Debt Ceiling

Rep. Paul Broun: Let's LOWER The Debt Ceiling!

Benjy Sarlin | July 7, 2011, 3:34PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) found a novel way to out-conservative even Tea Party members demanding the debt limit never be raised: he suggested the ceiling be lowered instead.

In an op-ed in the National Review Online, Broun urged members to sign onto legislation that would reduce the debt ceiling by $1 trillion next year, forcing Congress to go beyond balancing the budget and instead find a huge surplus, which experts suggest would be tough given that a sudden $2 trillion plus total cut to federal spending would plunge the economy into a deep recession.

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17th Amendment

The GOP's New Constitutional Amendment: Give States Veto Power Over Federal Laws

Evan McMorris-Santoro and Ryan J. Reilly | May 11, 2011, 4:50PM

Republicans say they've found the problem in America -- and that problem is the basic framework of the Union as we know it today.

A group of Republicans in the House and Senate are proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would allow a vote by two-thirds of the states' legislatures to override any federal law they did not agree with.

The proposed constitutional amendment, a tea party favorite, is being touted by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) in the Senate and co-sponsored by Sens. John Barasso (R-WY) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). In the House, Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Paul Broun (R-GA) are leading the charge.

The goal, according to proponents, is to stop the tyranny of Washington over the economy and circumscribe other federal powers.

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Birth Certificate

The GOP Reacts: We Never Cared About The Birth Certificate -- But It's About Time Already!

Benjy Sarlin | April 28, 2011, 8:56AM

Former candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin

It's been a full day since the White House released President Obama's long form birth certificate, and prominent Republicans are coalescing around a few recurring notes in their reaction.

Responses for the most part fall into two broad, sometimes overlapping, themes in which Republicans either accuse President Obama of taking too long to put the birther nonsense to bed or suggest he's exploiting the issue by even addressing it.

While speculation around Obama's legitimacy occurs almost exclusively in conservative circles -- reaching a high point in recent weeks amid Donald Trump's birther campaign -- a number of mostly mainstream Republicans characterized Obama's statement as a smokescreen that distracts from various other topics.The most oft-quoted example came from Sarah Palin who tweeted: "Now, don't let the WH distract you w/the birth crt from what Bernanke says today. Stay focused, eh?" referring to a rare press conference from the Federal Reserve chairman.

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Birth Certificate

Birther-Curious Rep. Paul Broun: Obama Birth Certificate "Two Years Overdue"

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 6:19PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

After flirting with birtherism in the past, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), told reporters Wednesday that Obama's long form birth certificate was "two years overdue" while insisting he was focused on the economy instead.

"I am more interested in President Obama producing a budget that actually cuts spending and removes the regulatory burden on small businesses so they can create jobs and grow our economy," Broun said in a statement. "Or perhaps he can produce a realistic energy policy to help ease the pain at the pump Americans are feeling by reducing our dependency on foreign sources. Regardless, until the President is ready to produce something that isn't a 'commission', political speech, or a document two years overdue - Republicans in Congress will continue to work tirelessly to produce the kind of economic solutions that the American people are demanding."

In 2010, Broun told a radio host that he did not know if President Obama was an American citizen or a Christian. A spokesman for Broun told Politico shortly after the incident that he wasn't questioning Obama's birthplace or religion, he simply didn't want to speculate.

Paul Broun

GOP Rep. Broun: FDR Was A Communist (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | April 14, 2011, 8:49AM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) thinks President Franklin Delano Roosevelt loved Joseph Stalin so much that he sent advisers to Russia to see "what Stalin was doing there so that FDR could replicate it here in the United States."

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Paul Broun

Paul Broun: 'Well, I Think My Tweets Were Civil' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 28, 2011, 12:07PM

Soledad O'Brien and Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

In an appearance last night on Anderson Cooper 360, Rep. Paul Broun stood by the live-tweets that he made from his office during the State of the Union address -- most notably the one that declared, "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism." But not only that, he said there was nothing uncivil about it.

