Tea Party’s “spending” blindness: How dumb bias is killing Thad Cochran’s hard sell

salon.com ^ | 6/19/14 | Jim Newell

[cotton1706]

The talk of the town in the bizarre Mississippi GOP Senate primary — which now, for what it’s worth, involves a character named James “Scooby Doo” Warren – is why Thad Cochran’s appeals to seniority and pork and his standing on the appropriations committee aren’t quite appealing enough. Mississippi receives the largest return on tax dollars sent to Washington, of all states, and it’s not unreasonable to suggest, as Cochran has been doing, that without him, procurement of said funds may prove to be more difficult. Especially when he has an opponent, in state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who actively rejects the sort of “spending” that Cochran does on behalf of the state.

“Spending.” It’s a powerful attack word in Republican politics. Washington does too much “spending,” therefore the people in Washington need to be ousted. That’s about all a Tea Party challenger needs to say and all a Tea Party voter needs to hear; further explanation of what this “spending” is need not be explained, because no one is listening.

We here at Salon have been nursing a little theory about why Cochran’s appeals to all the federal cash he brings home haven’t been working over the crowds. We’re afraid it’s more cynical than the Tea Party-preferred explanation that their values, and their virtuous, thrifty natures, prevent them from accepting this dirty money. Or that “crony capitalism” and the Export-Import Bank is really what grinds their gears about Washington. What if it’s just that they don’t think they’re getting any benefit from this money, and that whatever “spending” they’re seeing is just that from welfare bums? The New York Times offers some evidence to back up this theory in its latest dispatch from the state:

[cotton1706]

The liberals can’t seem to believe that the people would want to throw out a democrat-like republican.

But that’s exactly WHY the people want to throw him out.

[petitfour]

MS Ping

If anyone else wants to take over pinging these, please do. The MS Ping list is on WKB’s home page. I cut and paste it each time. But these articles are coming too fast for me to keep up. Lol

[Opinionated Blowhard]

The entire political and media establishment just can’t understand why Cochran’s appeal as the guy who can shovel more money to Mississippi isn’t working. They view it as bizarre. Isn’t it a good thing that the voters of Mississippi aren’t voting to get more government spending shoveled their way? Isn’t this evidence that maybe we can put some people in Washington who will cut spending rather than stick their snouts in the trough too??? Our government and politics is so completely screwed up and rotten that its scary.

[reasonisfaith]

“Isn’t this evidence that maybe we can put some people in Washington who will cut spending rather than stick their snouts in the trough too”

Yes.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Future Hall of Famer Farve Fulfills Favors For Felonious Fauna Offender
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3169826/posts

Thad Cochran: I Grew Up Doing ‘All Kinds of Indecent Things with Animals’
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/06/12/Thad-Cochran-I-Grew-Up-Doing-All-Kinds-Of-Indecent-Things-With-Animals

[cripplecreek]

We’re afraid it’s more cynical than the Tea Party-preferred explanation that their values, and their virtuous, thrifty natures, prevent them from accepting this dirty money. Or that “crony capitalism” and the Export-Import Bank is really what grinds their gears about Washington. What if it’s just that they don’t think they’re getting any benefit from this money, and that whatever “spending” they’re seeing is just that from welfare bums?

In other words, don't listen to what those tea partiers are saying, listen to our made up explanation instead.

[re_nortex]

Mississippi receives the largest return on tax dollars sent to Washington, of all states...

That's what the liars at the commie rag Salon claim. It's a deliberate falsehood intended to smear one of the most consistently Conservative of all states. I know Mississippi quite well. One of my good friends from college days back in the early 1960s is from the Magnolia State. When I visit him and his family there, I'm impressed with the state's work ethic, distrust of an overreaching federal government, the kindness of the people and the full churches on Sunday morning.

Go Chris go! Go Mississippi go! Don't let the lying Yankee liberals get away with their anti-freedom lies!

[Vince Ferrer]

If there was no deficit, Salon may have an easier sell. But we all know that the government spends more than it takes in, it doesn’t just redistribute it. People actuall know that one day, the bill will come due.

[cripplecreek]

The local media nearly died laughing when my congressman promised that he wouldn’t bring a lot of pork to the district back in 2010. They were sure he couldn’t win....till he won.

It was really a very simple message. We need to produce our revenue locally and we need to keep it away from Washington so we can decide what to do with it.

[GraceG]

“Mississippi receives the largest return on tax dollars sent to Washington, of all states “

I thought that was Alaska....

I thought that was Texas...

I think the Libs always use this out and out LIE as a slam against any Red State...

[Betty Jane]

Yes it’s like the state of _____ is 49th in education spending.

[Political Junkie Too]

Mississippi receives the largest return on tax dollars sent to Washington

How much of that is Katrina recovery spending, and the BP Macondo blow-out recovery spending?

-PJ

[re_nortex]

I think the Libs always use this out and out LIE as a slam against any Red State.

Indeed, it's an oft-repeated pernicious lie promulgated by the lefitst lamestream media that Conservatives states are "takers". The reality is that Dixieland and other states of like mind are net producers, paying into the pool of largess doled out to the welfare queens in places like New York, Oregon, Massachusetts, California and elsewhere where bone-headed liberalism flourishes. The map below vividly illustrates the dichotomy between "makers" vs. "takers":

The "Solid South" is back but this time in brave opposition to union scum. States like Mississippi where DemonRATs once dominated have repudiated the leftism of the past. They've now become the vanguard for freedom, liberty and prosperity by embracing Conservatism and Christian principles.

[The Toll]

Military buying ships built in Mississippi is not welfare spending you stupid commies.

[Tea Party Terrorist]

Sadly, most of the country does not understand the most fundamental rule of economics: can’t eat your cake and have it too.

[MamaB]

I grew up in Chickasaw County which is just south of Tupelo. . There are no finer people than those in MS. When a disaster strikes, they get to work doing what needs to be done without government help. My ancestors came to that area in the mid 1800’s. If anyone needs help, they are there.

[cripplecreek]

Its that way all across flyover country.

[lavaroise]

They remind me of that muslim kid who could not understand why I would reject the joys of manlove.

[jiggyboy]

It can always be said that State X gets the largest “return” on tax dollars, but it can also be true that some of it is still wasted money.