Chubbed Into Submission: Why The Last Five Days Will Hurt Republicans And Help Democrats In 2010

The buzz around the corridors of the Capitol this week has been that Republicans are publicly salivating–and Democrats are privately anxious–over the implications the Great Chubbathon of 2009 over voter identification legislation will have on the 2010 election cycle.

House Republican Caucus Chair Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) has already called the Democratic minority “whiny kids;” House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) has called them “obstructionist.” The rhetoric is seemingly powerful, so one could see why Democrats may be a bit anxious.

The fact is, however, that Republicans–not Democrats–have lost the most as a result of the last five days’ labors in the House.

STUFF LESS IMPORTANT THAN VOTER ID

House Republicans have handed Democrats tailor-made issues for the 2010 election on a giant silver platter. How? They managed to prioritize a partisan piece of legislation–voter identification–over and above legislation that could actually help Texans. Consider that House Republicans placed partisan politics above insurance reform, energy efficiency, solar energy initiatives, the Texas Windstorm Insurance program, air quality, and more.

All of those things–from windstorm insurance to air quality are all things Republicans think have less importance than passing voter identification.

In fact, Republicans on the House Calendars Committee made sure that the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association bill ended up on the Major State Calendar instead of the Emergency Calendar–where it was eligible for immediate consideration. Republicans did that because they wanted to create a false choice for Democrats: choose between voter id and insurance reform.

Republicans failed when they pulled that stunt; it makes it abundantly clear they are making voter identification their number one priority.

THERE IS NO WAY TO ADEQUATELY FRAME THE DEBATE TO BENEFIT REPUBLICANS

Republicans will argue that they will be able to use the “Chubbathon” to hurt Democrats in districts across the state by dragging out words like “obstructionist.” The fact is, they can’t.

Saying that Democrats are obstructionist is one thing. Proving that–or summing it up in a 30 second TV spot or direct mail piece in a way that has any shred of credibility–is impossible. Try explaining the legislative concept of “chubbing” to anyone you know. It isn’t easy (not to mention the fact that one segment of the population will think you are talking about something sexual and another segment will think you are talking about a bizarre type of fishing).

All Republicans can say is, “Democrats are obstructionist.” Big deal. They can’t really do much to back up that statement without mentioning that the Democrats were attempting to stop a piece of partisan legislation.

On the other hand, Democrats can say of Republicans, “(Your State Representative) put partisan politics above insurance reform ([or, insert your favorite from "energy efficiency," "air quality," or whatever else]”

Finally–and actually, for the first time this session–the Democrats control the agenda in a positive way.

House Democrats can paint themselves as the party that stood up to Republicans attempts to lock the elderly, the poor, and minorities out of the voting booth. It is a powerful narrative–even in spite of Republicans contentions that so many folks in the state allegedly support voter identification.

ALL THAT MATTERS

How it happened is irrelevant. The “Chubbathon” will be remembered by few except historians, capitol insiders, and political junkies by the end of the year. All that matters is this: Republicans put partisan politics above insurance reform, clean air, and a host of other important bills. Democrats stood up to Republican attempts to lock the elderly and minorities and the poor out of the voting booth.

The narrative benefits Democrats, not Republicans. The narrative is all that matters, not necessarily the parliamentary maneuvers that crafted it.

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