Doolittle is Done
I was his press secretary before I went to graduate school in 1992. I liked his fighting spirit. He was one of the “Gang of Seven,” Republican freshman who in 1991 exposed the House Bank Scandal that presaged the Revolution of 1994.
He has wandered far from those days. I was willing to suspend judgment on the Abramoff connection and the curious financial arrangements with his wife’s fundraising projects. But this report from the porkbuster project just blows me away. Out of 50 chances to get it right on pork and earmarks reform, he blew it 49 times, for a miserable 2% rating.
To put this disaster in perspective, consider the following from the Porkbuster report:
- Sixteen congressmen scored a perfect 100%, voting for all 50 anti-pork amendments. They are all Republicans.
- The average Republican score was 43%. The average Democratic score was 2%.
- 105 congressmen scored an embarrassing 0%, voting against every single amendment. The Pork Hall of Shame includes 81 Democrats and 24 Republicans.
- The Democratic Freshmen scored an abysmal average score of 2%. Their Republican counterparts scored an average score of 78%.
And this:
- $2 million for a “Paint Shield for Protecting People from Microbial Threats,” requested by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH-11). Rep. John Campbell challenged Murtha to demonstrate that the $2 million earmark would be effective and that it had been put up for a competitive bid. Murtha could not. Amendment failed, 91-317.
- $1 million to the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, requested by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA). No congressional member could confirm the existence of the alleged Center. Amendment failed, 98-326.
- $2 million to establish the “Rangel Center for Public Service” at City College of New York, requested by none other then Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY). Amendment failed, 108-316.
- $34 million for the Alaska Native Education Equity program, requested by Rep. Don Young (R-AK). When Scott Garrett challenged Young’s earmark, Rep. Young declared, “You want my money, my money!” Amendment failed, 74-352.
To earn a 2% rating in this context is to have flagrantly sold your soul to the pork devil. This is the kind of Republican who has destroyed the brand, making it nearly impossible for us to sell The Difference to our own base. It is both a political and ethical disaster.
I would love to hear Doolittle or his aides offer an explanation for this. I would give them as much space here to respond as they would like. It would be amusing, at the very least.
The staunchly Republican district is outside Sacramento in the Sierra Foothills. It could easily support a primary challenge. It would need to be largely a self-financed one. Doolittle will be loaded with a war chest earned through years of this kind of back scratching. However, a reasonably financed grassroots effort would turn his money against him very effectively.
Any takers?
Update: Turns out I was a step late in reaching this conclusion. John Fund, who I remember as a friend our office when I worked for Doolittle, has a very sad analysis here. He begins: “It’s sad when someone you’ve known for decades gets in trouble and you’re not surprised.” Fund concludes that Doolittle’s career is over. The question may not be a primary challenge so much as finding the right reformer to take over the seat.
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