Substitute host Soledad O'Brien grilled Broun about the accuracy of the tweets. She also pointed out that poll data shows Americans have unfavorable views of both parties, and she speculated that people could be fed up with a lack of civility on Capitol Hill. "What's your strategy for turning that around?" O'Brien asked. "Because with the tweets -- not so civil -- doesn't sound like aiming for more civility is what your strategy's gonna be."

"Well, I think my tweets were civil," said Broun. "I was just stating the truth, that this president has a socialistic type of philosophy and agenda. I believe that very firmly. And -- and, so, it's not uncivil. I was just stating the truth.

"And I think we can do -- I think we can work together. And we should work together. I have worked with Democrats on many issues. And I will continue to do so.

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Paul Broun

Broun: GOP Is 'The Party Of N-O Against Socialism'

Jillian Rayfield | January 27, 2011, 10:02AM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) in his office

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) is tripling down on his President Obama-is-a-socialist live-tweeting during the State Of The Union, this time drawing in Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid as well: "But we are the party of N-O against socialism and that's what Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barack Obama have been proposing is a greater take over of everything and human endeavor in America."

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Paul Broun

GOP Rep. Paul Broun: 'I Stick By That Tweet' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 6:33PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) in his office

In an interview this afternoon with CBS News, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) stood solidly by the live-tweets he sent out from his office during President Obama's State of the Union address -- most notably the one that went, "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism."

"Absolutely. Everything he does is bigger government, more central control from Washington, D.C," Broun said today. "That's not what our founding fathers envisioned the government to be."

He also added: "Mr. Obama believes in a big central government, where the federal government controls everything in our lives. That's socialism. And so I stick by that tweet."

The interview went on. And most notably, Broun said a lot of things that would commonly considered to be vitriolic, but all of it very calmly -- without the slightest hint of rage or aggression in his voice.

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State Of The Union

Paul Broun's Other Response To The SOTU

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2011, 4:09PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Here is an interesting follow-up to the story of Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), who live-tweeted a running commentary on last night's State of the Union address that included such messages as, "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism."

It turns out that right after the address, Broun put out an official statement -- as if he hadn't made his statement already -- that wasn't anywhere near as vitriolic.

Sure, the statement was strongly worded on the subject of the deficit, but it wasn't anywhere near as harsh as the stuff Broun posted on Twitter. Broun tweeted a link to the press release earlier today, and I was shocked to see what I found there:

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Paul Broun

GOP Rep. Paul Broun Heckles SOTU On Twitter

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 11:12PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) in his office

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) appeared to be giving his own response to the State of the Union -- during the address itself, in the form of tweets that were posted right on his account as the speech went along.

Earlier today, Broun teased on his Twitter account:

Please join me tonight at 9 - I'll be live-tweeting my thoughts and reactions during the #SOTU address.

And the man known for warning in the past that Obama's health care reform would leave "mama" dying in bed in agony, and who boldly declared that "you're not going to eat this rotten stinking fish that is -- Pelosi health care!" -- did not disappoint this time.

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David Vitter

Vitter Camp Receives Donation From Deceased Woman

Brian Beutler | September 1, 2010, 12:15PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

David Vitter recently received a campaign donations from a woman who passed away in December, 2009, FEC documents reveal.

According to a notice of contributions Vitter filed on August 17, he received an August 16 donation of $1000 from Anna Gumpertz of Toluca Lake, CA -- a regular contributor to Republican candidates and causes. The only problem is, Gumpertz died of a heart attack last year.

Vitter's campaign was not immediately available for comment.

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Tea Party Caucus

NRCC Chair Pete Sessions Joins Tea Party Caucus

Eric Kleefeld | July 20, 2010, 3:53PM

Reps. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) and Pete Sessions (R-TX)

Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) newly formed Tea Party Caucus has just picked up yet another member from the Republican leadership: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), the chair of the House GOP's campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Sessions is the second member of the leadership to join, following House GOP Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-IN).

