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Frustrated by a lack of bipartisan outreach from House Democratic leaders, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said House Republicans -- who voted unanimously last week against the economic plan pushed by President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- will pitch a "positive, loyal opposition" to the proposal. The group, he added, should also "understand insurgency" in implementing efforts to offer alternatives.

"Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban," Sessions said during a meeting yesterday with Hotline editors. "And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. And these Taliban -- I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban. No, that's not what we're saying. I'm saying an example of how you go about [sic] is to change a person from their messaging to their operations to their frontline message. And we need to understand that insurgency may be required when the other side, the House leadership, does not follow the same commands, which we entered the game with."

That agreement, as Sessions described it, involved a promise from Pelosi to preside over an "open, honest, ethical Congress." Obama, Sessions added, has pledged to diminish the political rhetoric in Washington and work in a bipartisan fashion.

"If they do not give us those options or opportunities then we will then become insurgency of a nature to where we do those things that are necessary to making sure the American public knows what we think the correct answer is," Sessions said during the 60-minute interview. "So we either work together, or we're going to find a way to get our message out."

When pressed to clarify, Sessions said he was not comparing the House Republican caucus to the Taliban, the Muslim fundamentalist group.

"I simply said one can see that there's a model out there for insurgency," Sessions said before being interrupted by an aide. The staffer said Sessions was trying to convey that the Republicans need to start thinking about how to act strategically from their perch in the minority.

Sessions' answer followed a question about the most effective strategy for Republicans in the lead up to the 2010 midterms. A Hotline editor asked if Republicans would have more leverage on the campaign trail by supporting the new president or posing, as Sessions suggested, as a "loyal opposition" working to hold back an onslaught of liberal Democratic policies.

Sessions and his staff said Democrats have shoved the bill through Congress without hearings or mark-ups, and they blamed Pelosi, not Obama, who has met with them, for the Republicans' unwillingness to back the economic stimulus bill.

"I think insurgency is a mindset and an attitude that we're going to have to search for and find ways to get our message out and to be prepared to see things for what they are, rather than trying to do something about them," Sessions said. "I think what's happened is that the line was drawn in the sand" by Pelosi.

Sessions said the GOP's 178 members stand by their votes against the bill.

"I don't think any one of our members today feels like they would take back that vote," he said. "... There's no remorse."

Asked to assess the political landscape for the midterms, Sessions suggested that the NRCC will back the best candidates in each district -- as opposed to targeting support to specific contests, as the group has done previously. He noted that Democrats hold seats in 83 districts that President Bush won in 2000 or 2004, showing that the GOP has opportunities, despite the party's losses in the last two cycles.

Sessions said he believes Republicans can take back the House.

"We believe our job is to aim to win the majority," Sessions said. "I've never aimed to come in second place."

General Havoc wrote:Talk about using the wrong word...

General Havoc wrote:Talk about using the wrong word...

A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.

General Havoc wrote:I think a more accurate one would be "when a politician says what they are really thinking".

It's gonna be a looooooong road back for the Republicans.

SirNitram wrote:It'd depress you if I brought up the poll results of GOP voters saying who they think the party should emulate, wouldn't it?

worksforaliving wrote:This comment board is truly amusing and entertaining to read. All you sad, pathetic progressives, with your bloated welfare state, scam government-backed housing and student loan insurance programs, and radical environmentalism, have gotten exactly what you want--A one party state (and destruction of the economy and a flight of high paying producing jobs to foreign countries). There is no more opposition, there is no more bogeyman to point your fingers at. This ****ing ship is sinking, and your still trying to find evil right wing targets hiding in the shadows to blame, Rush Limbaugh,etc., WAKE UP! Welfare state politicians, radical environmentalists, state-sponsored ponzi schemes far worse than anything Madoff could concoct (Social security and Mediscam and Mediscare, Unemployment insurance), have literally trashed this country and the western world as a whole (yes, there are actually european countries that take these things further than this country). Yet comically, your in a hole of **** and you want to keep digging deeper with the shovel (more government regulation and taxation, and spending)--get a clue. Like a previous commentor, I am a small business person--I find it amusing government and progressives are so concerned about unemployment and yet make it virtually impossible for me to hire anyone--thank god I am a one man outfit. All I can say is, good luck as these people keep getting more regs and taxes have fun at the food bank, hope your irrational fear of right-wingers-plotting- against-you-and hiding-in-the-closet-belief system comfort you then. I'm making mine and getting the **** out of dodge--it's off to the Caymans or Switzerland for me--screw this place, I'll go somewhere where the country and its population appreciates those that work and produce--go peck at the leavings from the supermarket like the French.

Queef Smoldermann wrote:Why don't you Democrats simply have all opposition banned? Thats what you want anyway...a one party system.