TAKING CREDIT FOR POLICIES THEY OPPOSED.... One of the more frustrating habits congressional Republicans have adopted is taking credit for Obama administration initiatives that the GOP either hated, tried to kill, or both. We've seen this several dozen times with the stimulus -- Republicans hated the Recovery Act, right up until they take credit for provisions in it that benefit their state or district.
This is also true for one of President Obama's biggest success stories: the rescue of the American auto industry. Zaid Jilani flags a great example of a Republican touting the same effort he trashed when it began
Corker deserved to be booed. When the administration first intervened to rescue the industry, Corker described the president's actions as "truly breathtaking" and said government ownership roles at Chrysler and GM "should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise."
He went on to characterize Obama's rescue effort as "a major power grab."
But now that we know Obama was right and Republicans were wrong (again), Corker wants to show up at a GM plant to take a bow. The plant wouldn't have existed if Corker had his way. GM might not even exist if we'd followed Corker's advice from 2009.
What's more, Corker keeps trying to claim credit for the president's success. In early August, the conservative senator boasted, "The ideas [Republicans] laid out there were followed through. I take some pleasure out of helping make that contribution."
It's a cheap, hack move. Corker hated the auto industry "bailout," and we now know he got it wrong. Pretending he supported Obama's move all along -- and that the president embraced Republicans ideas in the policy Republicans denounced -- is ridiculous.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.