Nikki Haley, the republican governor of South Carolina gave the republican response to the President's speech and was the typical fairy tale lacking reality that she and the party are married too. Some in her party have talked about the governor being a candidate for the party's Vice President position and that hype must have gone to her head. Her remarks tell the real story.
The governor said, "President Obama appears either unwilling or unable to deal with the terrorists threat." That is the Donald Trump and republican fear factor the President spoke about. Nikki can not handle the truth that the President has kept America safe. Perhaps she would like to go back to the Bush era. Like her party she is unable to acknowledge any success the President has achieved.
The governor also said, the nations problems also include (1) an economy that has not boosted family income; (2) a national debt that is too high: and (3) and the Affordable Care Act. Lets answer one at a time. (1) over 13 million new jobs have been created on the President's watch so far. Over 8 million people lost their jobs on Bush's watch so all those millions of new jobs created boosted those family's incomes when they were put back to work. (2) If Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 would have balanced the federal budget like President Clinton did the federal government would not have a debt problem. (3) The ACA has insured over 15 million Americans while the governor's party has not offered any alternate plan.
Haley went on to say, (1) Under a GOP President republicans would lower taxes; (2) curb spending; and debt; and (3) strengthen the military. The governor can't even get the facts right on this. President Obama did (1) lower taxes after he took office and then let the Bush tax cuts expired for those making over $500,00.00 a year: (2) The republican party does not have any record of curbing spending or debt since President Eisenhower: and (3) The Obama administration has already strengthen the military. Haley wants the GOP to go back to trickle down economics that has already proved to be a failure with the largest tax cuts going to corporate America and the most wealthy. It should be noted here that the smallest increases in federal spending and the national debt took place under the administration of President Clinton and President Obama while the largest increase in both happened on the watch of President Reagan and President Bush.
The governor was right when she said the GOP must do a better job of appealing to Hispanics and minority voters and tone down the angriest voices. But the governor and her party do not walk the talk. Theycriticize Trump because of his attacks but Trump learned from the party. Nothing Donald Trump has said could be as extreme as the republican party refusing to work with the President after the mess they left the country in. Donald Trump is no worse or better than the republican party and its leaders.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
