February 9, 2009

Stimulating Hypocrisy

One of the more disappointing things to me about Pres. Obama, during his campaign and now into his presidency, is how he campaigns on politics of change and the absence of lobbyists, but actually fills his cabinet with the old guard and lobbyists. In the same way, the upcoming stimulus package is being touted as a necessary emergency measure that will give our economy a needed jolt of life, but instead appears to be filled with rewards for his supporters and punishments for his enemies. Not that this is unusual for politics, it's just rather disappointing to have the rhetoric of change coupled to a bill that smacks of Machiavelli.

And what should we say about Speaker Pelosi's position on the bill? The House passed it, full of pork, as presented by ReadTheStimulus.org. Yet Speaker Pelosi had promised on a CNN interview that the bill would not contain pork. (See the video and transcript.) So why are people not chanting and making stickers reading, "Pelosi Lied, Whose Economy Died?"

The president said about a month ago, in keeping with rhetoric while on the campagin, that he would keep earmarks out of the stimulus package. I ask that the president back up his words with actions.