Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Gee, Thanks, Boss
My erstwhile employer, Newt Gingrich, vents on the legislative process (i.e., why the process leading to the current health care bills shouldn't be trusted):
I don't think so.
Frankly, my experience has been that those "nice young staffers" often end up working longer hours than their counterparts who may or may not have "real jobs" -- and for a lot less pay. Republican or Democrat, they work darn hard.
You'd think a guy who became Speaker of the House and relied on those nice young staffers might show a little perspective -- and gratitude.
|
"It's not possible to write a comprehensive bill that that makes sense, because nobody understands the system," he said. Gingrich claimed that the White House and congressional Democrats are writing their health care bills in secret, something he called "suicidal hubris."
He went on to ridicule the men and women who work in the halls of Congress, where he served as a congressman from Georgia for two decades.
"Of course it's the nature of the modern Congress, which hires lots of nice young staffers who have never had a real job, who spent their entire life being arrogant to visitors from back home, who end up thinking they know a lot because they stay up until 3 o'clock working on a word processor, and who write legislation as though they have some contact with reality," he said, eliciting laughter.Yeah, sure there's been arrogance from the Democrats putting together health care. But, you know, Newt? There were damn sure quite a few "nice young staffers who have never had a real job" who helped draft -- and then write -- the Contract With America that helped "make" you the CPAC rock-star you are today. Are all the "nice young staffers" appreciably stupider today than 15 years ago (the congressional leadership is another question)?
I don't think so.
Frankly, my experience has been that those "nice young staffers" often end up working longer hours than their counterparts who may or may not have "real jobs" -- and for a lot less pay. Republican or Democrat, they work darn hard.
You'd think a guy who became Speaker of the House and relied on those nice young staffers might show a little perspective -- and gratitude.
Labels: Newt Gingrich
