GOP Should Act Like a Majority Party on Debt Limit

Upon hearing reports that Jim DeMint played a role in the House's failure to hold a vote last night on the Boehner Plan, I recalled an episode that occurred during the Reagan administration while the Republicans controlled the Senate.  I was interning with none other than Senator Christopher Dodd (even then they called me “the right-wing intern”).  Say what you want about Chris Dodd - his staff was bright and funny and made up almost entirely of pros.

At the time, Jesse Helms - then known as “Senator No” - was the most right-wing senator.  Senator Helms had such an old-school view on debt that he did not even have a credit card.

“I would sooner put a rattlesnake in my pocket,” he said. (This was before ATM cards, kiddies).

During my time there, the debt ceiling had to be raised.  Jesse Helms' views corresponded to those now held by the wildest Tea Partiers.  “Ol' Jess” was not one to give much weight to the needs of New York financiers, who in his view were responsible for much of the mess.  But Jesse Helms chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was part of the Senate leadership.

Closed Circuit TV showed the scene as the debt ceiling vote was nearing.

“Mr. Helms,” the clerk intoned.

Ed, Dodd’s political director, stopped what he was doing and looked up at the screen, smiling.

“He’ll scowl but he’s in leadership and now Ol' Jess will belly up to the bar and say 'aye.'”  And of course he did.  It was a source of great amusement to Dodd’s staff but also of respect for Helms and the institution.  When you are out of power, you get to vote against debt ceiling increases (as Barack Obama did) and not propose budgets (as Senate Democrats do disgracefully, even in the majority).  When you are in the majority, responsibility kicks in.

I support the Boehner plan.  The strategy for the Republicans should be having the House pass debt ceiling bill after debt ceiling bill and letting the Democrats vote no.  But that requires that the House vote against the caucus and vote through what the majority of Republicans agree on.  Here we have 25 hold outs jeopardizing the national credit and the Republican Party.  Every one of them has a credit card in his pocket and ought to be acting as responsibly as the guy who didn’t.