By Scott Tibbs, July 16, 2010
When Vice President Joe Biden was visiting a frozen custard shop, a store manager made a remark about lowering taxes. In response, an irritated Biden said, "why don't you say something nice instead of being a smartass all the time."
We are in the midst of a severe economic downturn, and the federal government approved a $1 trillion "economic stimulus" package to reverse the trend. (The stimulus failed, as expected.) Businesses that are still operating do so under a heavy tax and regulatory burden, with more coming thanks to the Obama regime meddling in the health care system and other initiatives. It is reasonable, then, for businesses to hope for a lower tax burden so they can use that money to invest, hire more employees and expand the business. It's worked before, after all.
This is not a "smartass" position. This is a request for a change in public policy, which is protected by the First Amendment. The fact that the Vice President arrogantly dismissed one of the people who pays for his salary, pension and health care demonstrates the arrogance of power.
This is relevant for the Ninth District, because Baron Hill brought Biden to Indiana to help raise money. Does Hill support Biden's arrogant dismissal of a constituent? It is more than fair to say that The Red Baron approves of Biden's remarks. After all, it was just last September that Hill publicly berated a college student at a town hall meeting after she attempted to record the meeting for a school project, declaring "this is my town hall meeting for you. And you're not going to tell me how to run my Congressional office."
As arrogant as they are, Hill and Biden are far from the worst Democrats in Washington. At least Hill and Biden have not (yet) resorted to felony assault and intimidation, as notorious thug Bob Etheridge did earlier this year when a college student dared to film him and ask him a policy question on a public sidewalk. Why exactly are Democrats like Hill and Etheridge so terrified of college students with video cameras? What are they trying to hide?
Hill, Biden and Etheridge are evidence that the Democratic Party is out of touch and holds average citizens in contempt. We do not need a federal government that is determined to rule rather than represent its citizens. We do not need a federal government that has such disdain for citizens who agree with their policy. We need real hope and change in Washington. One way to get that hope and change - and elected officials that actually listen to the people they represent - is to elect Todd Young in November.
