Country First? Give Me A Bill!

Predictably, Nancy Pelosy, Democratic House Speaker, is being blamed by Republicans for the failure of the House to pass the bailout resolution. Arguably, her speech was neither a masterpiece of political wisdom, nor a show of political diplomacy. But for the party that coined the slogan "Country First" in time for its Convention to kill a bill which will cost the country's economy billions of dollars is the height of hypocrisy.

Congressman Barney Frank, D-MA, nailed the hypocrisy with characteristic wit when he accused Republicans of "hurting the country" because someone "hurt their feelings," and proceeded to say this:

We have come together on a bill to alleviate the crisis, and because [Nancy Pelosi] hurt their feelings, they decide to punish the country? I mean, I would not have imputed that degree of pettiness and hypersensitivity. ... There were 12 Republican members who were ready to stand up for the economic interests of America, but not if anybody insulted them. I'll make an offer. Give me those 12 people's names and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them and tell them what wonderful people they are and maybe they'll now think about the country.