Craziest Republican of the Day: Jim DeMint

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Anything to attack Obama, it would seem. DeMint doesn't seem to approve of Obama's multi-tasking:

The problem is, the war in Afghanistan and our economy are our two biggest issues. But he's working on other issues such as health care and he's putting off the decision on Afghanistan which I think puts our troops at risk. So he needs to focus on priorities right now and not try to ram so many things down our throat here in Congress. He needs to address the issue of Afghanistan quickly.

No one denies that Obama needs to address Afghanistan -- and he is, actively. So, on this, DeMint is just wrong, as usual.

But it's also not true that health-care reform is some sort of unpopular distraction. It is a leading priority for many Americans, just as important, if not more so, than the Afghan War, with which Americans have grown tired, and no longer support as they once did. Again, DeMint is just wrong.

Health-care reform is a priority, not something Obama is just trying to "ram" down the "throat" of Congress. This may be what anti-reform Republicans think, but it's certainly not what most Americans think.

And it's irresponsible -- and, yes, appallingly wrong -- to suggest that Obama's efforts to pass health-care reform endanger the troops. Did Bush endanger the troops when, following his re-election win, he tried to reform Social Security? First, Obama is fully capable of multi-tasking. DeMint may only be able to focus on one thing at a time, but Obama can surely handle the economy, Afghanistan, health-care reform, and so much else. Isn't it required of a president that he (or she) be able to deal with a great deal at one time?

Obviously, DeMint is trying to score political points by pitting Obama against the troops (i.e., by making shit up) -- a lame but typically Republican smear -- but he's also trying to derail health-care reform by putting up any and all obstructions he can find, however ridiculous.

And this was about as ridiculous as anything DeMint has ever said. And that's saying something.