August 30, 2006

Don’t Trust the Scorpion

A variation on a centuries-old parable goes like this: A scorpion wants to cross a stream but, since he cannot swim, the scorpion will need some help. A frog soon hops by and the scorpion says, “Mr. Frog, I would like to get to the other side of the stream, but I cannot swim. Would you carry me on your back?”

The wary frog replies, “But you are a scorpion. As soon as we get halfway across you will sting me. Then we will both drown.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the scorpion replies. “Why would I want to drown myself?”

“Then you will sting me as soon we reach the other side,” argues the frog.

“Of course not,” says the scorpion. “I would be so grateful for the ride across the stream that I could never hurt you.”

The frog, now assured that the scorpion will not sting him, allows the scorpion to get on his back. The frog pushes off the bank and navigates his way across the stream. As soon as they reach the other side the scorpion quickly stings the frog. As the frog lay dying on the shore he cries, “Why did you sting me? You gave me your word!”

“Because I’m a scorpion,” the scorpion replies. “That’s what I do.”

To relate this parable to the 2006 election cycle, the scorpion is Congressional Democrats, the frog represents Republican and Independent voters, the stream is campaign season and the shore on the other side represents majority status for the Democratic Party. The scorpions know they cannot reach the shore without help from Republican and Independent voters, and we know they will sting us once they reach their destination.

So why would we help them? Why would we entrust Congress to the scorpions? Why would we play the role of the gullible frog?

Only 24 percent of respondents to an August 10 Fox News poll approve of the job Congress is doing, including just 42 percent of self-identified Republicans. The same poll found just 36 percent approval of the job President Bush is doing. Congress and the president have received low approval ratings all year, leading pundits of both political stripes to predict the Democrats will regain the majority this November in the House, the Senate or both.

Democratic control of even one chamber of Congress would be a nightmare for this nation. We cannot allow it to happen.

There is certainly no shortage of scorpions in our own Republican tent. They are the Republicans In Name Only – RINOs – who abandoned conservative principles on spending, deny the Social Security structure is crumbling, cannot understand that low tax rates stimulate the economy, produce jobs and increase our wages, fail to secure our borders against the flood of illegal aliens and fail to stand up to the Democrats and approve the president’s judicial nominees.

I have been a frequent critic of Republican leadership and their inability to address these issues.  But this year we have to think about the big picture, and that is the fact that only the majority party can lead. Do you honestly believe the Democrats will tax us less, spend less and not tie up the House and Senate with endless subpoenas and hearings on the war, President Bush and his policies?

Remember, it was Republicans who fought successfully this year to make the president’s dividend and capital gains tax rate cuts permanent. In the Senate, it was Republicans who helped confirm the president’s Supreme Court nominees. In the House, it was Republicans who fought for increased border security instead of amnesty and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. It is Republicans who support the president in fighting the global war against Islamic terrorists.

There are two things we must do to remind Congressional Republicans that we demand action.

First, we must vote the Republican candidates back in, but hound the hell out of them with a constant barrage of phone calls, faxes and e-mails demanding support for conservative issues. Election Day is too late to contact your Republican member of Congress. We have to send the message every day they’re in office.

Second, we must spend the next two years finding conservative candidates to challenge RINOs in primaries. If your Republican member of Congress is not a conservative, find a conservative to challenge him or her. We can only fix Congress from within the Republican family, not by replacing family with outsiders. Electing Democrats will not help us succeed in changing the status quo.

This and every election is about political ideology, conservatism vs. liberalism. There is no virtue in sitting out the election, and there is no virtue in “voting the bums out.” We must achieve victory before we can lead and influence our members of Congress. That will never happen when the Democratic Party holds the majority.

If you think you are punishing Congressional Republicans or President Bush by voting for the Democrat or staying home, you are only punishing the nation. Set your emotions aside this election year. Don’t vote with your heart, vote with your head.

Don’t trust the scorpion.