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House Majority Leader Eric Cantor sought to lead Republicans past their dollars-and-cents fights of the last two years, arguing Tuesday for a more expansive agenda that resonates with a broader scope of Americans.
As the GOP works to redefine itself in the wake of an electoral drubbing last fall, Cantor outlined a series of policies he said Republicans would pursue over the next two years. The agenda includes staples of Republican politics — tax and entitlement reforms, for instance — but also education, immigration and research and development, particularly in the sciences.
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"In Washington, over the past few weeks and months, our attention has been on cliffs, debt ceilings and budgets, on deadlines and negotiations," Cantor said at a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank in Washington. "But today, I'd like to focus our attention on what lies beyond these fiscal debates. Over the next two years, the House majority will pursue an agenda based on a shared vision of creating the conditions for health, happiness and prosperity for more Americans and their families."
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., speaks to the media following a Republican Conference meeting on Feb. 5, 2013 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The speech fits squarely within the rubric of reinvention sought by the GOP at the advent of President Barack Obama's second term. The Virginia congressman offered generally familiar proposals, couched in the rhetoric of middle class advancement. This "softer" approach to policy-making squares with an emerging Republican consensus that the party does not necessarily need to change its policies so much as frame them in a way that is more relevant to middle class, minority, and women voters.
To that extent, Cantor was flanked at moments during his speech by students from schools in inner-city Washington, a master's student from China looking to stay in America, a nurse from Baltimore looking for a more flexible work schedule, and a former intern of Cantor's who benefited from improved medical technology.
Cantor sought with his speech to put a newer, more accessible face on the Republican Party; whether he'll succeed is a question that might not be answered for two or four more years.
Republican Eric Cantor calls for legal residence and citizenship for children brought here illegally by their parents and a guest-worker program, at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington conservative think tank.
First Read: Cantor's shift on immigration
One policy shift Cantor did announce was in regard to immigration. The No. 2 House Republican embraced the thrust of the so-called DREAM Act, a piece of immigration legislation looking to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children a pathway to citizenship.
"It is time to provide an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought to this country as children and who know no other home," he said.
Other points of emphasis were familiar to any observers of the contemporary GOP.
On education, Cantor called for increased access to vouchers, more efficient spending per student, cost transparency in college tuition and fuller disclosure to students about the career prospects associated with different degrees.
On immigration, Cantor endorsed easier access to green cards to immigrants with high-level degrees, a reformed guest worker program and stronger employee verification tools.
And in an appeal to middle class workers, Cantor endorsed giving all employees greater flex-time at work and simpler simpler ways to file taxes.
Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., is set to make a speech on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at the American Enterprise Institute on "Making Life Work."
On top of this, Cantor appealed to Republican staples: comprehensive tax reform and reforms to Medicare (including streamlined provider networks, and increased leeway for states to administer their own programs).
The recurring theme, though, for Cantor involved an appeal directed intently toward middle class voters.
"Government policy should aim to strike a balance between what is needed to advance the next generation, what we can afford, what is a federal responsibility and what is necessary to ensure our children are safe, healthy and able to reach their dreams," Cantor said.
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Almost 25 years ago (Aug. 18, 1988), 41-to-be issued his call for a "kinder, gentler nation." With the help of Lee Atwater, John Sununu, and others, we all know how that worked out. Maybe, staunch environmentalist that he is, Eric thought it was time to recycle that that theme. If so, it's probably good to remember and borrow from another theme, get down on our knees and pray we don't get fooled again.
I have always worked, paid taxes and been self employed. I don't think of myself as a liberal or conservative. However, if conservative republicans are paying all of the taxes and carrying the financial load of the country I wish they would do a better job. We seem to be going into the hole. Maybe they could get a part time job at night or join the army and be one of the 47%.
What? A GOP voice of reason? The Tea Party will take care of Mr. Kantor. They'll run some Neanderthal against him in the primary in 2014, and ensure a Democrat gets in.
It would only be a "voice of reason", if even Cantor himself believed a word of what he said. He's simply being a weasel and trying to change the subject.
Let's see. Turtleman McConnell in the Senate, Weasel Cantor in the House, and the Orange One in any bar he can find. That's today's GOP.
Oh, I forgot "Get off my Lawn!" McCain, playing the senile leprechaun.
I'll admit to trolling with that comment. But in my defense it was fun. Also in my defense the only states I know of to declare themselves bankrupt or on the verge of it, are New York and California. Both of which tried to fix it by raising taxes and driving people and jobs away in droves. Both have welfare numbers to rival any found in the south, and both recieved huge amount in federal funding to fix the problems.
