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DEL.ICIO.USFallout from the bailout vote: Marshall cuts a TV ad, and Goddard may be polling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Macon) is still the focus of attention over his Monday vote in favor of the Wall Street bailout/rescue.
He and Sanford Bishop were the only members of the Georgia delegation to support it.
This is from today’s Washington Post:
Rep. Jim Marshall had planned to be in his rural southwest Georgia district yesterday to raise money and meet with voters. Instead, the Democrat was in his Capitol Hill office with bags under his eyes, preparing to cut a 30-second television spot that would explain to his constituents, including the nearly 1,000 angry people who have called and written his office in the past four days, why he voted for the bailout plan.
Marshall represents a Republican-leaning district, and is in what’s presumed to be a tight race against Rick Goddard, a retired Air Force major general. The Post article notes that “Goddard’s campaign office did not respond to three calls seeking comment yesterday.”
But according to Goddard’s web site, the Republican appears to be taking the same line as the seven GOP members of the House delegation.
These are remarks made by Goddard on Tuesday in Hawskinsville, according to his campaign:
“Congress must immediately return to the table and craft a bill to correct this problem using free market principles, avoid setting the precedent of government intervention, and most importantly remember that the taxpayer did not get us into this mess and they should not be the ones to shoulder the load.
“It concerned me that there were some in Congress who were willing, with their vote, to allocate $700 billion of taxpayer money on a proposal that was crafted by a few people, in a closed room, and pushed through without committee hearings and with extremely minimal debate.
Who this debate helps, or hurts, is open to debate. Clearly, candidates want to know. Late last night, the Marshall campaign sent out this e-mail to supporters in the 8th District:
It has come to our attention this evening that the Goddard campaign is conducting a poll. If you receive or have already received this call, please give us a call at our campaign headquarters…. We’ll be here late to take your calls and notes. Already we’ve received detailed information about the poll - and one thing of note is the poll’s focus on the financial rescue legislation.
The debate within Republican circles is fierce. You read Goddard’s argument that the bail out is an improper case of federal intervention in the market. But Chuck Clay of InsiderAdvantage, a former state senator and state GOP chairman, has a warning this morning:
Do you remember that brilliant move of shutting down the government a few years back? It was — in theory — the absolute right thing to do. In reality, it was a political disaster for Republicans, and in case I can’t make this any clearer, the failure to pass some sort of financial system stabilization, bailout, or whatever you want to call it, is going to be laid directly at the feet of Republicans. Take it to the bank. End of issue.
Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around for the financial mess that we are now in, from greedy Wall Street operators and bankers, to failed oversight where it’s needed, and too much regulation where its not. The blunt reality, however, is that as long as George Bush is President, the blame for the financial mess is going to be laid predominately on Republicans, not Democrats.
By the way, a reader called this morning to ask how the Senate could vote on the Wall Street rescue bill this evening, when — according to the U.S. Constitution — all revenue bills are to originate in the House.
Here’s the e-mailed answer we got from Sheridan Watson, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson:
“The Senate will offer the financial rescue plan and tax-extenders language as a substitute amendment to a House-passed mental health parity bill (H.R.1424). That will allow the Senate to work around the requirement that revenue-related legislation originate in the House.”
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Comments
By Jeff
October 1, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
So the Senate is going to use UNCONSTITUTIONAL methods to achieve a vote on a measure granting UNCONSTITUTIONAL powers to the Executive?
This is being done at the request of an Executive with a sub 25% approval rating by a Legislative with an approval ratings in the TEENS, at BEST, and these ‘leaders’ expect the American Public to SUPPORT this UNCONSTITUTIONAL mess?
Can anyone wonder why the system is broken and true SECOND parties - such as the Libertarians, Greens, and Constitutionals - are needed????
By BobinOcilla
October 1, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
Jeff, grab your tinfoil hat and go back to your bunker. The rest of us have a once a century financial crisis to worry about. If you think this is unconstitutional then you really haven’t been paying attention. By the way, why don’t you explain to the rest of us why it’s unconstitutional. I bet the answer involves strict construction and Supreme Court cases from the 1790’s.
By Jeff
October 1, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Bob:
Senator Isakson’s press release even ACKNOWLEDGES the UNCONSTITUTIONALITY of this action:
“That will allow the Senate to work around the requirement that revenue-related legislation originate in the House.”
By Jason Duncan
October 2, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Jim Marshall’s web page would not allow me to pull up his email. Seems like he is afraid of what he might hear.