Grassley’s Tantrum

I feel like I have picked on Senator Chuck Grassley recently in this space.  That was not my intent; the Senator deserves credit for many good things.  He has, however, made himself an easy target.   He did so again today.

Grassley held a conference call for Iowa reporters this morning.  Bret Hayworth of the Sioux City Journal captured the just of the call fairly well in his blog.  Earlier in the day, Grassley joined 41 of his colleagues in pledging to block all Senate action until the Bush tax cuts were extended.  After standing up to almost every action brought to the floor by the folks the majority of Americans voted for in 2008, Grassley and friends now think they know exactly what the people – all the people – want because their guys won more seats this time.  It would be nice to be able to pick the results you like and discard the ones you do not.  It doesn’t work that way.

Grassley said the lesson of the 2010 election was a repudiation of Democratic leadership, that Americans want members of Congress to focus on deficit reduction, the economy and job creation.  OK, but that isn’t exactly or all they/we want.  I happen to think we want government to be better, more efficient and fair.  We want those in seats of power to work together, not stymie each other for selfish political gain.  Yes, we want you to find compromise, Senator.  More than anything, we want members of Congress to work toward the same end, our nation.

Don’t say you will thwart all legislation until you get what you want.  That’s how spoiled children behave.  Demand a vote on tax cuts and allow the other party the chance to have a few up and down votes on issues they feel are important to the people they represent, too.  Neither party has blanket authority to act and forward issues independently because of what happened in this election, the last one or what the latest poll says might happen in the next.

I’ll admit I am adamant about same sex marriage and the repeal of the unfair and silly Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) law that has forced many a qualified American from military service.  I get that way when people aren’t treated equally in a country that is based on equality – call me crazy.  But, Grassley’s comments about DADT on today’s call were inane and this issue provides a good example of what I am talking about.

“Reid knows he doesn’t have the votes for a lot of things, like The Dream Act, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” said Grassley.

Senator Grassley, let us see that for ourselves.  Let Senator Reid bring issues like these to the floor.  There is plenty of time for the Senate to vote on these bills, your precious tax cuts and a few others, before you head off for your extended vacations.  He may win a few and you may win a few.  Better than that, the American people will win a bunch.  For once, Congressmen and Senators will be doing their jobs instead of whining and obstructing.

We sent you to Washington to lead.  Sitting on your hands and saying you won’t do anything unless you get your way was bad behavior in pre-school and it still is.

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Graham Gillette can be reached at grahamgillette@gmail.com

This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register blog entry.