REPUBLICANREPUBLICAN

MYTHSMYTHS

#1 Obama Must Be a #1 Obama Must Be a SocialistSocialist

Bennet KelleyBennet Kelley

Myth –noun

1. a traditional or legendary story . . .

3. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.

4. .an imaginary or fictitious thing or person

5. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution

In Republican-land there are only two kind of philosophies . .

.

Reaganomics . . . and everything else they simply label

Socialism

ICE CREAM

EVENIF ITS NOT

IF I SAY IT’S ICE CREAM, THEN

IT’S ICE CREAM

It’s simply about smearing your opponent

Remember when Chris Matthews spanked Kevin James for comparing Obama’s willingness to negotiate with pre-World War II appeasement when it was clear James had no clue about that era?

Our friends now have a new smear word to misuse.

Socialism–noun

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

But how do Republicans define Socialism?

"If you look at FDR, LBJ, and Barack Obama, this is really the final leap to socialism.”

Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN)

The ThreeHorsemen of GOP Socialism

Republicans have been fighting Social Security for over 70 Years.

Social Security is a “cruel hoax” – Alf Landon, 1936 Presidential nominee

“Should be abolished” – Barry Goldwater, 1964 Presidential nominee

A “sure loser” - Ronald Reagan

Overview

Lifts more than 1 million children AND approximately 40% of seniors out of poverty(Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

GOP & SOCIAL SECURITY

Medicare and Medicaid was part of an advancing socialism that would "invade every area of freedom in this country“ – Ronald Reagan

GOP & MEDICARE/MEDICAIDOverview

Prior to enactment approximately half of all seniors lacked health insurance, today Medicare covers 97 percent of seniors

Medicare has: (i) increased life expectancy by as much as 20 percent among women; (ii) improved access to care and quality of life; and (iii) saved millions of senior from poverty.

Medicaid covers for half of the nation’s low-income children and 60 percent of nursing home residents

(Health Care Financing Administration and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.)

That’s Not Socialism

What’s really going on here?

The GOP has no new ideas.

Only old labels

Looks like people have started to notice

We need to do everything we can to thwart them at every turn to make sure that they aren't able to, for all time, secure a power base that for all time can never be defeated.

Rep. Michelle Bachman (2009)

COUNTRY FIRST?

Conservatives can't win politically right now. [So they must] obstruct and delay.

William Kristol (2009)

In 1994, William Kristol convinced Republicans not to work with the Clinton White House to reach a compromise on health care reform because “the long term political effects of a successful Clinton health care bill [would have been to] revive the reputation of the party . . . as the generous protector of middle-class interests. “

COMPROMISE

Why would we want anything good to happen to average Americans if the Democrats would get credit for it?

Power & Politics trump Policy and Progress

Today 18,000 people die prematurely every year due to lack of health insurance.

WHAT WILL BE THE COST OF THE LATEST GOP OBSTRUCTIONISM?

If you pursue policies like Social Security or Medicare or other policies that worked and created jobs under six prior Democratic presidents, then Republicans will call you . . .

IN CONCLUSION

A Commie

But to most people, these programs simply mean . . .

Bennet Kelley is an award winning political columnist for the Santa Monica Daily Press and Huffington Post. He has been active in politics for over 30 years and was Co-Founder of the Democratic National Committee's Saxophone Club, its young professional outreach and fundraising arm, from 1992 to 1998.

Bennet has provided political analysis and insight to television, radio and print media ranging from KABC to the Washington Times. He recently has teamed up with conservative political consultant Jim Ellis to form Filibanter (filibanter.com) which provides audiences with a light-hearted, yet insightful, look at contemporary politics

Bennet also is a contributing author to Big Bush Lies: 20 Essays and a List of the 50 Most Telling Lies of George W. Bush (RiverWood Books 2004) and was publisher of BushLies.net.

www.BennetKelley.com