David Sirota, Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Through their ethics scandals, Republicans in Washington long ago began making the word "conservative" synonymous with the term "corrupt." Surprisingly, though, it is a group of Democrats that is cementing this definitional conversion for good.
In the midst of the housing crisis, a cadre of self-described "conservative" Democrats called the Blue Dog Coalition is demanding congressional leaders delay legislation designed to help people trapped in high-interest loans stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. The bill, House Resolution 3609, allows judges to ameliorate the terms of abusive "subprime" mortgages. Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., is championing it - a gutsy move for a lawmaker whose state domiciles major lenders.
The Blue Dogs say they oppose Miller's initiative out of concern for the integrity of the 2005 Bankruptcy Bill - a telling justification. Under that odious law, millionaires can shield their mansions from creditors, and corporate executives (think: Enron guys) can prevent ripped-off shareholders and employees from seizing their holdings. Harvard's Elizabeth Warren notes that the law also "permits people with vacation homes and investment property to rework their mortgages in bankruptcy."
But regular homeowners? Sorry - without Miller's legislation, judges are barred from defending you against the vultures.
Blue Dog Democrats cite the social conservatism of their rural and exurban districts as the reason for such high-profile stands against their party. Somehow, we are expected to believe that their constituents' anti-abortion or pro-gun views mean those same constituents want Congress to help banks throw people out of their homes. But since when did any voters - conservative or otherwise - support that kind of thing?
Since never, of course. "Conservatism" is being used as the cover for corruption.
more:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/30/EDSDTLB7E.DTL