The 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It?' Game – Commentary by Steve Scroggins

Politicians often play games with the electorate and a recent commentary by Bill O'Reilly (link at bottom) serves to illustrate the point. I should point out that I often disagree with O'Reilly, especially in regards to the Confederate Battle flag and what it represents. O'Reilly is no friend of our beloved symbol. He just doesn't get it. His so-called "No Spin Zone" has O'Reilly's spin all over it.

O'Reilly professes to be a conservative but it seems his solutions for most issues is more government control. For example, he wanted the State of Georgia or local school board officials to supervise the racial makeup of privately funded proms in Taylor County. O'Reilly was ready to send in troops, if necessary, to end free association and self-determination.

The point is, many conservatives----even many "party before principle" Republicans and Pseudo-Conservatives like O'Reilly----have a big problem with Bush's amnesty plan for illegal immigrants. A quick spin through Townhall.com will find you at least 30 columns written to criticize this Bush insanity. Or dare we call it Treason? There may be a few in there which support Bush's sellout, I just haven't found them yet.

O'Reilly wrote a column on Bush's "Immigration Plan" that was published January 11 and soon thereafter he covered it on his Fox TV show. The point he made in both places was this was a "calculated political move" on Bush's part. Politicians may be dense in many areas, but the successful ones can count very well.

Bush sees that America is 13% black and he knows he won't get many of those votes no matter what. Then he sees that America is 14% Hispanic. Aha! Bush knows that many Hispanics are socially conservative and he thinks that this stealth amnesty plan will win him some portion of that 14%, especially in the key states of California, Texas and Florida.

Bush is taking the rest of the conservative voters for granted. He knows that this amnesty plan would most likely be wildly unpopular with middle-class conservatives. BUT...he thinks, "Who are they going to vote for? Howard Dean? Kerry? Lieberman? NO." He's counting on the fact that they won't likely vote for a "tax-raising liberal" even if they are ticked off about the amnesty for illegals. He bought many seniors with Medicare prescription coverage. He bought many of the average Joe-workers with a tax cut and a rebate check.

And the sad part is, he may be right. If the economy keeps growing and the war in Iraq doesn't take a catastrophic turn, he figures he's got it won. Right now, unbeknownst to most people, the Bush administration (with Congressional collusion) is spending taxpayer money like drunken sailors. Placed on a chart, this administration is spending more than any previous administration including Clinton and Carter with a Democrat-controlled Congress. When we see the REAL cost of the Medicare prescriptions, the numbers will make Bush the all-time king of the big-spenders. So, I must ask the question: What's the difference between Bush and his Democrat rivals? Is it a nickel's worth of difference? Maybe. All the Democrats want to spend just as much, only on different "priorities" and, they want to raise taxes.

Columnist Pat Buchanan in his recent column, "MexAmerica, Here We Come," succintly describes the Bush immigration doctrine. " I cannot defend our border. I will not enforce the laws. I will not send illegal aliens back. And as I cannot stop this invasion of the United States, I intend to legalize it. Most Americans have a problem with such an attitude.

The worst part of it is, he's risking our national security by opening a giant hole for terrorists to come through. Some dare call it treason to risk the lives and well-being of Americans for a politician's well-being (votes). In addition to that, he's spending billions in education and medical costs---over and above the immediate costs---that will come home to roost far into the future. All of this is not to mention the catastrophic social and cultural impact that this tidal wave of legalized illegal immigration will bring on our country. Buchanan askes the obvious question: "Why is President Bush taking this risk for our country?" For temporary political advantage?

Sonny Perdue is playing the same sort of sell out game here in Georgia. His election was a state-wide mandate for a Fair Vote to restore the 1956 Georgia Flag. Perdue proposed a referendum that would have fulfilled that promise. But in the end, he sold out the Heritage voters for money and tax concessions. His rationale? I think he's thinking just like Bush. Perdue is saying, "Who are these people going to vote for? Mark Taylor? Cox?" The latter two are likely to be even more hostile to a Fair Vote on the Flag.

Perdue also campaigned on a promise to deliver integrity to the governor's mansion. He promised to make ethics reform a top priority. Oops. It doesn't bode well that he starts off with several exposed and very high profile lies. Thousands of SONNY LIED signs are going into yards and trees and around the state and that number will proliferate into tens of thousands before November 2006.

Many Heritage activists are vowing to make Perdue another one-term governor if he doesn't make a Fair Vote happen before 2006. Their argument is hard to refute. Perdue is raising taxes on tobacco and setting his budget so as to require local governments to raise property taxes in order to meet state and federal education mandates. In addition, Perdue is proposing to float state bonds and loan guarantees to bail out the long-neglected Atlanta sewer system (a stupid payoff that will win him zero votes). So, Perdue has betrayed the people on a Fair Flag vote and he's raising taxes just like a Democrat. Many argue that, "What's the difference? We might as well have a Democrat in the Governor's mansion.

Georgia Heritage Coalition is a non-partisan organization. We support those politicians who support us regardless of party affiliation. We're told by many Republicans that Perdue would support a Fair Vote bill if we can get the General Assembly to pass it. That's encouraging. But that's not enough. We think the people are entitled to a little more than that. We need Perdue's active support to get a Fair Vote.

A Fair Vote. That's not asking too much. Let the chips fall where they may. It's the only way this issue will ever be resolved.

Neither is it asking too much to have accountable government and government integrity. As Georgia Heritage Coalition chairman Jeff Davis has said numerous times, this issue is about much more than a flag. It's about self-government. What part of "government by the people and for the people" do our politicians not understand? The question is NOT whether action "x" is good for the politician's wallet or standing; the proper question is "is action 'x' good for the state and the people?" (or the country where applicable).

We, the people, simply must get better at making this point. When politicians continue to take us for granted, when they defy the obvious will of the people in favor of some special interest and when they sell out the people for money to hold their power, we must remind them who really holds the power. I've written this before and will write it again. Money does not win elections. Votes win elections. Just ask Roy Barnes. My vote is not for sale. Is yours? I didn't think so.

We need a higher turnover rate, folks. We have way too many politicians who remain in Atlanta year after year after year just because no one will stand up to oppose certain incumbents. GHC is working to fix this problem and recruit viable opposition for entrenched incumbents.

So when politicians defy the people, they're saying, "So what? Whatcha gonna do about it?"

GHC will be working between now and November to help the people to show a good number of them. We need your help with this task. Time, talent and money. All are needed.

But the question is really to be answered by grass-roots activists and the voters of Georgia. Whatcha gonna do about it?

Bill O'Reilly's Fox commentary on the Bush Immigration plan

Steve Scroggins is Adjutant of the Lt. James T. Woodward Camp 1399, Sons of Confederate Veterans, in Warner Robins, GA and a frequent GHC contributor of parody and political cartoons and graphics.