Republicans claim they want less government. Less interference in business. Less regulation. Less taxes. Why, then, are they quick to run to government for handouts? We see the handouts in the form of government subsidizing everywhere from the farming industry to the airline industry . We see it within the auto industry to the software industry. We bail out banks, savings loans, and investment firms.
We bail out these businesses because they have failed due to poor business decisions. Meanwhile they continue to give the very CEO’s making these devastating decisions record bonuses. In bankrupts courts, judges are allowing bonuses to these executives, despite the fact the company will leave unpaid money it owes to it’s employees, its creditors, and sometimes even its customers. No doubt most CEO’s and executives are Republicans who oppose so-called socialistic Dems like Obama.
My question is “Why are free-market Capitalistic Republicans” in favor of this kind of socialism? Why do pro-business Republicans support Corporate welfare yet claim Obama’s platform is some form of Marxism?
Johnny Reb: Lincoln didn’t say that (though he is incorrectly given credit). Rev. Boetscher said that 75 years ago.
And to those who blame the Dems for the bailouts: my gosh, you are certainly so far up the Reps behinds that you want to blame it all on the Dems. It is NOT the Dems who bail out, it is the Federal Reserve who does it.
Additionally, I never once mentioned a Republican politician. Not once. I am complaining about the REPUBLICAN VOTER. Those fat cats who live in their multi million dollar homes paid for by the sweat of the workers under them and subsidized by MY (and your) tax dollar. Wake up. Unless you have been featured Fortune 500, the Rep politicians DO NOT REPRESENT YOUR INTERESTS.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Funny, huh? They just can’t get it right. ***** the little guy and bail out the big guy.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:13 am
It’s the Dem ticket promising all this gov. hand out.
Sit up right pay attention!
July 11th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
It’s not a republican led Congress bailing those airlines and banks out….It’s a Democrat led Congress. And both McCain and Palin have said they are disappointed that the government chose to bail out the banking system.
I would definitely check my facts if I were you.
July 12th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Because personal responsilbity and fiscal surplus and sound economic management are alien words to Republicans.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
You spelled Democrats wrong.
Country First, Not Last
McCain/Palin ‘08
July 14th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
You are confused that is the Democrats.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack have been protected by the Democrats. Specifically the Black Congressional Caucaus of which Obama is a member.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
They’ve learned from you.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:16 am
your confusing yourself with Democrats
have you been Obamaised
July 16th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
And if the corporations were allowed to fail, would you be screaming about how Bush lost all of those jobs?
I have never taken a hand out, have worked since I was 15 years old and have donated to charity every year since I was 10, be it time or money.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:29 am
to maintain the status quo
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
think of corporate welfare kind of like corporate tax cut’s. republicans want tax cut for business, Obama wants tax cut’s for people who dont pay taxes
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
You need to study up on who is actually doing the handing out and bailing out.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
Especially during this election year, let’s be reminded of these words:
* You cannot help the poor, by destroying the rich.
* You cannot strengthen the weak, by weakening the strong.
* You cannot bring about prosperity, by discouraging thrift.
* You cannot lift the wage earner up, by pulling the wage payer down.
* You cannot further the brotherhood of man, by inciting class hatred.
* You cannot build character and courage, by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
* You cannot help men permanently, by doing for them what they could and should, do for themselves.
Do you recognize the author? It was:
Abraham Lincoln
July 25th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
its democrats giving the hand outs.. most republicans believe those businesses should fail and other businesses will grow and hire the people that lose their jobs
July 29th, 2009 at 8:07 am
They don’t. Just flip this around and you get it right.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Sorry I stopped at the title laughing so hard..
July 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Valid point. But this is a democrat controlled congress, not republicans, which endorsed these bailouts. The democrat plain is to take over these corporations, which will bring down the entire economy as a result. More and more economic turmoil is allowing democrats a free-reign to encroach upon the private sector. Instead of the shareholders taking the hit for poor corporate decisions, WE all take the hit. The taxpayer money to bail out these companies is non-existent. They are using economic fear to press their large government agenda.
Whoever the next president is, Obama or McCain, they will be forced to take a conservative role in business and the economy. Obama can promise all these government funded programs until he is blue in the face, but it simply will not happen, not with a bankrupt government. He’ll lose his liberal base in the process, and the 2012 election. At least McCain is running on the common sense platform to cut government spending across the board.
If these government buyouts of the private sector continue, we’ll find ourselves citizens of the USSA (United Socialist States of America)… at least until the system collapses; then God help us all.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I know. it’s ridiculous. The whole thing is really hypocritical.
