Bipartisanship is DOA in Congress

Well it’s official. The only politician acting in a bipartisan way in Washington, D.C. is Barack Obama.

And sometimes 3 Republican senators.

Obama continues to reach his open hand across the aisle, only to have it slapped time and time again. Today, the House voted 244 to 188 to pass the $787 billion stimulus package that was agreed to in House/Senate meetings held to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the stimulus bill.

244 to 188.

Guess who made up that 188 minority?

11 Democrats who chose to vote against their party and their President, and every single Republican in the House except for Ginny Brown-Waite, who didn’t vote.

The bipartisanship that the Obama Administration was trying to foster, and going to tremendous lengths to do that at the angst of his own party’s base is DOA in the House. There is no life to breath into the corpse.

And yesterday, Obama’s bipartisan act in choosing a conservative Republican to be his Secretary of Commerce was rewarded by Senator Gregg flip-flopping without warning with an announcement that he was going to pass on Obama’s offer, return to the Senate, and vote against his bill.

And it is becoming very clear why there is very little bipartisanship in Congress. We’ve had two elections now where Democrats have swept Republicans out of office in huge numbers. Congressman in swing districts and Senators in swing states, or in states and districts that have outright flipped from Red to Blue are now largely Democrats. Moderate Republicans are practically nonexistent in Congress.

Apparently, the only other people acting in any kind of bipartisan manner are 3 Republican Senators, Specter, Snowe and Collins. But really, these are holdovers from former Republican states. Specter is from Pennsylvania and Collins and Snowe are from Maine. Both states went for Obama in a big way. If these three senators want to keep their jobs, they will have to be voting with the Democratic majority a great deal of the time. Either that or face the wrath of their voters.

Interestingly, this is exactly the same situation that my ex-congressman, Nick Lampson faced, and it worked out none too well for him, either.

Did it?

So do I think Barack Obama should abandon his attempts to appease the party of the Dark Side? Well, if he wants to stop wasting his time and if he wants to stop receiving the potshots that these uberpartisans want to deliver to him, maybe he should.

But I don’t think that’s his style. Besides, I ask myself, isn’t Barack Obama just acting out what every evangelical Christian Republican demands of their congregations? Isn’t Barack Obama obeying the Lord’s instruction?

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6: 27-31

Jesus was bipartisan. But apparently what’s good enough for their Savior isn’t good enough for Republicans in Congress.