First, there is something weird about Cantor. I look into his eyes and I wonder if there is a live person behind them.
Second, as was made clear in previous blogs, the Republican party wants to act like they are opening their agenda to include middle America to get more vote. Once elected with a majority, then the wool clothing will come off and the wolf will rip the head off the middle class, since first and foremost, Republicans are for rich people. The middle class is only included because they need more votes.
Yes, the recent times have now shown us what the Republican party is really philosophically like, deep inside their unchanging core: money, money, money. For balance, I also need to say that the Democrats showed their deep philosophy in the 60's and 70's and ended up overdoing it and getting their butts wiped. I hope, however, that since Democrats are progressive and are capable of change, they will realize that social welfare needs to be balanced with fiscal responsibility and that not everyone is capable, even given the opportunity. That is one of the learnings of the 60-70 era.
Of course, once the dust settles, no one will be happy. To reign in cost, medical care luxuries have to stop. A sort of socialized medicine is necessary to cover most all people or it doesn't work financially. But that also means not getting instant hip and knee replacements like people get now. Plus, unless you have the money for private insurance, you will be herded around to whatever doctors are willing to take the pittance they will be paid and so that makes for not so good doctor care, as they have to make it up by seeing more patients, etc. It's not pretty, but we need to look at reality, just this once, please.
F the GOP they are already irrelevant
Eric is trying to sound liberal. Limburger will make a meal of him for abandoning his conservative ideals.
Cantor is sounding more like a moderate, but actions do speak louder than words. Let's see bills introduced to increase spending for job development and infrustructure, cut loopholes and tax breaks to coal and oil, and trim defense, instead of bills to repeal Obamacare and gut Medicare. Let's see the gun legislation wanted by 92% of Americans. States with GOP majorities want to change the voting rules and some still insist on passing legislation mandating rape via vaginal probe. Until the GOP at the state AND federal level show some common sense and support the American citizen, the American citizen will continue to reject the GOP message.
If anyone expects the republicans to put into action 98 percent of their rhetoric is like an old dog that has lost his nose and is barking up the wrong tree!!!
Here's an idea, let's make gerrymandering political districts against the law. Let's take the redistricting process out of the hands of the politicians once and for all. THEN we can split each state's electoral vote by the popular vote. Done and Done.
I should have added that UNLESS they are talking about giving loopholes to the rich and corporations WHO OWN THEM AND FILL THEIR POCKETS WITH COLD HARD CASH!!
Same bag of sh!t...Oh, Eric, you silver-tongued rascal...!
So-called "Conservatives" use so-called "entitlements" (of which conservatives participate - gladly) as justification for obstructing and sabotaging our economic recovery! Now there's "family values" for you: Conservatives contributing to the destruction of millions of families and small businesses. In other words, they are willing to screw our country solely for the purpose of screwing so-called "entitlements"...
And don't forget: The Koch brothers are making money on Oil derivatives - the lifeblood of the world economy. Now, do you still wonder why they want no regulations and attack anybody who "threatens" their greed and corruption??? Read the inside story of Kock greed and hypocrisy: thinkprogress.org/report/koch-oil-speculation/.
G.W. Bush, running against Al Gore, for the 2000 Presidency, stated "The economy's in terrible shape, horrible shape!" when in fact, it wasn't. But it soon was when the so-called "Tech Bubble" burst and Bush launched his "Cut 'n Spend" fiscal policy that devastated our budget surplus and launched out current debt crisis. After the 9/11 attacks, the Afghan military campaign was launched only to be pretty much abandoned in favor of the Bush-Cheney false war against Iraq; toppling Saddam Hussein, tipping the Middle East Balance of power to Iran. The economic crash of 2008, its cause aside, was made much worse by the gutting of the federal budget by Bush-Cheney to favor the ultra-wealthy and powerful (as if they needed it). In other words, under Bush-Cheney, the GOP and Tea Party, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer at the expense of tax payers and the world economy and world stability.
My point being: Despite the GOP-Tea Party-Right Wing travesty of ineptitude, corruption, obstruction and sabotage of everything Democrat, as well as our National Interests; our country, our economy as well as the world economy and world stability have improved and are recovering.
Where would we all be, had: 1) We continued and completed the mission in Afghanistan and had not detoured to fight a false Republican war in Iraq? Answer: There would still be a balance-of-power in the Middle East and Iran would not be the dominating and dangerous power it is today – and the U.S. Treasury would be, at least, $Trillion dollars richer today and more important, a few thousand American military soldiers and a few hundred thousand Iraqis would be alive today.
