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July 28, 2005
Constituent Service Trumps Conservative Values
Last November 2nd, conservatives were overjoyed at the defeat of Senator Tom Daschle by Republican John Thune. But in the months since taking office, it appears Sen. Thune has not been covering himself in conservative glory. In May the Pentagon announced that Ellsworth Air Force Base (in Thune's home state of South Dakota) was scheduled for closure by the BRAC Commission, and Thune has been on an extended conniption ever since. He's now roped Bill Frist and Trent Lott into supporting his efforts to keep the base open. According to Trevor Bothwell at Townhall.com's C-Log:
It might be one thing if these Republican senators were simply naive, but they are shamelessly exploiting a process in a time of war for personal gain. Contrary to their claims that we need all the bases we can muster during wartime, the economics of closing a base are sound. Quite simply, the BRAC process allows our military to eliminate waste, and more efficient management of our facilities frees up resources and monies that can be used to more effectively wage the wars at hand.
The arguments put forth by Thune, Frist, and Lott are really no different than those I heard Nancy Pelosi make last night after the CAFTA bill passed: Both sides are attempting to protect a localized special interest at the expense of all citizens througout the country. We are all consumers and benefit from free trade; likewise all of us across the country have family and friends serving in the military, and they deserve the most efficient use possible of our tax dollars.
I agree with Bothwell--this behavior, especially from a conservative, is reprehensible.
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