As The Hill points out, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) is not joining, but according to his office this is because he has a policy of not joining caucuses other than the Republican Conference itself. Another member has joined from outside the leadership, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), who has warned about President Obama potentially forming an authoritarian government.

Additional reporting by Evan McMorris-Santoro.

Birther

The Back Bench: Right-Wing GOPers You Don't Know...But Should

Jillian Rayfield | April 21, 2010, 8:49AM

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)

Birthers, militias, Tea Partiers -- it's hard to keep track of all the fringe groups that have popped up across the nation. But what to do when the extreme ideas of some of these groups bleed into the politics of public officeholders?

We've rounded up some of the right-wing House GOP members who may not have the national presence (or charisma) of a Michele Bachmann or a Steve King, but who certainly share their penchant for appealing to the outer limits of the political stratosphere...

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Gun Control

Gun Rights Groups, Right Wingers Battle Each Other In DC

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 19, 2010, 10:53AM

Anti-gun control flag seen at a Tea Party rally in Phoenix, AZ

Gun rights groups are gathering in Washington today to call for increased access to firearms, and the right to pack heat everywhere. But before they make their stand, gun rights advocates have work out an internal struggle playing itself out around the city.

Two groups of pro-gun activists are gathering in Washington -- one armed and (according to right wing groups, dangerous), and one unarmed. Both want it to be easier for Americans to carry guns around wherever they go.

But neither, it seems, want anything to do with each other.

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Abortion

Rep. Broun: I Didn't Yell 'Baby Killer'

Justin Elliott | March 22, 2010, 1:30PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

A spokesman for Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) tells us that he is not the member who yelled "baby killer" at Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) last night.

"Dr. Broun did not make the comment and he does not know who did," says Communications Director Debbee Keller.

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Republicans

Top 10 Wild And Wacky Political Voices -- For Whom We're All Very Thankful

Eric Kleefeld | November 25, 2009, 6:04PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rush Limbaugh

Here at TPM, we definitely have an eye for the weird -- and speaking for myself, I particularly enjoy the crazy stuff that right-wingers often say.

The American right often uses the rhetoric of a persecuted minority, even when they're actually in power. So having a Democrat in the White House, let alone a progressive black Democrat from Chicago named Barack Hussein Obama, has driven them to whole new heights (or lows, depending on how you count it) of rhetoric.

So let's take a look at some real stars of our current political rhetorical wars. The list is mostly Republican -- and you betchya that it was an obvious choice for the top spot -- plus one Democratic "Congressman With Guts" who gives the opposition a taste of their own medicine. We've got politicians, talk show hosts, and people who seem to be both at the same time. So sit back, and enjoy the crazy.

I'm certainly thankful to them -- for making my job a lot more interesting. If they weren't around, what would there be for me to write about?

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Capitol Hill Tea Party

Broun: 'You're Not Going To Eat This Rotten Stinking Fish'

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2009, 1:55PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) spoke this afternoon at the Capitol Hill Tea Party, delivering a brief but very energetic speech:

Who will kill this bill? (Shouts of "We will.") You will! You will! And we must! The Constitution of the United States starts with three very powerful words: "We the people." And we the people are speaking! Nancy Pelosi, listen! Fellow patriots, go tell your Congressman, you're not going to eat this rotten stinking fish that is -- Pelosi health care! We are going to put a stop sign in front of her steamroller of socialism! Go to it, patriots!

Paul Broun

Broun: Obama Has Everything He Needs To Establish An Authoritarian Government

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2009, 10:59AM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) is reiterating his dire warnings about President Obama imposing an authoritarian regime in the United States, the Athens Banner-Herald reports.

At a meeting of local Republicans last night, Broun said that Obama already has or will have the three key elements necessary to become a dictator: A national police force, gun control and control of the press.

"He has the three things that are necessary to establish an authoritarian government," Broun said. "And so we need to be ever-vigilant, because freedom is precious."