Op-Ed Columnist - The Very Useful Idiocy of Christine O’Donnell - NYTimes.com
"Rove’s flip-flop was no doubt hastened by his own cohort’s assaults on both his ideological purity and masculinity. The blogger Michelle Malkin labeled him an “effete sore loser,” and Sarah Palin publicly instructed him to “buck up.” But surely the larger motive for his retreat was the dawning recognition of just how valuable O’Donnell is to the G.O.P.’s national aspirations in November — even should she ultimately lose her own race in blue Delaware. Whatever her other talents, she’s more than willing to play the role of useful idiot for her party. She gives populist cover to the billionaires and corporate interests that have been steadily annexing the Tea Party movement and busily plotting to cash in their chips if the G.O.P. prevails."
While O’Donnell’s résumé has proved largely fictional, one crucial biographical plotline is true: She has had trouble finding a job, holding on to a home and paying her taxes. In this, at least, she is like many Americans in the Great Recession, including the angry claque that found its voice in the Tea Party. For a G.O.P. that is even more in thrall to big money than the Democrats, she couldn’t be a more perfect decoy.
By latching on to O’Donnell’s growing presence, the Rove-Boehner-McConnell establishment can claim it represents struggling middle-class Tea Partiers rather than Wall Street potentates and corporate titans. O’Donnell’s value is the same as that other useful idiot, Michael Steele, who remains at the Republican National Committee only because he can wave the banner of “diversity” over a virtually all-white party that alternately demonizes African-Americans, Latinos, gays and Muslims.
LVTfan here: I keep hoping that an interviewer or moderator will ask Ms O'Donnell whether she supports or is opposed to the Federal government continuing to fund the regular replenishment of the sand on the ocean beaches of Delaware and Maryland. Many of the voters throughout Delaware own well-located beach homes in one state or the other, on which they pay annual property taxes well under $2,000 per year -- including many homes which collect summer rents of $20,000, $30,000 and (far) more. These are often modest homes, made valuable by their proximity to the beaches; those which have had no building-permit work have annual taxes well under $1,000. [The state and county each collect 1.5% of the purchase price at closing when homes change hands -- perhaps 20 years' worth of property taxes! And renters may pay a 3% rental tax -- which may be more than the owners pay annually!] The Atlantic Ocean beaches of Delaware and Maryland are "the nation's summer capital," the playground for residents of the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Wilmington metro areas. Traditionally, they have been funded by federal taxes.
I suspect that the answer to that question may be a useful one for many voters all over Delaware, and will be of interest to southern Delaware's small business owners, and to people who vacation on and near those beaches.
I look forward to O'Donnell's answers.
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