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Political Hay
Upton Theater
Conservatives, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the battle over Fred Upton.
Conservatives are in a fighting mood. First they came for the establishment Republicans, too cozy with power, in this year’s primaries. Then they helped unseat large numbers of Democrats, in a stunning electoral rebuke. Now they are setting their sights on the incoming GOP leadership, which is why Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) has a target on his back.
Upton is next in line to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee. (The panel’s current ranking member, Texas Republican Joe Barton, is term-limited out of the top spot, though he is trying to get House Republican leaders to grant him a waiver that would let him assume the gavel.) The Michigander finds himself in conservative crosshairs because he is a notorious moderate seeking to run a committee with one of the largest domestic-policy portfolios.
Like many a Republican who lost a primary this year, Upton voted for the $700 billion TARP bailout. But he was one of just 18 Republicans to vote a year later for Rep. Barney Frank’s (D-MA) bill to give the Obama Treasury Department wide latitude in spending the remaining $350 billion in TARP funds. In 2005, he was one of only three House Republicans to vote against extending the Bush tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. He was one of just 11 Republicans to subject tax cuts to a 60-vote threshold in the Senate. And he was one of nine Republicans who voted against substituting tax cuts for the $787 billion stimulus plan.
On spending, Upton was one of only 16 Republicans to vote for the Pelosi omnibus spending bill in 2009. He voted against slashing $355 billion in spending from the stimulus package. He has been a backer of the government SCHIP health care plan, the National Endowment for the Arts, and wasteful public subsidies for Amtrak. All aboard!
Upton has occasionally thrown pro-lifers from the train. He has a number of votes in favor of federal subsidies for Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider and advocate. He voted to overturn the first President Bush’s ban on federally funded abortion counseling. He is a proponent of taxpayer-supported embryo-destructive research.
D.C. conservative activists have been circulating a 22-page document detailing Upton’s moderate-to-liberal votes on issues ranging from gun control and school vouchers to environmental regulations and missile defense. Not all of them are germane to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, but they do add up to someone to the left of the median House Republican on a wide range of policies. Upton is accordingly under fire from a broad cross-section of the conservative movement.
Last week, Upton started shooting back. He fired off a letter to incoming House Speaker John Boehner and the rest of the Republican conference promising to repeal the national health care law. He followed up with another missive vowing to grill White House energy czar Carol Browner about the Obama administration’s drilling moratorium, which Upton said was imposed “despite the fact that thousands of American jobs would be lost, the offshore oil and gas industry would suffer, and that it would have negative ramifications.” Attacked by Rush Limbaugh for his support for a ban on some incandescent light bulbs, his allies began quietly circulating a transcript showing that many of Upton’s opponents didn’t protest very loudly during mark-up.
Upton also sought outside help in burnishing his conservative credentials. Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) argued for the congressman from a pro-life perspective. American Conservative Union head David Keene and Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes penned supportive columns. “I know Upton quite well,” wrote Barnes. “He’s not as conservative as I am. But he is especially well suited to be chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.” Americans for Tax Reform chief (and TAS contributing editor) Grover Norquist didn’t endorse Upton, but he did co-author a Politico op-ed with him. The subject? The need to shrink government.
Some of Upton’s character witnesses are more dubious, however. After the 2008 election, Upton boasted to reporters that he had palled around with members of Obama’s inner circle, including incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, with whom he dined — “The wine flowed, the food was good and we all talked candidly” — and Chicago Cubs games. “[Emanuel] said, ‘Fred, don’t think that we’re going to stop having these dinners,’” Upton told a local newspaper. “He also said something to the effect of, ‘You’re the guy we’re going to be looking to’ to help build coalitions with Republicans.”
Now Upton is trying to show he can build coalitions with conservatives, promising to repeal much of his old buddy’s handiwork. His supporters don’t try to pretend he is the most conservative candidate for the chairmanship. Instead they argue that he would be a more experienced chairman — with more knowledge of the players under the committee’s jurisdiction — than either Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL) or Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and one without the BP spill-related baggage of Barton. That, they claim, would enable him to win the PR battles with the White House more conservative Republicans would like to wage.
When Democrats took control of Congress, the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee was also contested. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) had the seniority but the caucus sided with Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) who was more liberal. Upton’s backers are hoping that their struggle will end up more like then-Republican Sen. Arlen Specter’s bid for the Senate Judiciary Committee chairmanship after the 2004 election. Specter made enough promises to conservatives to claim the gavel. He also kept them, before becoming a turncoat in 2009.