August 4th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I think you’re confused, the chief architect of economic failure, Franklin Raines ( the billionaire CEO of Fannie Mae) was a Clinton appointee and is now working for Obama.
As to your drivel about Republicans paying CEO’s too much, CEO’s are not paid by Republicans, they are paid by the shareholders.
Farm subsidies benefit companies like Archer Daniels Midland, who handed out $1.2M in campaign contributions to liberal Democrats in just one year.
You must get all your “news” from CNN
Good way to stay uninformed!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
McCain is not a ‘free market Republican’.
Ron Paul is a free market Republican who predicted this consequence of government meddling 5 years ago:
He thinks these corporate bailouts are immoral.
And he’s right, again.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Much of the Republican Party has always been for handouts to business. It is not a new thing. (FAR FAR more corporate welfare is passed out each year than any social welfare).
Both parties are generally for welfare programs. The Democrats to help the individual, while the Republicans to help corporations.
The reality is very few people believe in real free market (that the market will correct all wrongs) capitalism. (It doesn’t stop them from using it in debate however against their opponents).
August 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Just Republicans. huh.. in that case can you please explain to me why Joe Biden has received more money from Fannie and Freddie than any other senator or congressman in the USA and then please explain why Barak Obama received the the second highest amount of money of any congressman or senator from fannie and freddie before their melt down . You might also explain why a bill introduced in the Senate in 2006 by john mccain that was to curb the risky things that Fannie and Freddie were doing was voted down in the senate and why both Barak Obama and Joe Biden voted against the bill.. Had it passed.. much of what is going on today would have likely been prevented.. please explain that to me..
August 12th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I’m not sure Democrats should tread here. Democrats objected when Republicans wanted to scale back Fannie and Freddie a few years back. Republicans caved in finally too because they wanted to encourage Bush’s ownership society. I have to think Dana Perino was right today when she challenged Democrats to name one regulation on banking and finance that Democrats proposed and Republicans stopped. Neither party was paying attention during the build-up of this credit bubble because the build-up made constituents happy. Who wouldn’t be happy when their house price increases 20% per year and they can borrow and spend that increased equity for next to nothing? Until government realizes that it’s role is to sometimes take away the punch bowl just when the party gets going, we won’t win the never-ending battle between greed and brains.
==========================
Many utterly uninformed answers here. I particularly like the idea the Democrats are socialists and that the Democratic Congress engineered the bailouts. The Secretary of the Treasury engineered the bailouts, and now the government truly does own and run corporations with trillions of dollars in assets. Isn’t that socialism? I’m not saying the bailouts weren’t necessary, but let’s not have either party throw stones here. There is plenty of blame to go around.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:45 am
Good question…Regardless of who you think makes the decisions of giving the money out the question of why are the Republican businesses asking for a handout is a good question…I do believe that is called a double standard…or hypocritical etc.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris I
August 14th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Substitute DEMOCRAT in your question you’ll be right on track…..ever here of welfare,EEOC, etc?? LBJ tried to have GUNS AND BUTTER but failed, Carter was a disgrace nationally AND internationally,the current Wall Street meltdown is due to GREED, not a failed fiscal policy….remember we have a DEMOCRAT controlled Congress…Vote McCain/Palin for REAL CHANGE!!
August 17th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I am so glad you asked this question!
THIS is the difference between McCain, and Bush! THIS is the Change in Washington that McCain Palin are looking to do!
Now the Freddie Fannie gang have been bank-rolling Obama his side, causing all this Market turmoil.
This practice of bailing out these guys with over-inflated bonuses, has got to stop! Well, here is your chance to get it right.
McCain-Palin’08
August 18th, 2009 at 10:21 am
It’s because of the overregulation, overtaxation, and way too much government involvement that they are in the trouble they’re in now. The Democrats passed regulations which forced these companies to make loans to people who could not afford to pay them. This is not the federal government’s job. Neither is health care, or education, or redistribution of wealth. These are all parts of Obama’s platform of at least another trillion dollars in spending, raising corporate taxes(which are already some of the highest in the world), raising taxes on capitol gains(that will really encourage investment). They socialist Democrats have never let the free market work. If they did we’d ALL be better off. Except for the truly lazy people who want the evil rich people to pay for everything for them.
The answer is NOT more government, but we do need a fairer tax system. Unfortunately, Barack Obama opposes the best tax reform proposal, the Fair Tax(H.R.25/S.1025) even though it is the only one that accomplishes all the things that HE says tax reform should accomplish.