We all assume that there are deals made between politicians of both parties regarding bills that get introduced, amended, passed, etc. where one party will drop something in order to get something else. However, I'm not sure I've ever heard of a House leader try to black mail an entire state. Hastert Blackmails Kentucky Has this standard practice in politics? I've never heard of a Congress leader promising action if a state voted a certain way. I don't recall someone of either party threatening swing states with proposed legislation if they voted for the voted against parties' nominee. This seems wrong to me. And no, I wouldn't think any differently if the shoe was on the other foot.
Unbelievable. I cannot fathom that he would announce this to the state of Kentucky in such a blatant manner. This is just crazy – wow.
That is strange, usually you just punish the places that don't vote the way you want. But it's usually after-the-fact. Just another example of Washington "Republicans" building on the legacy of LBJ.
So, I guess this isn't standard practice? Did LBJ do it like this? I know you mentioned LBJ punishing the Amarillo area for not voting for him, but did he actually threaten them before the election? This seems very wrong, almost like vote buying.
I meant "building" on the legacy in terms of taking what has come before to an entirely new level. This is the first I've heard of going this far with something like this. LBJ would never have threatened voters, especially not so publically.
Exactly. LBJ was too smart for that. The Republican leadership in Washington (and Texas, for that matter) is setting new standards for blatant ineptitude and barely concealed corruption.
