionmaking of the IMF because we’re a very significant contributor. It is a red herring, from my perspective, to raise the fact that money could go somewhere. Of course money could go somewhere.

…which Hoyer then followed up with this inadvertent comment, which the Hill’s Blog Briefing Room mercifully omitted:

Read More →

Thanks to my chairmanship of the Executive Roundtable for the Republican Governor’s Association, I have had the privilege of knowing some of the party’s most influential leaders. This, plus concerns on the current Administration’s direction (think assault on free enterprise and march toward socialism) have led me to some early thoughts on who might both lead our party back and who might be our nominee in 2012.

So, for better, or for worse, based on my personal experiences, here are my top ten who are leading the debate today, some of whom we should be looking to for 2012. Given that I believe the solutions to most of our country’s problems aren’t found in Washington, you will find few on my list who serve in Congress.

Read More →

This morning I listened in on Eric Cantor’s conference call concerning the launch of the National Council for a New America (NCNA) hosted by Congressman Cantor and Senator John McCain.

One of the main points that the two men stressed is that this is “not a contract with America,” but a “conversation” with her. The GOP leaders also stressed that this is an “inclusive” effort with which they want to hear from all manner of Americans adhering to a variety opinions on today’s most pressing Issues. The two also said that this is not an attempt to “re-brand” the GOP.

The first townhall style meeting is to be held on May second in Northern Virginia and along with Cantor and McCain it is expected that Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush will be in attendance.

Additionally, several Governors past and present have joined this effort. Governor Haley Barbour, Governor, Jeb Bush, Governor Bobby Jindal, Senator John McCain, and Governor Mitt Romney.

Senator McCain also mentioned several times that they had contacted Governor Sarah Palin’s office and asked her to join them with future NCNA efforts. Senator McCain made sure to mention that fact several times.

The effort has thus far been broken down into five areas of discussion. The economy, healthcare, education, energy, and national security all will come into focus.

My impression is that it certainly is an attempt to refocus the GOP, maybe not necessarily “re-brand” it but certainly re-introduce Republican principles to the people.

It is sure that the “conversation” meme will be looked upon with skepticism, but let’s face it. They had little choice but to employ the terminology. The GOP is in a weakened state and something does have to be done to vivify the Party.

We shall have to wait and see where this goes, but I see no reason to unnecessarily scoff at the effort. Let’s give it a fair hearing, fellow Republicans, conservatives, Libertarians, Americans.

Read More →

Today’s Ed Morrissey Show features special guest Congressman Eric Cantor.

Today, on the Ed Morrissey Show (3 pm ET), Andrew Malcolm returns in his new Tuesday slot to discuss media and politics. In the second half, Rep. Eric Cantor joins us to talk about Barack Obama’s economic policies. We’ll also have Tommy Christopher and Caleb Howe debate the videotape allegedly depicting Joe Biden’s adult daughter using drugs. Legitimate news story, or irrelevant political attack? We’ll go into bonus minutes to find out! We’ll also talk about Keith Olbermann and Twitter, Caleb’s exclusive look into the anchor’s hypocrisy on social networking.

You can find my Olbermann story here, Erick on Biden here, Ed on Biden here, and Tommy on Biden here. You can watch live and participate below the fold.

Read More →

Update: Jake Tapper notes that it was one year ago this week that then-Sen. Obama (D-IL) “swooped in from the campaign trail to — along with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — vote for an amendment to impose a one-year moratorium on earmarks for fiscal year 2009.” What a difference a year and a change in power makes, eh?

I will “eliminate” earmarks that have “no legitimate public purpose” from bills that cross my desk! declared President Obama today at a White House press availability held to announce his intent to sign an $410,000,000,000.00 omnibus spending bill containing 9,000 earmarks with no legitimate public purpose.

Congressional earmarks should be posted on lawmakers’ websites “so the public and the press can examine them and judge their merit for themselves,” Obama said, adding that each earmark request should “be open to scrutiny at public hearings, where members will have to justify their expense to the taxpayer.”

Pork-filled bills like this “will not happen when the president has the full legislative and appropriations process in place,” said OMB head Peter Orszag on CNN. (When the president has the full legislative apparatus in place? Last I checked, that was a bit of a different branch of government than the one Mr. Obama “leads”….)

