In a September 25th editorial, The New York Times slammed the House Republican’s new “Pledge to America,” calling it a “breathless mimicry of the Declaration of Independence,” and “devoid of tough policy choices.” Wow. Pretty harsh words even from The New York Times.
Apparently, thats not even the worst of it. The “Pledge” is pretty hypocritical as well. While stating that the budget deficit needs to be reduced, the Republicans believe they can do this without raising taxes or cutting popular entitlement programs (and also keeping those nifty tax cuts for the rich). According to Paul Krugman, a noble prize winning economist, that scenario is literally fiscally impossible. Republicans also just so happen to forget to mention that President Barack Obama is calling for an extension of tax cuts for 98% of Americans.
The most powerful statement against the “Pledge” comes at the very end of the editorial, where the writers assert that the “Pledge” actually “takes the country backward,” and that the hard problems we face today were “built up over eight years of mainly Republican leadership.” Voters should be definitely thinking about this flawed and ignorant “Pledge” as they go into the booths this November.