Mark Sanford: Stimulus Supporters The "Real Fringe"

WASHINGTON — Governors usually don't argue about whether they should take money from the federal government, just how much they should get. Yet some chief executives are divided over President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan and whether the billions it offers is always a good deal.

Gov. Haley Barbour, R-Miss., has said he is considering turning down millions of dollars in unemployment aid because it would force his state to raise taxes when the stimulus money runs out by putting in place a tax on employers. Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal shares that concern about strings attached to stimulus dollars as well as the plan's overall approach to dealing with the economic crisis.

"I don't think the best way to do that is for the government to tax and borrow more money," Jindal said Sunday on "Meet the Press" on NBC. "If all they do is borrow federal money and give it to the states, all we're really doing is delaying the inevitable. We're eventually going to have to make these hard choices anyway."

Republican governors in town for the National Governor's Association meeting played down a split over the stimulus plan. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist was among those who said they are behind the plan even if they have qualms about it.

"There are times when you're in a crisis and we all need to work together in order to get through those crises. And I think that this is one of those times," Crist said on NBC.

One congressman announced legislation Sunday to make it easier for states that want the money to get a share of the funds others pass up. Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., said his proposal would reallocate funds from the five states _ Alaska, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and Idaho _ that say they might reject some portions of their stimulus money.

"If some governors decide to reject the money, 45 other states should be able to use it to create thousands of jobs," Weiner said. "We have plenty of projects across the country that will put people to work and help achieve long term economic growth and stability."

Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., has criticized the stimulus plan, as has Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee who traveled to Washington last month to press for her state's share of the money. Palin, busy with her state's legislative session, did not attend the NGA meeting.

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Some Democrats took a harder line Saturday at a press conference arranged by the Democratic Governors Association to praise Obama for his leadership on the stimulus. DGA Chairman Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley dismissed GOP detractors as "fringe" Republicans eager to score political points.

"All of us are committed to working with President Obama to pull our nation's economy out of the ditch that George W. Bush ran it into," O'Malley said. "If some of the fringe governors don't want to do that, they need to step aside and not stand in the way of the nation's interests."

The line drew a rebuke from Sanford, the Republican Governors Association chairman.

"I think in this instance I would humbly suggest that the real fringe are those that are supporting the stimulus," Sanford said. "It is not at all in keeping with the principles that made this country great, not at all in keeping with economic reality, not in keeping with a stable dollar, and not in keeping with the sentiments of most of this country."

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On the Net:

National Governors Association: http://www.nga.org/

Comments

[dadw5boys]

FACE IT !

The Governors of Texas, Loiusana, South Carolina, and Alabama are not as worthy as Iraqi's, Israeli's and Afgani's when they need Economic help.

[BlueBirdy]

HEY! That's a great 'TALKING POINT'! IN EFFECT, THAT IS what those Confederate Holdouts ARE saying is... IRAQIES AND AFGHANIES ARE MORE WORTHY OF ECONOMIC HELP... than their own constituency! I'M SURE THOSE RED-NECKS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT! WOULDN'T THAT BE CALLED, 'CUTTING THEIR NOSES OFF TO SPITE THEIR FACES? OR IS IT MORE A CASE OF, DEERS CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS RIGHT BEFORE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO BE RENDERED 'OBSOLETE'!

[jnah]

a stable dollar? what the hell is he talking about. their all just bobbleheads spewing diatribes that they dont understand. deny the money on whatever grounds you wish, but unless you have a viable plan to improve your states economic condition, than be prepared to eat your feet

[Tommygun264]

The same pubs who to this day insist that, all evidence to the contrary, Terry Schiavo would have made a miraculous recovery from her permanent vegetative state, if only her husband had been forced to keep her on life support for another ten, twenty, thirty years or more, now want to deny federal funding that will benefit the poorest and least fortunate in the States where they serve as Governors. Their argument that granting such benefits now would be a waste of taxpayer dollars because the federal funds would run out three years from now is beyond ridiculous. Unlike Terry Schiavo, the people who would receive these benefits actually have a chance of recovering from their present condition. These federal funds will provide those who receive them with either the time to seek immediate reemployment, or to receive training necessary to find better paying jobs in new fields of employment. To deny these people their potential for the sake of petty political posturing is not only reprehensible, it's un-American.

[AnnfromCA]

I don't follow the logic of the governors about unemployment benefits. When the federal dollars run out, then the benefits stop. It's just that simple.

I think they are making a mistake on this one, but it might be a natural cleaning house time. At least they are stating firmly where they are on the continuum of conservativism.

People vote. They'll decide.

