I call on my fellow Democrats to join me in a pledge: should Mitt Romney win the Presidency we will not engage in the same kind of legislative tactics Republicans have used against President Obama since 2008. If Gov. Romney were to win I know there will be calls for doing so; the argument will be made that turnabout is fair play and after all it worked because their candidate won the Presidency.
But at what cost? In their attempts to unify opposition against President Obama, Republican strategists and their accomplices have crippled the GOP's reputation and capacity to produce sound policies. Not only have they scared away the kind of talent the GOP used to be known for, they have tied the hands of the talent the GOP does have. It would be the easiest thing in the world for Democrats to come together and say lets make our number one goal for Mitt Romney to be a one term President.
Our country just can't afford another bout of that kind of stupidity, short-sightedness, and egotism. That is said knowing President Obama did not do a good job of working with Republicans after the election. His errors still do not justify the circle the wagons mentality we've seen from the GOP leadership, and sadly from Kentucky's own senior Senator. The defining quality of a Senator in the twenty-first century is the capacity and inclination to build partnerships which transcend party ideology. We currently seem to have the anti-thesis of that ideal representing us.
President Obama is still the favorite to win this election; are Republicans willing to match our pledge to work with the new President should he not be from their party? Our duty to posterity demands nothing less.
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