Pledge to America

The pledge criticized the Obama administration, stating that "An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many". It lists a number of issues, along with the Republican plan to solve them.

In the pledge, Republicans call for:

• Extending the temporary tax cuts passed under President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 for all taxpayers, including those for those earning over $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples).
• A tax deduction for small businesses on up to 20 percent of their business income.
• A hold on all unspent funds authorized as part of 2009's stimulus bill or the 2008 TARP legislation.
• Roll back government spending to 2008 levels, to save $100 billion while exempting "seniors, veterans, and our troops" from cuts; this would entail cutting 21 percent of the $477 billion budgeted for domestic discretionary spending.

{{Cite web| last = O'Connor| first = Patrick| title = Republican Pledge to Cut $100 Billion May Hit Education, Cancer Research| publisher = Bloomberg L.P.| date = October 1, 2010| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-01/republican-pledge-on-spending-freeze-would-slash-budget-by-100-billion.html| access-date = 2010-10-05| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101004094300/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-01/republican-pledge-on-spending-freeze-would-slash-budget-by-100-billion.html| archive-date = 2010-10-04| url-status = live}}

• A hiring freeze on all federal agencies except those necessary to national security.
• A repeal of the 2010 health-care reform bill.
• Reform of medical liability and health insurance practices.
• A permanent ban on any federal funding for abortion.
• A requirement that Congress post all bills online three days before a vote.
• A requirement that lawmakers cite the specific constitutional authority that enables the legislation.
• A ban on trials on U.S. soil for detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay.

{{Expand section|date=September 2010}}

The pledge has generally received support from Republicans. National Review called it bolder than the Contract with America and a "shrewd political document".{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/247475/we-ll-take-pledge-editors |title=We'll Take the Pledge |website=National Review |access-date=2010-09-24 |date=2010-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924050103/http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/247475/we-ll-take-pledge-editors |archive-date=2010-09-24 |url-status=live }}

Political strategist and former President George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove called it "important" and "practical".

{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703860104575507831916397878 |title=Democrats Run From Pelosi |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2010-09-24 |date=2010-09-23 |first=Karl |last=Rove |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307213642/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703860104575507831916397878 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |url-status=live }}

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh defended the Pledge to America, arguing, "There's nothing crazy about any of this".{{cite web |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092310/content/01125108.guest.html |title=Nothing Crazy in the GOP Pledge |access-date=2010-09-25 |date=2010-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926110418/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_092310/content/01125108.guest.html |archive-date=2010-09-26 |url-status=dead }}

Some conservative commentators, however, were critical. Erick Erickson, managing editor of Redstate, called it "perhaps the most ridiculous thing to come out of Washington since George McClellan".

{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/politics/24repubs.html?_r=1&nl=us |title=Republicans Offer Their Agenda for Midterm Elections |access-date=2010-09-23 |author=Michael D. Shear and David M. Herszenhorn |date=2010-09-23 |work=New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815061017/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/politics/24repubs.html?_r=1&nl=us |archive-date=2018-08-15 |url-status=live }}

Republican-affiliated columnist David Frum interpreted the document as "a GOP pledge to do nothing".

{{cite web |url=http://www.frumforum.com/a-gop-pledge-to-do-nothing |title=A GOP pledge to do nothing |access-date=2010-09-24 |date=2010-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925192045/http://www.frumforum.com/a-gop-pledge-to-do-nothing |archive-date=2010-09-25 |url-status=live }}

Some social conservatives, such as Family Research Council president Tony Perkins and Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission president Richard Land, believed the document could have made a stronger commitment to moral issues.

{{cite web |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/septemberweb-only/48-51.0.html |title=What Does the GOP Value? |author=Tobin Grant |access-date=2010-09-26 |date=2010-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926133436/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/septemberweb-only/48-51.0.html |archive-date=2010-09-26 |url-status=live }}

Democrats and The Daily Show's Jon Stewart{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge|title=Postcards from the Pledge|access-date=2010-09-25|date=23 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928084011/http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge|archive-date=2010-09-28|url-status=live}}

have criticized the proposals as recycled ideas from the Bush administration. Economist Paul Krugman criticized the document for denouncing deficits but calling for tax cuts (which he notes would add $3.7 trillion over the first ten years after its enactment) without specific spending cuts: "In essence, what [the Republicans] say is, 'Deficits are a terrible thing. Let's make them much bigger.'"

{{Citation| last = Krugman| first = Paul| author-link = Paul Krugman| title = Downhill With the G.O.P.| newspaper = The New York Times| pages = A29| date = September 24, 2010| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/opinion/24krugman.html?_r=1| access-date = 2010-09-26| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120622025934/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/opinion/24krugman.html?_r=1| archive-date = 2012-06-22| url-status = live}}

Other commentators agreed that "the numbers don't remotely add up"

{{Citation| last = Robinson| first = Eugene| author-link = Eugene Robinson (journalist)| title = The GOP's Hooey to America| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = September 24, 2010| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092304742.html| access-date = 2010-09-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101014155757/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092304742.html| archive-date = 2010-10-14| url-status = live}}

and that the Pledge "should be read as a plan to explode debt through the ceiling".

{{Citation| last = Chait| first = Jonathan| author-link = Jonathan Chait| title = The Pledge To America: Deja Vu All Over Again| newspaper = The New Republic| date = September 23, 2010| url = http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/77894/the-pledge-america-deja-vu-all-over-again| access-date = 2010-09-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100926174542/http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/77894/the-pledge-america-deja-vu-all-over-again| archive-date = 2010-09-26| url-status = live}}

Keith Boykin cited a lack of ethnic diversity in the photographs accompanying the Pledge to America, calling it a pledge "to White America".

