Dear Gov. Kaine,

[dgibby]

Here's the E-mail I received from you today:

It's a breathtaking display of public hypocrisy.

At least 116 Republican governors, senators, and representatives have spent the past year railing against the Recovery Act, while simultaneously requesting funds to create jobs in their districts and taking credit for projects at ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

As the independent PolitiFact put it, they're trying "have their cake... and vote against it too." They know the Recovery Act is creating jobs, but they think attacking it will bring them victory in the 2010 elections.

Not so fast. We're preparing to meet every hypocritical attack with press conferences in states across the nation and a rapid-response program to fact check every lie. But we need your help to make it happen.

Please donate $5 or more today to support our campaign against Recovery Act hypocrisy.

Today is the anniversary of the President signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that has saved or created at least 2 million jobs, cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, and made loans to over 42,000 small businesses. And as a former governor, I can tell you it also provided critical relief for state governments facing record budget shortfalls.

But don't take it from me. Listen to Rep. Joe Wilson, who told the Department of Agriculture that the money he was seeking "would provide jobs and investment" for his South Carolina district. Or take it from Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty, who balanced his state budget with the same funds he's so often attacked on TV.

Even the GOP leadership that went all out to kill the bill has gotten into the game -- Sen. Mitch McConnell has bragged about funding for a military project in Kentucky, while Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor sought funds for a high-speed rail project in Virginia to create jobs.

President Obama has made it clear he knows that we're not out of the woods yet, and he's focused on creating jobs. Honesty with the American people is one of the obligations of leadership.

In stark contrast, Republicans are engaged in a hypocritical campaign of attacks -- and they're proving what we've said all along: Their opposition is about politics, pure and simple.

We're going to prove that it's not winning politics -- but we need your support to expose their hypocrisy:

https://my.democrats.org/hypocrisy

With your help, we'll be ready for the fight ahead.

Thanks,

Governor Tim Kaine

And here is my response:

So, let me get this straight. It's taken a full year for the Democratic Party to realize they need to do something to counteract the poison the Republicans have been spewing about the Recovery Act. Do I have that right? Where have you guys been for the last 12 months, and why are you just now getting around to thinking you should perhaps DO something? Oh, I get it! You've been watching Rachel Maddow and Keith Obermann carry your water and all of a sudden you think it would be a good idea to get behind them on this. Of course, you should have been out in front, leading this parade, but then, what could I expect. You ARE Democrats after all. God forbid you should actually find the courage to stop enabling your abusers. THAT would take insight and courage, which, it would appear, is in short supply on our side of the aisle.

Without a doubt, this last year in Congress and the White House has been the most appalling display of poor leadership that I have witnessed in my 64 years on this earth, and believe me, I have seen some pretty pathetic leadership in that time! You have missed opportunity after opportunity to LEAD, but instead, you sit back, wringing your hands in despair, trying to figure out how best to appease the Republicans, and the Republican wing of the Democratic Party,the DINOS, the Blue Dogs and the DLC.

Now that you've thrown the baby out with the bath water, you want ME to help get you out of this mess? Guess you didn't get the message. Rahm thinks I'm irrelevant, and that I have F--king retarded ideas (I'm one of those dreaded progressives you guys have been ignoring ever since I helped get Obama elected).

Unlike the Democratic Party, I'm NOT misogynistic, I do not enjoy being lied to, used, abused, and ignored until you need my help to fix what you guys have broken. Well, you broke it, you bought it. In the meantime, I'll be supporting progressives, be they Democrats, Independents, or Third Party. No more time or money for the DNC. DLC, or any other useless party organization that can't get the job done.

My money will be going to support family members and friends who have been devastated by the economy and the debacle that masquerades for health care in this country. Anything left over after that will go to the Charities that are doing what the government won't-take care of the citizens. I guess you will just have to go begging to the Corporate Overlords who own the WH, Congress, and both Parties, because I just can't afford to throw my money away anymore.

Sincerely

XXX

Talk about "breath-taking hypocracy". The Dems have capitulated to the Republican Party and the Republican Wing of the Democratic Party at every turn, and NOW they want to DO something? Talk about closing the barn door after the horse is out! Gawd, the ineptude is stunning!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. I get it now. They haven't been countering the GOP lies all this time because we weren't ponying up.

:sarcasm:

[dgibby]

2. If we'd only known!

No wonder progressives get blamed for everything!:evilgrin: