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Jewish World Review Feb. 6, 2013/ 26 Shevat, 5773 Empty talk, happy talk By Dana Milbank http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Republicans have happened upon a felicitous new strategy for reviving their party from its depressed state: They need only think happy thoughts. At a retreat for Republican leaders last month, former House speaker Newt Gingrich told them to “learn to be a happy party” and a “cheerful” one, and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said they should be a party “that smiles.” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal told his fellow Republicans to talk about “just how incredibly bright America’s future can be.” In other words, Republicans will win elections if only they can stop being so dour, dammit. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor took this don’t­worry-be-happy strategy seriously, and in a heavily promoted “major” speech to the American Enterprise Institute on Tuesday afternoon, he let the sun shine in. He began with an uplifting anecdote about the Wright brothers and quoted the inspirational words of Emma Lazarus. He spoke from a lectern decorated with a foam board carrying the slogan “Making life work for more people” and brought with him some everyday folks to illustrate his upbeat philosophy, including an African American father who found a better education for his children and a girl doing well in her battle with cancer. “The House majority will pursue an agenda based on a shared vision of creating the conditions for health, happiness and prosperity for more Americans,” Cantor proclaimed. He also read a Thomas Jefferson quotation on “ameliorating the condition, promoting the virtue, and advancing the happiness of man.” The conservative think tank’s president, Arthur Brooks, was in on the act. He introduced Cantor as a man who “cares about freedom and opportunity because he knows they lead to a happier, more prosperous life.” But the sunny routine was a difficult one for Cantor, who has made a career in Washington of being testy and acidic. His delivery was forced and, as he read his text, he seemed to be reminding himself to grin. As a result, he scowled for much of the speech and sounded as though he were spitting out his words. Smiles formed at inopportune times, such as when he described a boy’s failure in public school. When it came to what his party would do to make people so buoyant and uplifted, Cantor had little beyond the policies he and his colleagues have long offered. The first questioner asked whether anything in Cantor’s lengthy speech would “be incorporated in legislation.” Cantor demurred. “I will say we do intend to follow up with some policy proposals and legislation working with our committees to move forward on many, many of these issues,” he said. The next questioner asked about the bipartisan Senate proposal, unveiled last week, that would break the deadlock on immigration reform. “I have not looked at the details of what the Senate has put out,” he answered. In recent weeks, Republican leaders such as Cantor have resembled nothing so much as laundry detergent salesmen, figuring if they can simply rebrand their product (High Efficiency 2x Ultra Stainlifter Clean Breeze Concentrated Fresh!) Americans will buy what they’re selling. Omitted from consideration is the possibility that consumers don’t like what’s in the bottle. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Sunday that voters “don’t understand the conservative message.” Paul Ryan, the former vice presidential candidate, said Republicans need only “do a better job of applying our principles.” Cantor picked up this theme Tuesday morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” saying Republicans haven’t “completed the sentence, which is, we’re trying to do this to help people.” Problem is, the optimistic talk collides with grim realities. Cantor spoke Tuesday about Lady Liberty lifting her “lamp beside the golden door,” but he was noncommittal on the comprehensive immigration reforms drafted by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). He spoke about how “many of today’s cures and lifesaving treatments are a result of an initial federal investment” without mentioning that the House Republicans’ budgets would decimate medical research. Cantor spoke about how health care “always worries parents most.” But he continued to advocate the repeal of Obamacare, even though Ohio’s conservative governor, John Kasich, on Monday became the fifth Republican governor to embrace the law’s Medicaid expansion. One questioner, Eric Pianin from the Fiscal Times, pointed out the conflicting messages and asked, “Who really speaks for the Republican Party?” Cantor didn’t hesitate. “The average American is not thinking about and trying to wonder about where the Republican Party is,” he said. Cantor might heed his own advice: Americans don’t care about Republicans’ happy talk. They want happy results. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. Comment on Dana Milbank's column by clicking here. Previously: • 02/05/13 John Kerry, finally where he belongs • 02/04/13 With a friend like Jim Inhofe ... • 01/29/13 Rubio's immigration 'reality' show • 01/27/13 Ryan And Pence Represent Polar Opposites Of GOP • 01/24/13 Congress's daffy duck saga • 01/22/13 So much for unity: Obama's speech failed to rise to the moment • 01/21/13 Less an inauguration than a tepid rerun • 01/03/13 The GOP's savior • 01/03/13 Boehner defined by a Sandy sidestep • 12/21/12 Obama in focus, yet all over the map • 12/20/12 A deal or a mutiny • 12/13/12 Joe Lieberman's sad send-off • 12/10/12 Post-thought think tank: Why DeMint and Heritage are a perfect pair • 12/06/12 Republicans wave the white flag • 12/05/12 Romney's last duty • 12/04/12 Obama's poor efforts at transparency • 12/03/12 The urge to purge: Rational Republicans defy purists at their own peril • 11/30/12 The naked 'fiscal' truth: Lawmakers can't hide the lack of progress • 11/28/12 Santorum's new cause: opposing the disabled • 11/20/12 Norquist in defeat • 11/19/12 Susan Rice's tarnished resume • 11/15/12 Let those poor states secede • 11/12/12 Whole lot of blaming going on • 11/08/12 At Romney headquarters, the defeat of the 1 percent • 11/07/12 Why I voted Republican • 11/06/12 Romney's new tune • 11/01/12 The Supreme Court's dog-day afternoon • 10/31/12 A perfect political storm • 10/29/12 Behind the Clinton 'bromance,' a stealth campaign • 10/25/12 A Trumped-up bomb • 10/24/12 Groupthink Live: How conventional wisdom congeals in 2012 • 10/23/12 The sound of worldviews not colliding • 10/22/12 The tea party is helping Dems • 10/18/12 Moderate Mitt wins conservatives' blessings • 10/16/12 Reid's latest salvos are beneath the dignity of his office • 10/08/12 Obama pays price for ducking the questions • 10/05/12 Mitt Romney holds his own -- and then some -- in first debate • 10/03//12 The Zinger candidacy --- all sugary platitudes, no protein • 09/25/12 Obama makes room for 'The View' • 08/17/12 Hateful speech on 'hate' groups: The Family Research Council is no KKK • 08/16/12 Now Dems are employing harsh tactics • 08/14/12 Paul Ryan on soapbox at Iowa State Fair • 08/13/12 Romney's welfare gambit • 08/07/12 Harry Reid's latest broadside • 07/26/12 Romney can't have it both ways on defense spending, tax cuts • 07/19/12 Ron Paul, fed up • 07/17/12 The rotten results of one-party rule • 07/11/12 The missing giants of the Senate • 07/09/12 Representative Gaffe • 07/02/12 The umpire strikes back • 06/25/12 Norquist delivers the GOP's marching orders • 06/19/12 The left, feeling left out • 06/18/12 Skip the falsehoods, Mr. President, and give us a plan • 06/15/12 The Wall Street Senate • 06/13/12 Jeb Bush's heresy • 06/12/12 Pileup at the White House • 06/11/12 Obama's fate could be in Europe's hands • 06/04/12 Welcome to Camp Competitive • 05/31/12 Digging a racial grave • 05/30/12 A new conspiracy theory: Is Romney a unicorn? • 05/29/12 Do Republicans really want to clone one for the Gipper? • 05/24/12 Obama's protectors are under the microscope • 05/22/12 Obama's Old World mess: Allies are coming up short at a key moment • 05/16/12 Where have all the candidates gone? • 05/15/12 Barack Obama, the first female president • 05/14/12 Irrationality wins: Voter cure for Congress's failures will likely backfire • 05/08/12 Obama's marriage mess: His advisers scramble to clean up his 'evolution' • 05/07/12 Taking out Dick Lugar • 05/03/12 Gingrich may have ended campaign, but he will remain out of this world • 05/02/12 Our do-almost-nothing Congress • 05/01/12 President Obama, campaigner in chief • 04/25/12 Romney's immigration Etch a Sketch • 04/23/12 A congressional deal on immigration? Dream on • 04/19/12 Dems battle back against Republican 'war on women' • 04/18/12 Debauchery: An American govermental specialty • 04/17/12 Silent witness • 04/12/12 Rebuffing Obama's gimmicky 'Buffett Rule' • 04/11/12 Santorum's Gettysburg surrender • 04/09/12 The facts vs. Mitt Romney • 04/06/12 Mitt Romney, talking to the press, keeps the press at a distance • 04/05/12 From tracking al-Qaeda to tracking the wayward spouse • 04/04/12 Budget cuts as back-door deregulation • 03/26/12 My pet Mitt • 03/22/12 Mitt Romney's latest gaffe may be etched in history • 03/20/12 Supreme Court conceives of life after death • 03/15/12 Conservative for Obama: The British PM as campaign prop • 03/14/12 In Section 60, a silent search for meaning • 03/13/12 Super Friends, unite • 03/12/12 It's time to believe: Romney's a winner • 03/07/12 Settling in to Washington's ways • 03/06/12 AIPAC beats the drums of war • 03/05/12 Did Republicans forget the women's vote? • 02/29/12 Mitt Romney's acceptance speech, in (mostly) his own words • 02/28/12 Common ground becomes a great divide • 02/27/12 An expert witness for the GOP gender gap • 02/21/12 Where Romney shines • 02/15/12 A Republican death wish? • 02/14/12Obama's budget games • 02/13/12 Are GOPers playing right into Obama's hands? • 02/08/12 Obama pumps the compressor of Joe Hudy's Extreme Marshmallow Cannon • 02/07/12 Abramoff's atonement • 02/01/12 Why we in the media just love Newt • 01/31/12 The end of the road for Newt Gingrich? • 01/25/12 Gingrich is Obama's best surrogate • 01/24/12 Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney's attack dog • 01/16/12 Mitt Romney's Al Gore problem • 01/12/12 Kamikaze Gingrich, on the loose in South Carolina • 01/11/12 Journalists' campaign trail secrets revealed • 01/10/12 Mitt Romney's money problem • 01/09/12 Newtonian exceptionalism • 01/05/12 Mitt Romney out of control • 01/04/12 Indecision 2012: In Iowa and the GOP • 01/03/12 Rick Santorum's curious closing argument • 12/28/11 A few cracks in my crystal ball • 12/23/11 A few cracks in my crystal ball • 12/20/11 Strange brews and views? • 12/19/11 Cellphone ban would be a distraction • 12/15/11 Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell and the Malfunction Minuet • 12/14/11 The presidential auction of 2012 • 12/12/11 Newt's tactics comes back to haunt him • 12/06/11 Can an anthem save Occupy non-movement? • 12/05/11 The winner of the GOP campaign: Washington • 11/30/11 Barney the bully: Congressman Frank's other legacy • 11/23/11 Jon Kyl's search-and-destroy mission • 11/21/11 Pay to play, brought to you by Washington • 11/17/11 Big enough to save the supercommittee? • 11/16/11 Why Newt Gingrich won't last • 11/08/11 The 2012 campaign gets seedier • 11/06/11 A Machiavellian model for Obama • 11/03/11 The Herman Cain crack-up • 11/01/11 Cain can --- he will survive • 10/27/11 Stuntmen of the supercommittee • 10/26/11 Democrats on the sidelines • 10/24/11 Rick Perry's birther Parade • 10/24/11 The birthers eat their own • 10/19/11 The GOP's middle man • 10/17/11 The waiting for nothing Congress • 10/12/11 Sparsely occupied D.C.: Why the movement hasn't caught on • 10/10/11 Can Obama strike an alliance with Occupy Wall Street? • 10/06/11 Chris Christie, such