“I don’t think the White House has the ability to tell us what to do,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who has apparently been living in a cave since November 4, 2008, as he appears to have missed the fact that Hope and Change have come to Washington, and that opposing the President’s will on any count means being anti-American and hoping your country fails (because as we all know, now that it’s a Democrat in the White House, “if the president fails, the country fails“).

Read More →

Last Friday, ten House Republican leaders sent a letter to President Barack Obama. In it, they offered to work across party lines and Congressional divisions with the new president to achieve the latter’s stated commitment “to fiscal transparency and accountability and ensuring that [all] spending commitments are paid for without burdening our children and grandchildren with excessive debt,” and to “slash[ing] earmarks to no greater than 1994 levels and ensur[ing] all spending decisions are open to the public.”

The Republican leaders wrote:

In keeping with these pledges to the American people, we urge you to veto the so-called “omnibus” spending bill passed this week if the Senate fails to reject it.

Like the trillion-dollar “stimulus” spending bill that was rushed through Congress without any Member having read it, the $410 billion legislation passed this week openly defies your commendable objectives of fiscal transparency and accountability. It contains nearly 9,000 “airdropped” earmarks, most of which were not even considered in committee let alone on the House floor as is routine — compared to roughly 4,000 in 1994. …

Read More →

Detailed here. Note the reason why Pelosi dislikes House Republican Whip Eric Cantor:

Pelosi has good personal relationship with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). But members of her leadership cadre are starting to really dislike Cantor, despite their public pose of studied indifference. Part of the reason: Cantor is employing many of the same techniques Pelosi used so successfully to torture former House Speaker Dennis Hastert when she was the Democratic whip in 2002 and 2003.

It remains to be seen if Cantor’s power-of-“no” philosophy will work — congressional approval ratings have actually spiked on the stimulus — but he’s gotten traction by nitpicking Pelosi’s proposals and magnifying the majority’s blunders.

Sauce for the goose . . .

I told you yesterday that the ABC News story saying Cantor rebuked Limbaugh was an organized effort on the left. Today we find out why.

The Politico publishes a list of the people Nancy Pelosi hates. Rush Limbaugh and Eric Cantor are the top two guys on the right that she hates. It’s kind of sad Boehner and McConnell aren’t up there.

But Cantor and Limbaugh it is, so the left must work to cause a feud between them, thereby helping Nancy wreck havoc on the nation.

It is very, very interesting what the Politico says about why Nancy hates Eric Cantor and very instructive about who we should all be looking to in the House of Representatives for leadership against the left.

See below:

Read More →

ABC News thinks it has a big story this morning. They’re highlighting it all over their website.

According to George Stephanopolous, Eric Cantor (R-VA) publicly rejected Rush LImbaugh’s rhetoric.

It is an absolute lie.

Read More →

A post-Porkulus video from the Whip’s office:

Kudos once again to the House GOP, which held the line in unanimity not once, but twice, against the Democrats’ Porkulus charge.

Senator McConnell, the day you rein in Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe and lead your caucus in holding the line on a transformational piece of legislation like this, we might have space for a kinder word — or even a fun video — for you here at RedState.

However, letting the three votes needed to pass an increase of $800,000,000,000.00 in debt slip away cost you a good bit of goodwill here, at least with me.

Congrats again to Reps. Boehner and Cantor.

If there ever were a time that we needed effective Republican leadership, it would be in this Porkulus bill effort. Even the “pared down” seven hundred billion dollars ($700,000,000,000) is a ridiculous amount of money, and will pave the way for a try at a tax hike, so it’s been essential that we Republicans step back and force the Democrats alone to own that bill.

Represenative Eric Cantor therefore deserves our praise and congratulations on the results of the Porkulus bill in the House. Not once, but twice, did he as Whip help ensure that the bill passed the House without a single Republican vote. That’s unity, and that kind of unity doesn’t happen without at least some effort.

Eric Cantor had to step up. Congratulations on that effort. Of course, the whip can only do so much without the Leader there with him, so congratulations to John Boehner for drawing the line on the Porkulus. This is the kind of effective party we need to be if we want to win in 2010.

I mentioned earlier that the Democrats’ math does not add up when it came to jobs numbers.

Congressman Eric Cantor has prepared a chart that shows just how screwed up the White House’s numbers are. The White House attributes the error to a rounding error. That doesn’t quite add up though.

Small states have significant deviations from totals by the state versus total by the congressional district. And states with just one state wide congressional district have +20% swings.

Is this the same type of math and rounding they’ll use for census numbers?