Mealy-Mouth 101: Class Is In Session | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Brant Clifton understands that often, there are no "second acts" in American politics, especially in regards to defunding ObamaCare in his "bare knuckles" Conservative online publication known as The Daily Haymaker.

    Today, the most dangerous place to be was between a US House Republican and a member of the news media. The GOP-dominated House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the cash flowing to the federal government while, reportedly, defunding ObamaCare. And Republicans were ready to crow.

    Of course, an epidemic of tap-dancing and talking out of both sides of the mouth erupted. (No word yet if the CDC was called in.)

    A month ago, congressman Robert Pittenger was mocking Tea Partiers demanding he vote to defund ObamaCare in the continuing resolution. Two weeks earlier, he gave a firm NO in response to requests to join the defund fight. Today, he voted FOR a continuing resolution missing funding for ObamaCare. He even crowed about it in his newsletter like he had been on board with defunding O-care the whole time.

    Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was also balking at backing a CR missing ObamaCare funding. Today, he voted FOR a CR missing ObamaCare funding.

    Renee Ellmers said "absolutely not" in reaction to calls that she vote FOR a continuing resolution without funding for ObamaCare. A tape came out of her endorsing the idea of defunding ObamaCare via a continuing resolution at a Heritage Foundation event. She doubled down on her opposition to supporting a continuing resolution defunding ObamaCare at a town hall meeting in Pinehurst. Today, she voted FOR a continuing resolution missing funding for ObamaCare implemeventation.

    Have these people come to their senses? Or have they been dragged kicking and screaming toward a vote for the right thing? Are they merely trying to stay one step ahead of the lynch mob?

    Should we be celebrating this victory - achieved mainly by the grassroots beating up on a bunch of politicians to actually DO what they promised to do when we voted them in during 2010 and 2012?

    I still think this really is the scam we talked about in a post the other day - throwing us a bone with this vote, while working behind the scenes in a conference committee to remove the defund provision from the spending bill when we're not paying attention.