As a rule, Republicans rely on attacks and smears more when they’re desperate. Sure, sometimes it’s just for kicks with these guys, but when they get organized and strategic about it, it’s often a sign of fear.
It’s exactly why Nancy Pelosi should be more flattered than scared of the GOP’s latest tactics.
With Democrats continuing their efforts to pillory House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), Republicans in recent weeks have stepped up their individual attacks on Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) with an eye toward painting her as liberal, unethical and a poor spokeswoman for her party. […]
“You have to have a plan in order to be a leader,” said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). “She doesn’t have one, and that’s what we’re trying to point out.”
Just taking these criticisms at face value, what are we to make of Republican charges that Pelosi is an “ineffective” leader? If she were so inept, wouldn’t Republicans be thrilled about their rival’s alleged incompetence? Why would they be whining about it?
It’s only common sense that if your opponents have chosen a bad leader, you revel in their ineptitude and hope they don’t change their mind and choose a replacement. House Republicans, meanwhile, seem to be tripping over each other to argue the Dems have made a poor choice. What, Dems are going to take advice from Republicans about picking party leaders?
No, Republicans, in this case, may be protesting too much. When you’re the majority party ruling all the branches of government, and your strategy starts focusing on calling the House Minority Leader names, it’s a sign of a party with a problem. These guys should be enjoying their conservative “revolution” and passing the agenda they’ve been dreaming of. Instead, they want to convince reporters that Nancy Pelosi is liberal and doesn’t have a plan of her own. The whole smear comes across as pretty weak.
The whole initiative reeks of desperation. When you’re in the minority, it makes sense to target the opposition’s leaders for criticism, in the hopes that the public may want a change. When you’re in the majority and supposed to be running the joint, the emphasis should be on the agenda, not the allegedly ineffective minority.