Rep. Dennis Ross (R-eally Sorry-I-Keep-Apologizing-But-Never-Change-My-Behavior-FL) demonstrated this week why few Republicans will participate at town halls back home during their numerous recesses that they claim they "need" because they have to do important work back home:
They're confronted by voters.
Another reason Republicans aren't thrilled with town halls is because they've got no good answers when they're confronted with questions about their record.
This week Ross was confronted over his and Republican's votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act over 50 times.
CONSTITUENT: You’ve voted to repeal it approximately 50 times. Had zero votes on a replacement. So my question is, why do you think it is so good to deny seniors on Part D to make them pay more, about $4,000 more for medicine, and people with pre-existing conditions get denied insurance, have 26-year-olds have a harder time getting insurance because they can’t get on their parents’? Why do you think those are good ideas?
ROSS: I don’t. I think one of the most unfortunate things my party did the last three years was not offer an alternative to health care. I’ve always felt that way. I think it’s absurd when I tell people that this isn’t what you should do, but I don’t have an alternative for you.
"One of the most unfortunate things my party did the last three years was to not offer an alternative." Gosh, if only Ross could have done something about that in the last nearly four years he's been in Congress. Why, it almost sounds like he was on the outside looking in and powerless as he watched "his party" do nothing but say waste time and money voting to repeal. Ross appears to want a free pass for admitting he and the party have got nothing. He says "I've always felt this way" that "it's absurd when I tell people that isn't what you should do." So why does he keep right on doing it?
Back in 2013 he offered a similar excuse. At the time he had voted just 32 times to repeal the ACA, and this is what he aid back then:
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said the GOP's negative image stems from wasted opportunities by his fellow U.S. House Republicans over the last two years.
The 2010 election produced "the biggest House Republican majority since Reconstruction," he said, but, "We failed miserably."
Instead of passing legislation on immigration, tax reform or health care, he said, they wasted energy on meaningless gestures including 32 votes to repeal Obamacare – each dying in the Democratic Senate.
"We failed miserably" and then I, Dennis Ross, proceeded to join my GOP colleagues to vote over 18 times more to repeal the ACA, and offer the same excuse a year later?
I suppose he deserves a little credit for being honest that he's a deadbeat congressman. But on the other hand, what else could he say? He's got nothing.
