The party of the 1% no longer hiding

Obama sent another Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to the Senate for confirmation. He already sent Elizabeth Warren and the GOP soundly rejected her. That time they said they had problems with Warren. But this time the GOP said they had no problems with the nominee, Richard Cordray. They don't like the CFPB. Proving the GOP is no longer hiding they are the party of the 1%.

Mitch McConnell said America doesn't need another "unelected czar." But the head of the CFPB is not a "czar" but a presidential appointee (which there are lots of in Washington) to run an agency created by a democratically elected Congress and signed by a democratically elected president. And thwarting a law on behalf of the 1% is thwarting democracy.

We knew that is what the GOP is doing. It is good to hear the GOP actually admit it.



Paul Begala in Newsweek ponders why, if the GOP is so in favor of cutting taxes (which seems to have been their only goal for, um, maybe a decade), the bill to extend the payroll tax cut that benefits the middle class is having such a tough slog. Class Warfare! shout the GOP. Heh, this isn't even class spitballs, counters Begala.

But why not go for a middle class tax cut and do it so quietly that nobody gets any credit? Because it appears the GOP goal is to make sure the economy tanks, which would take down Obama next year. But this tax cut would only generate maybe 2 million jobs over two years in an economy that needs 14 million jobs.

A tiny problem with this GOP strategy. They have to pursue it in broad daylight. Voters are likely to blame them rather than Obama next fall. By killing Obama's jobs plans they may save his presidency.