Last November, voters handed control of Congress to Republicans who pledged to cut taxes and spending. In response, Democrats decided to hold the country hostage because they want to borrow and spend $1. 5 trillion on illegal immigrants and well-to-do Obamacare enrollees. That is the simplest and most honest way to describe what has been going on since Oct. 1. But you’d hardly know it, given the way the shutdown is talked about. The Senate has had a chance 13 times to vote on a “continuing resolution” that would keep the government operating while lawmakers debate future spending bills, including the Democrats’ wish list. And 13 times, Senate Democrats filibustered the bill because they don’t want a debate. They want a concession. Yet time after time, Democrats are allowed to go on news programs and spout nonsense about how this is the Republicans’ fault. Well, try to imagine Republicans doing the same. Imagine them refusing to keep the government running because, say, they wanted another $1. 5 trillion for the Pentagon. They wouldn’t be able to walk out their front doors without being assaulted by mobs. There would be no media outlet that would let them recite their bogus talking points, because reporters would be furiously interrupting them and calling them liars. Every front page, every evening newscast, 24 hours a day on cable, would feature stories of the terrible harm being inflicted upon Americans. Every single one of them blaming Republicans for the misery.