[dax49]

these people can't think the american public is that stupid- they are short changing the people in their states in an effort to embarass barack obama- and we are not falling for it

[HonorJusticeTruth]

Why are all the biggest nut cases in Republican politics from South Carolina? Are they still lamenting the fact that nearly a century and a half ago their treason was unrewarded by a victory for the Confederacy? They act like they think all their constituency are still slaves, including the poor white folk. Help your people, not yourselves.

[gintheb]

Bobby "slumdog millionaire" Jindal, Mark "Sanford and Son" , Sarah "Baracuda" Pailin and the others are all posturing to the hardcore republican right. They don't seem to understand that these policy stances failed in the past elections and got John McCain blown out of the water in Novemebr.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

What is the difference in the Repaliban fringe and the Democratic fringe?
The repalian fringe is tattered, and the Democratic fringe is about to get the Repaliban fringe's fringe benefits!

[mayan2012]

It's easy for such politicians to "act" disdainfully and "righteously" when they have millions of dollars in the bank---whilst millions of people have lost their homes...and banks expect people underwater to keep on paying their mortgages---while banks received taxpayer bailout money!

[sueinmn]

It would be sweet to know what a fringe benefit is again! It's certainly been awhile. Everytime a Repub speaks, Let them refuse the money, MORE FOR THE REST OF US!!

[winstonian24]

In the spirit of liberalism I tried to convince my roommate to give me his $8,000 tax return because I needed worse than he did.

He didn't like the idea...go figure.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow, 8k tax refund and he has to live with a head case for a room mate! go figure!

[8isEnoughPeriod]

loves it!

[evaesthetic]

Right, and you failed to convince him you needed it more because you make 9 times what he does, and in fact wanted it to pay for your illegal nanny's abortion, and he didn't buy it. Amazing!

[loki]

here is what Id like to ask all the GOP gov supporters. I am sure you are very proud of your gov who will not take a dime of stimulus money. But how proud will you be when you realize that you , your kids, and their kids, are going to be paying it back, and you didnt see a dime of it because your gov was more worried about his political career than anything else? If your gov doesnt take the money , then your state wont get to use it for projects that might benefit you and your fellow citizens, but you will have to pay for it just like you did take it. I know I would feel like a real idiot for that.

[master09]

Shelby,Sanford, Bunning these are the type of people that the republicians and so call conservatives call their leaders and they are treated as statemens. It has to painful to be so ignorant as a matter of fact you can see the torment in thier faces; I feel sorry for them all . I believe RNC Chairman Stelle will have hard time introducing these good old boys to HIP HOP generation.

[cjk002]

What is it about being a Republican that makes them so out of touch? More than half the country supports the stimulus, and the GOP has a 60% dissapproval rating, yet we're on the fringe?

Amazing.

[Token12ga]

Much worse than that,I personally think they are insane.

[cjk002]

You may be right.

[oscartucker]

Isn't Sandford the guy who embarrassed himself by not being able to name anything that McCain had done? Anyway, I like Weiner's suggestion: any money not used by those states can go to others in need. In fact, I think those states refusing money should be put at the bottom of the list as it will take a little more time to work with them. They may get money months later because of the changes that will have to be made.

***I just love how these govenors are so adept with words; they say a lot of nothing explaining why they will not take the money.

Sanford said. "It is not at all in keeping with the principles that made this country great, not at all in keeping with economic reality, not in keeping with a stable dollar, and not in keeping with the sentiments of most of this country." "Exonomic reality", "the stable dollar", "sentiments of most of the country"--has Sanford looked at the polls?

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[unity08]

He couldn't articulate any difference between McCain and Bush
on economic policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2nNSMZKv_A

Yeah, this guy is real genius.

[From the Raft]

Are there any educated Republicans?

[sonoffestus]

Not many, alot go to Harvard or Yale.

[buddhistMonkey]

((( "I think in this instance I would humbly suggest that the real fringe are those that are supporting the stimulus," Sanford said. )))

Mark Sanford is so far out of the mainstream that he sees his tiny band of fellow obstructionist GOP-governors-with-presidential-aspirations as the majority in America. Here's a clue for Gov. Sanford: the majority of the states, the majority of Republican governors, the majority or both Houses of Congress, and the majority of the American people support the stimulus. The majority -- by definition -- can't be "the fringe."

Of all the 50 states, five Republican governors are making noise about not taking the stimulus money. Of those five, Sarah Palin and Rick Perry have already caved. That leaves just Sanford, Haley Barbour, and Piyush "Bobby" Jindall as the lone hold-outs, having shown their constituents that they care more about their own political ambitions than the needs of the unemployed of their state during an economic crisis. Three out of fifty -- now THAT'S fringe.

[cqyates]

Piyush "Bobby" Jindall ...we are better than this. tsk tsk