Rep. Chris Murphy Doesn’t Get It

I just stumbled across Rep. Chris Murphy’s commentary in The Hartford Courant from Feb. 3. Murphy represents Connecticut’s 5th. There is no need to repeat all the self-centered comments about how hard it is to walk over to the Democrat campaign office to ask for money so he can be reelected, but part of the second paragraph really stood out for me. It should serve as a wake-up call for all conservatives.

Don’t get me wrong, I love this job. Every morning, I get to pick up the paper, read about what’s wrong in America, and then walk to work to try and fix it.

What vanity. Congressman, it’s not your job to try and fix it. Conservatives want you to stay out of it. Let me remind you about your oath of office. It’s simply about one thing.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

It’s not Congress’ job to go out there and solve every problem. That is a populist view. Populists are politicians that listen to problems in personal, or town hall-type sessions and tell the audience that they are going to fix something from the following list. The list, is not all-inclusive.

  • Health care is too expensive
  • Gasoline prices are out-of-control
  • Food is too expensive
  • I can not afford my mortgage
  • School supplies are too much money
  • Teachers are not making enough
  • My landlord just raised my rent and I think it’s too much
  • There are too many guns on the street
  • Corporations make too much money
  • The bus stop is too far away from my house

If you think I’m kidding about this list, you’re wrong. What we’ve been experiencing during the past 25 years is historic. Congress is getting involved with even the smallest issues in local towns. Paying for museums, cultural centers, fire trucks, special pre-K programs and train stations is just the obvious stuff. Congress is now involved in laying bricks for crosswalks these days, and it must stop.

Let’s start looking closely at the conservatives that are running for Congress and support those who will honor their oath, and not try to solve every problem that exists.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

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