That is ultimately what the contest between Upton and his colleagues is about — who will keep their promises to conservatives and who will be a turncoat? These are always open questions with the less-than-incandescent bulbs burning in the Republican Party.
About the Author
W. James Antle, III, author of the new book Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped?, is editor of the Daily Caller News Foundation and a senior editor of The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter @jimantle.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (60) | Leave a comment
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Eric Cartman| 11.22.10 @ 6:16AM
I love this one: "his allies began quietly circulating a transcript showing that many of Upton's opponents didn't protest very loudly during mark-up."
Sounds like "They didn't save me from myself!" to me. Upton, go have lunch with the ballerina. That's all you're good for.
John Navratil| 11.22.10 @ 10:46AM
Eric,
Unless he has had a sex change operation, it's 'danseur' :)
Eric Cartman| 11.22.10 @ 11:07AM
Well, I'm not checking. Where's a TSA agent when you need one?!
Hue Kares & Makem Pay| 11.22.10 @ 11:12AM
The Top Ten Things to loudly proclaim while being grouped for your hopefully upcoming viral You Tube video. 10 - “Ooh, (big smile) - . . .Call Me Later!” 9 - “Dude, does your Mom know what you do for a living???” 8 - “So, you get to grope Johnsons all day - AND get paid?” 7 - “I didn’t know the proper etiquette so I brought you this corsage!” 6 - “Did anyone every tell you, you have magic fingers?” 5 - “Well don’t stop now! Awe, don’t be like that! Come back, we can take it slower!” 4 - "Sh!t, not again. I don't even know your name!" 3 - “That’s it, oh yeah, - who say’s practice doesn’t make perfect?” 2 - “You can claim there is nothing sexual about this, but Woody here disagrees!” 1 - "Here, let me get that out for you!"
collaps | 11.22.10 @ 10:17PM
em. i think so
Carol| 11.22.10 @ 6:37AM
DO NOT GIVE UPTON THE CHAIRMANSHIP JOB ON THE ENERGY COMMITTEE.
HE IS A PROGRESSIVE WHO WITH JANE HARMON (COMMUNIST) FORCED UPON US THE MERCURY-LADEN, NON-ENERGY-SAVING, EXPENSIVE TO BUY AND EXPENSIVE TO REMOVE CURLY QUE LIGHTBULB (I KNOW, I KNOW, BUSH SIGNED IT).
HE WILL WORK WITH THE COMMUNISTS AND WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT!
RCV| 11.22.10 @ 1:34PM
Typing something in capital letters doesn't make something any less devoid of intelligent content.
Gordon| 11.23.10 @ 12:30PM
No, just your comments are devoid of intelligent content.
Dr. Botkin| 11.25.10 @ 5:26PM
A word from the punctuation police?
Osamas Pajama| 11.22.10 @ 3:46PM
The LED cluster lights are much better, they last zillions of hours longer, and they're safer if broken. Duh?!
Kishego| 11.22.10 @ 3:57PM
LED lights are better but, they cost about three times of what even a CFL bulb costs. They do last a lot longer also.
RCV| 11.22.10 @ 4:00PM
No. I hate the mercury filled bulbs and think we will regret the switch. But Jane Harman is not a communist and Upton, Lord, is no progressive.
avery| 11.22.10 @ 6:18PM
Leave it to the Republican to shoot their self in the foot if they seat this creep then we have to run a Tea party.
Tom| 11.25.10 @ 6:50AM
"Republican to shoot their self ".......... Which English language is this to represent?
Punctuation separates different thoughts.
Negro X| 11.22.10 @ 6:28PM
RCV,
They may not be, but you are a liberal troll.
RCV| 11.22.10 @ 6:51PM
I'm crushed that I've disappointed you, with your impressive commentary.
Deborah D | 11.22.10 @ 6:46AM
Republican voters sent a clear message with this last election: These are monumental and serious times we're living in. We need serious people in leadership positions who understand the dire straights our country and economy are in. Make sure your appointments reflect that or -- "we'll be baaack."
Stormzeye| 11.22.10 @ 8:48AM
Yes! These are very serious times we live in. The Sons of Liberty would never have tolerated someone like Upton. They would have torn his house down. tarred and feathered him and run him out of town on a rail. We must do the same. Clarity and the bright line of truth must prevail.
Chris| 11.22.10 @ 7:18AM
No way should he be seated, all should heed the warning of Mark Levin, Period!!
NVA Patriot| 11.22.10 @ 7:18AM
Call you congressman if they are Republican.