a presidential tease • 10/05/11 Obama and his foot soldiers go toe to toe • 09/28/11 Cain could deliver • 09/26/11 Republicans? Mr. Nice Guys? • 09/22/11 Why Ron Paul is winning the GOP primary • 09/21/11 I am a job creator who creates no jobs • 09/20/11 Obama launches a revolution • 09/19/11 Dems for Romney? • 09/14/11 ‘Supercommittee’? More than stupor committee • 09/07/11 Mitt Romney finds his (corporate) voice • 09/01/11 The infallible Dick Cheney • 08/31/11 This liberal says Perry is the ultimate conservative candidate • 08/29/11 Wanted: More bite from Obama the Great Nibbler • 08/10/11 How Rep. Austin Scott betrayed his Tea Party roots • 08/09/11 The most powerful man on Earth? • 08/08/11 The FAA shutdown and the new rules of Washington • 08/04/11 Lt. Col. Allen West fires a round at the Tea Party • 08/03/11 Government on autopilot • 08/02/11 Dems mourn debt deal like death • 07/27/11 Life imitates sport • 07/26/11 Obama and Boehner take on Washington • 07/21/11 Why Americans are angry at Congress • 07/20/11 The new party of Reagan • 07/18/11 Rob Portman, the boring Midwesterner who could bring sanity to the debt debate • 07/13/11 John Boehner's bind • 07/04/11 Stephen Colbert, Karl Rove and the mockery of campaign finance • 07/01/11 President Puts Up His Dukes, As He Ought To • 06/28/11 Rod Blagojevich verdict: All shook up • 06/27/11 Progressives voice their anger at Obama • 06/24/11 ‘Mission accomplished,’ Obama style • 06/22/11 Jon Huntsman's first step toward oblivion • 06/21/11 Scott Walker finds making bumper stickers is easier than creating jobs • 06/20/11 A day of awkwardness with Mitt Romney • 06/06/11 Hubris and humility: Sarah Palin and Robert Gates on tour • 06/02/11 The Weiner roast • 06/01/11 Congress clocks in to clock out • 05/30/11 Hermanator II: No More Mr. Gadfly • 05/24/11 How Obama has empowered Netanyahu • 05/24/11 Pawlenty bends his truth-telling • 05/20/11 Default deniers say it's all a hoax • 05/18/11: Gingrich gives voice to moderation • 05/17/11: Donald Trump and the House of Horrors • 05/16/11: The medical mystery of Mitt Romney • 05/12/11: The body impolitic: Schock photos should tempt lawmakers to cover up • 05/10/11: Muskets in hand, tea party blasts House Republicans • 05/09/11: The GOP debate: America -- and the party -- needs the grown-ups • 05/05/11: Mitch Daniels, an alternative to scary • 05/03/11: Obama's victory lap • 05/02/11: How the journalist prom got out of control • 04/28/11: Obama's birther day: Why did he lower himself by appearing in the briefing room? • 04/27/11: Obama, lost in thought • 04/24/11: Andrew Breitbart and the rifts on the right • 04/22/11: Ten Commandments for 2012 • 04/21/11: Obama likes Facebook. Facebook likes Obama. • 04/18/11: Without Nancy Pelosi, Obama is adrift • 04/15/11: If progressives ran the world • 04/14/11: Faith in political apostasy • 04/13/11: One man's revolution is another's political expediency • 04/11/11: Shutdown theatrics • 04/06/11: Paul Ryan's irresponsible budget • 04/05/11: Robots in Congress? Yes, we replicant! • 04/04/11: Robert Gibbs, Facebook and the White House corporate placement service • 04/01/11: Haley Barbour, the fat cats' candidate • 03/31/11: Republican freshmen in House shut down compromise, and possibly the government • 03/30/11: Coburn and Durbin, the dynamic duo of the debt crisis • 03/28/11: The Obama doctrine: A gray area the size of Libya • 03/24/11: Dems as Weiners • 03/23/11: Obama's quick trip from tyrant to weakling • 03/17/11: Who's afraid of Elizabeth Warren? • 03/15/11: The underwear flap over Bradley Manning • 03/10/11: In Senate's debt debate, talk isn't cheap • 03/09/11: With Obama's new Gitmo policy, Administration officials had some 'splainin to do • 03/02/11: Issa press aide scandal is like bad reality TV • 02/25/11: Jay Carney: Mouthpiece for an inscrutable White House • 02/14/11: The Donald trumps the pols at CPAC • 02/09/11: Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation © 2011, Washington Post Writers Group