{{cite web|url=http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2010/09/the-gops-pledge-to-white-ameri-1-002650.php|title=The GOP's Pledge to White America|access-date=26 September 2010|date=25 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927180119/http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2010/09/the-gops-pledge-to-white-ameri-1-002650.php|archive-date=2010-09-27|url-status=live}}

In a Washington Post editorial, pollster Frank Luntz, who polled Republican proposals in 1994 before Republicans drafted the Contract with America, found the Pledge to America more partisan-oriented, more anti-government, and lacked a "detailed course of action," but concluded it was a justifiable effort.

{{Citation| last = Luntz| first = Frank I.| title = Is the 'Pledge to America' a worthy successor to the 'Contract With America'?| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = September 26, 2010| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092402436.html| access-date = 2010-09-26| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101022150353/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092402436.html| archive-date = 2010-10-22| url-status = live}}

The Republicans' campaign tactics were effective, as Boehner's handpicked National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions encouraged incumbents to raise money themselves rather than relying upon the NRCC for funding.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} Kevin McCarthy, one of the founders of the Young Guns Program, had also implemented strategies used by former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Rahm Emanuel back in 2006, such as aggressively recruiting Republican candidates to challenge Democrats in districts considered safe

{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/us/politics/25campaign.html | work=The New York Times | first1=Jeff | last1=Zeleny | first2=Adam | last2=Nagourney | title=Democrats' Long-Held Seats Face G.O.P. Threat | date=2010-04-24 | access-date=2017-02-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324165145/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/us/politics/25campaign.html | archive-date=2017-03-24 | url-status=live }}

and running ads attacking incumbent Democrats before the campaign began to weaken or persuade them to retire.{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704141104575588631233481588?mod=googlenews_wsj | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Gerald F. | last=Seib | title=How the Rout Was Won: Careful Plans, Timely Wave | date=2010-11-03}}

{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/us/politics/04campaign.html | work=The New York Times | first1=Jim | last1=Rutenberg | first2=Jeff | last2=Zeleny | title=Republican Game Plan Led to Historic Victory | date=2010-11-03 | access-date=2017-02-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319233005/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/us/politics/04campaign.html | archive-date=2017-03-19 | url-status=live }}

The Republicans made a net gain of 63 seats from Democrats and retook control of the chamber which they lost in the 2006 midterm elections. This number is the highest of any House victory for a single party since 1948, and the highest of any midterm election since 1938.{{cite web|url=http://www2.nationaljournal.com/gop-projected-to-take-over-house-20101102|title=Boehner Must Navigate Around Senate, Obama -- And Tea Party|work=nationaljournal.com|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=2010-11-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104210009/http://nationaljournal.com/gop-projected-to-take-over-house-20101102|archive-date=2010-11-04}}{{cite web|url=http://nationaljournal.com/columns/political-connections/a-heartland-headache-for-dems-20101104|title=Heartland Headache: Democrats have to be more competitive in states that don't touch an ocean if they want to bounce back.|work=nationaljournal.com|date=2010-11-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125102409/http://nationaljournal.com/columns/political-connections/a-heartland-headache-for-dems-20101104|archive-date=2010-11-25}}

Several powerful Democrats were defeated, including several who were chairman of standing committees, including Ike Skelton of the House Armed Services Committee, John Spratt of the House Budget Committee, and James Oberstar of the House Transportation Committee. Other congressional veterans including Paul Kanjorski, Chet Edwards, and Earl Pomeroy were also not returned to Congress.

{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110304970.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Sam | last=Hananel | title=Democratic heavy hitters go down in House | date=2010-11-03 | access-date=2017-10-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720051732/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110304970.html | archive-date=2018-07-20 | url-status=live }}

{{cite news | url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/11/04/three_top_committee_chairmen_are_ousted/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Top+political+stories | work=The Boston Globe | first=Sam | last=Hananel | title=Three top committee chairmen are ousted | date=2010-11-04 | access-date=2010-11-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102141901/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/11/04/three_top_committee_chairmen_are_ousted/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Top+political+stories | archive-date=2012-11-02 | url-status=live }}

House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey had dropped out of his re-election race.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36812.html|title=Obey won't seek reelection|website=Politico |access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228143801/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36812.html|archive-date=2015-12-28|url-status=live}}

{{As of|2014|September}}, none of the items in the pledge have been enacted into law.

{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/22/john-boehner-house-republicans-break-pledge-to-ame/|title=John Boehner, House Republicans break 'Pledge to America,' allow rushed legislation|newspaper=The Washington Times|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630044205/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/22/john-boehner-house-republicans-break-pledge-to-ame/|archive-date=2017-06-30|url-status=live}}

The website for the Pledge for America (pledge.gop.gov) has removed all mention of the pledge from the site's home page.{{cite web|url=http://pledge.gop.gov/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918192606/http://pledge.gop.gov/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2014|title=gop.gov - The United States House of Representatives Republican Conference|date=18 September 2014|publisher=|access-date=19 July 2018}}

• Six for 06 agenda
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2010

{{Reflist|24em}}

• [https://www.gop.gov/resources/library/documents/solutions/a-pledge-to-america.pdf Official text of the pledge from House GOP site (PDF format)]
• [http://pledge.gop.gov/ Pledge to America Official gop.gov site]
• [http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/ThePledge.pdf The draft version of The Pledge To America that was passed around to reporters before the official release (PDF format)]
• [http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/23/gop-pledge-earmarks/ GOP's Lobbyist-Authored ‘Pledge To America' Drops Prior Pledge To Impose Earmarks Moratorium]
• [http://factcheck.org/2010/09/factchecking-the-pledge/ Fact check of the Pledge to America]
• [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00028152&type=I Top 20 Industries contributing to Campaign Committee For Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pledge To America}}

Category:2010 in American politics

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