Where would the U.S. economy be today, had the GOP-Tea Party-Right Wing Cartel not obstructed and sabotaged our economic recovery from the biggest economic crash in World history (yes, bigger than the “Great Depression” in many ways). Against all the odds – including Republican obstruction and sabotage – the United States of America and the World - is recovering!
Despite the millions of families who lost jobs and homes, despite the loss of millions of businesses (many of which were profitable and well-run at the beginning of the crash) as a result of the continued obstruction and sabotage by the Republican Right Wing – we are recovering! Where would we be today - in terms of economic and political stability Worldwide had the GOP and Tea Party been real partners in the biggest crisis in history instead of the intentional obstructionists and saboteurs that they were, still are, and will continue to be going forward?
Does any body out there trust anything Cantor says?
NOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo..............!
Yuuuuuuuup, as a Virginia resident I do.
Washington (CNN) -- Some Republicans see Karl Rove as a political genius, masterminding winning campaigns at every level on the ballot, including the White House. Others call him a "fake conservative" and a symbol of what's wrong with the party.
Cantor wants to give GOP a message makeover
A Rove-affiliated super PAC's efforts to push what it believes will be more electable congressional candidates -- and the backlash it has created -- is symbolic of the battle for the soul of the GOP.
The uproar is in response to American Crossroads forming a new super PAC called the Conservative Victory Project, which says its aim is to improve the GOP's record in congressional races.
The group wants to institutionalize the rule of the late conservative activist William F. Buckley and to nominate "the most conservative candidate in the primary who can win the general election," according to Victory Project spokesman Jonathan Collegio.
Republican Party's "civil war"
Cantor sets out to improve GOP image
Cantor: GOP direction not American worry
Jindal lays out GOP strategy
Priebus: GOP has to be a 'happy party'
Republicans look for party's future
Jindal lays out GOP strategy
Is the Tea Party dead?
"Our party has lost at least six Senate races in the last two election cycles not because of conservative ideas but because of undisciplined candidates and subpar campaigns," Collegio told CNN.
"We want to elect conservative candidates to the House and Senate," he added. "But we have to win general elections."
Then REAL "Conservatives" should start supporting policies that Strengthen & expand the "WORKING MIDDLE CLASS" of our nation. "Family Values" mean giving concrete aid to the beleaguered Family--Not just lip service disguised as moral support ! But i digress, Asking for this is like telling the greedy vulture CEO's(Which the GOP evidently promote) to lay ashes on their heads & wear hair-shirts---Like if that will ever happen !!! LOL
It is a known fact that Karl Rove despised Jerry Falwell and the Religious Right. Falwell tolerated Rove because it was a "marriage of convenience". Well, that hasn't changed; Falwell is dead but Rove's hate for Right Wing religion is alive and well. Rove the "Architect" thought he could use and control the conservative fundamentalist but year-after-year, the Right Wing Fringe gained more control over the GOP. By the way: Karl Rove is not a "Conservative"; he is simply a fascist scumbag....
So, clearly the GOP thinks Americans are stupid.
Yes! Make the Republican party just like the democrats. Cantor is brain damaged. Amnesty isn't going to help the economy, it will just be a bigger drag, millions more for taxpayers to support.
The collateral damage caused by the GOP, the Tea Party, their Right Wing base – including “Christian Fundamentalists” – is likely greater than the National Dept that exists today. This, in addition to World chaos (of all types) aggravated by Right Wing prejudices and hypocritical “Puritanical values” (the “C” Street gang for example) along with other “Conservative”- sponsored tyranny. Answer: The World and the United States would be in much more stable condition – in every category. In other words: The Republican GOP-Tea Party Fundamentalist-Right Wing Cartel has been an enormous, incalculable disaster. Removal of them from positions of power and influence will improve our World economic, political and physical well-being along with general health and safety and security….
Wolf in sheeps clothing,,redneck turd bag
The GOP lost big. And they know they are in big trouble
We're all in big trouble. Pay your taxes and support illegal aliens or Obama will send a drone to your house!
TRUTH, but I thought you Righties just loved blowing up people and things???
We do! Obama does too, he blew up the budget.
The country will default because of obama's spending. obama IS an unAmerican POS. We will defeat him.
Idi0t!
The president cannot spend a dime....CONGRESS controls ALL spending!
Congress which includes both the House and the Senate. But I am sure your blame will be placed squarely on one side.......
The election of 2012 sent a big bold message. And for a while there it looked as if Republicans would finally get the message. But clearly that was too much to ask. Republicans refuse to change. Cantor is simply doubling down on everything Republicans stood for before the elections. The only difference is that now Republicans are trying to convince us their "softer tone" carries with it some sort of meaningful message. Sorry. I ain't buying.