ANNUAL GOP RETREAT
ANNUAL GOP RETREAT
Does Lack of Turnout Equate to Lack of Confidence?
Reports from the annual Republican congressional retreat this week at the upscale Greenbrier resort in West Virginia reveal that less than half of the 219-member conference bothered to show up. The Washington Post framed the snubbing as “the retreat from the retreat.” The Daily Beast referenced Abraham Lincoln, calling its article “A House Divided”, and we all know how the rest of that quote goes.
Nevertheless, retreat chairwoman, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), told reporters that the poor turnout was in no way a reflection of their “enthusiastic conference”. This is hard to believe. The numerous no-shows forced the cancellation of the retreat’s important second day that was scheduled to focus on policy discussions and how to expand the Republican majority.
Even hardcore issues like that couldn’t convince the majority of GOP lawmakers that the event was worth the effort. Perhaps Rep. Stefanik wasn’t a Bob Dylan fan, but most people already know that you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
Democracy requires participation. So where does this leave us?
Post submitted by Barbara Holzer, a volunteer with The Union
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