Political Promises Made, Political Promises Broken By Dennis Powers

A politician running for a state office once made the statement, “Tell the voters anything they want to hear to get elected and after you get elected, then you can do anything you want.”
Isn’t this typical of what it is going on in Washington today?
Take our Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, for example, or as Rodney Dangerfield would say, “take her, please.”
I remember her words in January 2007 after the Democrats took the majority and pushed through the pay-as-you-go budget rule.
At that time, Pelosi said, "Democrats will demand and deliver a fiscally responsible budget. We will submit all of our ideas in our innovation agenda to pay the rigors of pay-as-you-go. No more deficit spending."
That was then, this is now.
"Today, we are cutting our national credit card," added Heath Shuler, a North Carolina Democrat, as he cut a credit card in effigy in 2007. Republicans applauded the effort and one, Rep. Jeff Flake, Republican, Arizona, stated, “I give them kudos.”
But, the House Democrats went even farther in 2007 to promote fiscal responsibility by approving a Democratic proposal that requires lawmakers to publicly disclose their pet projects, or "earmarks."
All earmarks were included in the pay-as-you-go rule. Rep. John Spratt Jr., a Democrat, from South Carolina added, “And if you want to enhance an entitlement, you've got to pay for it." Conservatives and Blue-Dog Democrats were ecstatic.
However, when Obama became president, those rules were thrown out the window along with our tax dollars. Now, we know what can happen when you get a Liberal president with a Liberal Congress.
In a November 16, 2006, press release, Pelosi said “We will work together to lead the House of Representatives with a commitment to integrity, to civility, and to fiscal responsibility.”
How’s that working out for us?
Pelosi also said, "The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, 'to minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.'”
As Obama said on the campaign trail “Folks haven’t been reading their Bible.” We need to include Nancy in the next study group.
Here’s something that is in the Bible in Psalm 106, (for Ms. Pelosi - that would be in the Old Testament) verse 12: Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
The same could be said of the media and our new president. But, before we start singing, let’s look at some of his promises:
During the first presidential debate, he said, “Absolutely, we need earmark reform. And when I'm president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely."
He just signed a bill with 9,000 earmarks.
Obama also promised that he “will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days."
His first bill was not published at all and the second bill was signed just hours after it passed in Congress. Most Americans and members of Congress still have no idea what was in the 1,100 page, $787 billion stimulus bill - so much for transparency.
And what about the famous quote by Obama that “Lobbyists will not find a job in my White House?” To date, he has hired at least a dozen to high-profile positions including several to his cabinet. I suppose it is difficult to find qualified candidates in Washington who pays their taxes.
Yes, we hear one thing from candidates on the campaign trail and another after they win an election. We are still looking for politicians who say what they mean and mean what they say.
Obama was sworn into office with the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used for his first inauguration in 1861. Obama identified with Lincoln throughout his campaign and quoted him often.
Lincoln once walked 20 miles to return a book. We need that type of honesty in Washington and let me assure you Mr. President, “You’re no Abraham Lincoln.”
As Lincoln said, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”
So, Mr. Obama, we’re not fooled by your promises. And in regard to your spending and infringements on our rights - we’ll keep our money and our guns – you keep the “change.”
Dennis Powers is a conservative columnist and his columns are found in BackyardPolitics.org and OnTheRightTrackOnline.blogspot.com. Send your comments to DennisHPowers@Comcast.net or mail them to POB 179, Jacksboro, TN 37757.