If not call Eric Cantor and John Boehnor...let them know that they are being watched...
Upton - AKA Mr. Lite-bulb can't be a leader in a conservative congress....
gravel| 11.22.10 @ 3:07PM
if fred barnes is a true conservativ i am jesus christ
he lives in washington too long
JP| 11.22.10 @ 7:30AM
I've observed Upton's career over the years, and I remember he first campaigned as a Reaganite. But, like many RINOshe became more and more liberal has time went on. He loves to cut deals at the expense of conservatives. He will not hesitate to give Obama Cap and Trade By Other Means (ie through regulations instead of legislation); and he will do whatever possible to put more power in the hands of federal bureaucrats. Upton has survived these past few election cycles by bringing home the pork to Benton Harbor and St Joe Michigan, satisfying UAW workers at the diminishing number of auto part factories, and getting subsidies for farmers, and small towns. He certainly has a target on his back.
Mimi| 11.22.10 @ 7:40AM
Look... since April 15th 2009 we PATRIOTS have seriously gone to work to save this country from over-reaching DEM'S,LIBS, COMMIE'S, MARXIST what-ever!!! We have WON a historic victory.... to the benefit of the Republican Party... now, we expect to not have to put up with " LIBBY" lefty congressmen at head of any committee. Time to get on the phones again!
R Martin| 11.22.10 @ 7:44AM
If Republican Congressional leadership is listening to the voters they will wait until Upton proves his bona fides BEFORE appointing him to any committee chairmanship.
Jim Mulcahy| 11.22.10 @ 7:53AM
This guy is a House version of Arlen Specter.
gravel| 11.22.10 @ 3:09PM
Just like Arlen except more rhino
Career Soldier| 11.22.10 @ 8:12AM
As a SW Michigander, I can tell you that Mr. Upton has no moral compass. He's blinded by power and will do, or say, anything to sit at the table of the powerfull. This means he has little energy left for trivial things like ethics. (pun intended). His political career is quickly running out of juice!
Sandy| 11.22.10 @ 8:59AM
How does Upton keep getting re-elected? I really believe that sometimes it is better to have the Democrat win. That way the votes for the destruction of the country lay at the feet of the Democrats, and they can't claim bi-partisanship. Mike Castle would have been a similar deal.
The Bishop| 11.22.10 @ 10:52AM
I don't live in Upton's district, but do reside just across the state line, so I got to see and hear his campaign ads during the most recent elections. You would have sworn he was committed to the Tea Party movement. He's a politician and no more. He should be shunted to a corner until a primary challenge next go around and then retired to his district.
Short Patriot| 11.22.10 @ 9:57PM
HA! Fred Upton wouldn't give the local Tea Party Patriots the time of day! We are considered the enemy here in Berrien County, and especially in Fred's home town of St. Joseph. Look out Fred, we are watching and 2012 is just around the corner.
JimBobElrod| 11.25.10 @ 12:25PM
"...sometimes it is better to have the Democrat win."
I live in Fred's district, and the Dem that ran against him is a moonbat crazy sociology prof from W.M.U. in Kalamazoo. Believe me, it's a good thing that Fred won.
gdh51| 11.22.10 @ 8:48AM
I live in Fred Upton's district. I worte him about his vote for SCHIP and receives a three page letter that could have been written by any left wing democrat. I have not voted for him since. He is not worthy of this job. Do not give him a chance to stop what needs to be done to reign in the EPA!!!
stmichrick| 11.22.10 @ 9:58AM
Upton seems like a walking ad for term limits. Another pol who has 'grown...' in Washington.
Grown slippery too.
WGMOW| 11.22.10 @ 10:00AM
A self-proclaimed conservative Republican who formed coalitions with liberal and socialist dems, then claims to want to form coalitions with conservatives, is neither a conservative nor a Republican: he is a hypocrite. We have enough of those on the left side of the aisle. No reason to give this one any more power than he already has.
Dean| 11.22.10 @ 10:40AM
Fred Upton is a no-talent ass clown who got where he did through wealth and privilege. In southwestern Michigan the Upton name carries considerable weight, just as the Ford name has in Detroit. His grandfathers founded Whirlpool Corporation. You might have heard of them; they are the world's largest manufacturer of home appliances. A good company, but he never did anything useful in his life before being elected to Congress---and one can question how useful that is!
mames| 11.22.10 @ 10:43AM
Coming from MI I can tell you Upton is worse than your average RINO, he is a progressive in RINO clothing. No more "next in line" oriented appointments, we need a true conservative litmus test to avoid pretender jerks like him.
owyheewine| 11.22.10 @ 10:51AM
One more vote her for bypassing Upton for the job. Joe Barton would be ideal, but the Republicans have been committed to breaking the old boy seniority system. We need a solid conservative that has a at least a basic understanding of the science of energy to the chairmanship.
