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Last week, after a pretty encouraging monthly jobs report, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) had to figure out a way to complain about good news. He relied on an old stand-by.
“Our economy continues to suffer from the uncertainty being caused for private-sector job creators by the Democrats who run Washington,” he said. In the same press release, though, Boehner added, “Congressional Republicans have made clear there will be no debt limit increase unless it is accompanied by significant spending cuts and reforms.”
The irony was lost on the Speaker. In one paragraph, he decried “uncertainty” and said it’s holding back the economy. In another paragraph, Boehner boasted of his party’s intention to create more uncertainty, on purpose.
Last night, the Speaker was at it again. See if you can spot the subtlety of the rhetoric in Boehner’s address to the Economic Club of New York.
“The effect of adding nearly a trillion dollars to our national debt — money borrowed mostly from foreign investors — caused a further erosion of economic confidence in America, and increased uncertainty for millions of private-sector job creators. […]
“Instead what Washington has done is raise the specter of higher taxes, creating more uncertainty for those in America who create jobs. […]
“If we fail to use this as a moment to demonstrate that we’re getting serious about fixing the debt, the result will be fewer jobs, less confidence, and more uncertainty.[…]
“The mere threat of tax hikes causes uncertainty for job creators — uncertainty that results in less risk-taking and fewer jobs.”
I especially like that last one. Boehner thinks even talking about tax increases is bad for the economy. He didn’t appear to be kidding.
As a matter of public policy, the Republican obsession with “uncertainty” has always been a transparent sham. The economy has struggled through the Great Recession for a variety of reasons, but the evidence that Democratic policies are responsible for generating recovery-stunting uncertainty is imaginary.
But what’s truly fascinating here is the disconnect between Boehner’s ostensible beliefs and Boehner’s threats. The Speaker and his caucus have insisted, ad nauseum, that they’re prepared to deliberately destroy the American economy by blocking a debt-ceiling increase. Indeed, he did so again last night. So far, investors and global markets don’t really believe them — why would American officials screw over their own country on purpose? — but GOP officials keep saying it anyway.
If uncertainty is so scary, and policymakers must do all that they can to stomp out uncertainty wherever it exists, the Republican strategy borders on mental illness. The House Speaker is creating uncertainty while decrying uncertainty, and makes no effort to even acknowledge the cognitive dissonance.
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davidp on May 10, 2011 8:36 AM:
Certainty = permanent GOP hold on all branches of government. Uncertainty = everything else.
c u n d gulag on May 10, 2011 8:40 AM:
What Boehner means is that he's certain about only one thing -
and that is that he's certain that uncertainty about uncertainty creates uncertainty, and uncertainty will certainly help the Republicans if they stay certain about uncertainty.
Or something like that...
Danny on May 10, 2011 8:46 AM:
I guess they figure that no one likes the feeling of uncertainty, and we live in uncertain times, might as well blame the uncertainty that voters are already feeling on democratic policies. A handy prop. I wonder if they do internal polling and identify that "uncertainty" is what the umricans are feeling at the moment? Probably. Maybe Lutz.
Bo on May 10, 2011 8:55 AM:
"the Republican strategy borders on mental illness"
The GOoPers and teabaggers suffer from a mental illness, alright. It's called "nihilistic denialism".
They have resolved their cognitive dissonance by beatifying Ronnie RayGun and forgetting everything about the disastrous GDumbya regime.
Now they are chasing their collective tails and swirling around the drain on their way to inescapable self-defeat.
DK on May 10, 2011 9:03 AM:
It's obvious that he's bluffing with this speech and his silly demands. The president ought to call him on it.
It's clear that Boehner's Wallstreet paymasters will never let him block the debt ceiling bill.
Kathryn on May 10, 2011 9:07 AM:
They whined about uncertainty in order to get the extension of the tax cuts for their base, the top 1%. That was suppose to give the private sector confidence to start hiring. Negotiating with Boehner must be like dealing with a schizophrenic wearing a terror vest. As Rachel says, he's terrible at his job. Obviously, trying to support his lunatic tea party congressmen.
I'd say there is a 50/50 chance, the GOP will facilitate the demise of the economy by screwing with debt ceiling, after all Pres. Obama looking good after bringing down bin Laden, have to beat him somehow. Their patriotism knows no bounds. On another subject, aren't Mr. and Mrs. Gingrich seriously creepy!
gelfling545 on May 10, 2011 9:13 AM:
Mr. Boehner appears to be confusing certainty with probability. All of life, including the business part of it is uncertain. If uncertainty prevented investment there would be no business at all.
max on May 10, 2011 9:13 AM:
I agree with the commenter who wants to call Boehner's bluff. The President can do this in two stages. First, go on national TV and explain the real consequences of refusing to extend the debt ceiling (including a brief history lesson who be a nice touch). Second, when the debt ceiling is not extended use the bully pulpit to underpay pay traditional Republican donors first - defense contractors, energy companies, the health-industrial complex, and anyone else who donates heavily to the RNC. Give them some of that old style Chicago politics they keep complaining about but haven't really seen yet. Let them overreach and cut off the head of the snake in 2012.
Ron Byers on May 10, 2011 9:19 AM:
Boehner certainly isn't creating uncertainty. Everybody in America except for certain beltway pundits and blog writers are certain he is bluffing. There is no uncertainty about that.
bob h on May 10, 2011 9:20 AM:
In the China-US economic talks going on now, the Chinese are evidently expressing concern about our willingness to pay our bills. That is a direct result of Republican scare-mongering about the debt limit.
SteveT on May 10, 2011 9:22 AM:
Out here in the real world economic issues aren't that complicated. If lots of middle class workers have money left over at the end of them month, then some of them will spend some of that extra money at my business and I'll do well. If middle class workers don't have money left over at the end of the month because, for example they have to spend $80 or more to fill up their gas tanks, then my business won't do well.
"Uncertainty" for me comes from wondering whether the Democrats will break with tradition and stand up to the Republican's efforts to destroy the economy in their quest for ideological purity.
If the Democrats stand firm, then my business will grow and I'll be able to add a half time worker this summer. If they actually start pushing for another economic stimulus, then the first worker will be full time and I'll hire a second part time worker.
But if the Democrats find another "middle ground" with the Republicans, then I'll be back to where I was during the Republican Recession in 2008 and 2009 -- just hanging on and cutting back my own spending.
Like I said, it's not complicated.
DAY on May 10, 2011 9:23 AM:
I love the smell of Frank Luntz burning the midnight oil!
Zorro on May 10, 2011 2:23 PM:
The House Speaker is creating uncertainty while decrying uncertainty, and makes no effort to even acknowledge the cognitive dissonance.
Or, more likely, he's too stupid to realize that there is one. Ah, oh yes, don't ask him to define cognitive dissonance: way too many syllables. Come to think of it, don't even ask him to pronounce the words.
-Z