Democratic "Strategist" Bob Beckel Plays Right Into The GOP Game Plan
Reported by Ellen - May 31, 2005
Is Bob Beckel's contract up for renewal on FOX? How else to explain his dismal performance in speaking out on behalf of Democrats yesterday on Big Story? I have seen Beckel do a fine job of representing the party at other times. If he wasn't deliberately "throwing" the argument to his conservative opponent, then what on earth was he thinking during his appearance? That knocking the Democrats and not confronting the misstatements of a conservative talk show host was good strategy?
Substitute host Judge Andrew Napolitano opened the discussion with a question for Beckel, "Why is Washington so bitterly divided today?"
Beckel started off by "explaining" what's the matter with Democrats these days - that they are still getting used to being in the minority rather than the majority. "It takes some time to get your feet underneath ya and in order to do that I think their best offense has been a good defense and when (Republicans) say (Democrats) say no all the time, it's sort of tough to come up with your own ideas when you're in a minority."
Comment: Come on, Bob!!! You've been around FOX long enough to know that being conciliatory on these shows NEVER promotes amity or understanding except, maybe, with the higher-ups in charge of your contract. Meanwhile, you ignored everything that the Republicans are doing to create bitter divisions. Don't tell me you were waiting for the other side to volunteer that!
Of course she didn't. Betsy Hart, conservative columnist, immediately went on the attack against Democrats saying she "can't help" but think they are trying to re-fight the battle of 2004. What part are the Republicans playing in the divide? Not being demanding enough. In Hart's view, Republicans need to be reminded "from time to time" that they didn't just win the election, they won "overwhelmingly" and that "they need to assert some of that prerogative and that mandate."
Hart went on from there to throw in a few more GOP strategic talking points. She said the real problem is that government has grown too big, that the stakes are too large and that the only way to solve the problem is to shrink the government. "That used to not be the case. What happened in Washington did not affect the daily lives of each one of us. Now it does. Judges are far more powerful than ever before. Regulations get into every area of our lives. Taxes, etc. - you name it." The only solution, in her view, is to limit the power of government.
That could have given Beckel plenty of ammunition: The Republicans did not win "overwhelmingly" so there is no real mandate. The polls, which show shrinking support for Bush's agenda and recent GOP actions, confirm that. He could also have attacked the Republicans for going after judges, something the public also seems to disapprove of. Or he might have pointed out that Washington has always affected peoples' daily lives - Social Security being one big example - and that the war in Iraq (which the Bush Administration said would be a cakewalk that would pay for itself) is affecting a lot of regular people, too. But instead, he made this incomprehensible statement: "When Republicans are in the minority, government is too big but now that they're in the majority, they are willing to exercise all the power. Look at Terri Schiavo." Then he added that while the Democrats are having a hard time getting used to being in the minority, the "Republicans are having a very difficult time understanding what it's like to be in the majority." Whose side is this guy on, anyway?
Hart allowed that she agreed somewhat but that generally Republicans think less government is better while Democrats want power through controlling government and controlling the rest of us. "Now that that's been taken away, they're bitter and they're angry and they're not used to it. Power has - simply means more to them, even than it does to the Republicans although it means too much to both."
Once again, Beckel left her accusations unanswered and offered the limp response that bitter accusations are "not just a one-way deal."
Napolitano said he agrees but asked, "Why the bitterness? Is it because, as Henry Kissinger famously said, there's something about George Bush that simply blows the Democrats' minds? They just don't like the idea that he's the president?"
Beckel took that opportunity to verify the opposition's talking points and ran with it. He said, "There's a lot to that... It will always be in the hearts of Democrats that (the 2000) election was stolen from us. Now, it's over, it's done with, the Supreme Court did their job but the point is that that still left a bad taste and it will continue to leave a bad taste throughout George Bush's presidency. Now I'll grant you 2004 was a legitimate election. Those things are tough to die off."
Once again, the conservative used the opening to bash Democrats more, rather than offer any concessions in return (When are Democrats going to get that this ALWAYS happens on FOX. It's time to get a clue already!) Betsy Hart said it's more than just a bad taste, that Bush upsets Democrats "because he believes something. He actually stands for something... This is a guy with a vision... A lot of Democrats don't like that."
Thank God, that was the end of the segment. Otherwise, I shudder to think what Beckel might have said in response.