JAY| 11.22.10 @ 10:56AM
We don't have time to guess about whether or not he will change and stay changed. Get him out of there--his past record shows no reason to keep himj
FJ Harris| 11.22.10 @ 11:34AM
I do not envy Boehner the task, we will see if he is up to it. Upton would be a horrendous choice for committee chairman. The whole business is made so unpleasant by the heavy panting by Upton.
Yosemeti Sam| 11.22.10 @ 11:44AM
" ... Conservatives are in a fighting mood. First they came for the establishment Republicans, too cozy with power, in this year's primaries. Then they helped unseat large numbers of Democrats, in a stunning electoral rebuke. Now they are setting their sights on the incoming GOP leadership, which is why Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) has a target on his back...."
BECAUSE - making feigned U-turns won't cut it
when you've been cruising along the Left Lane highway.
Wes in MT| 11.22.10 @ 11:59AM
No chairmanship for congressman "mercury filled light bulb". Elections have consequences.
This dim bulb needs to be back benched and then defeated in the 2012 primary.
Redstateboy| 11.22.10 @ 12:37PM
Enough of these Quasi-Republican-just-wanna-be-loved-by-the-Left-Chameleons. I'm fed up with them! If it were calculated how much Wealth we've Wasted on this Man Made Global Warming BS SCAM.. I'd bet it's in the trillions! It's High time to flush the MMGW crap down the toilet.
carol| 11.22.10 @ 2:24PM
well let's see if they have really heard anything or if we have to start calling them today
Doctor Right| 11.22.10 @ 2:46PM
Who re-elected this ass, and what's their problem??
Short Patriot | 11.22.10 @ 9:52PM
He has money, and name recognition in SW Michigan. A Constitutional Conservative by the name of Jack Hoogendyk ran against him in the 2010 Primary. With less than 4 months to campaign and $70,000 against Upton's $million plus, Jack took 40% of the vote. Too bad we didn't get national attention before the primary when Uptons big campaign promise was to head the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.22.10 @ 3:48PM
Purge the quisling collaborationist Republicans who compromise with OhBummer and the OhBummer Wrecking Crew.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.22.10 @ 3:49PM
The LED cluster lights are much better, they last zillions of hours longer, and they're safer if broken. Duh?!
Minuteman| 11.22.10 @ 5:15PM
The arrogance to force everyone to use the florescent lightbulbs is a symbol of the fascism that emits from the ruling class. I read this article and looked at his positions from an objective viewpoint as best I could. At best, Upton could vote to a government that is more limited; the fluorescent lightbulb lights up his actual tendancies. I dismiss his vows to reign in the EPA and to get us on a reasonable path to a rational energy policy. He will have to say that he's going 20 miles in the right direction for me to believe he will even attempt to go 10 miles.
Led Display | 11.22.10 @ 9:33PM
With a proper bankruptcy,the sorry assembly line workers at Chrysler could have gone to the park to smoke reefer and drink beer all day instead of just during lunch.Fiber Optic Splice Closure
mudnducs| 11.22.10 @ 10:09PM
Obamacare/TARP/bailouts...pfft.
Upton is laboring under the delusion that his record does not speak for him. It does.
He goes....good riddance.
bobmontgomery| 11.22.10 @ 10:29PM
If the GOP doesn't come up with a platform in 2012 calliing for the dismemberment of a large chunk of the executive branch, the die will be waiting to be cast.
Russell Seitz| 11.23.10 @ 12:45AM
I't's sad to see Jim swept up by the Gilder glissade into crackpot science as a GOP cultural norm.
http://www.realclimate.org/ind.....san-world/
jstwndring| 11.23.10 @ 4:09PM
Sooooo.............he is, in fact, a DemocRat masquerading as a Republican?
Dr. Botkin| 11.25.10 @ 5:42PM
We do not need as the chairman of such a vital committee a squish who votes against his party's caucus on defining issues.
Monk| 12.31.10 @ 1:47PM
Dr. Botkin has it correct. However, the November primaries notwithstanding, we need to keep both eyes on everybody. It seems they haven't heard us even now; so we work on ousting "representatives" such as Upton in 2012. It's only 2 years away, and think back to how fast 2010 came from 2008: a blink of an eye.