Infuriating comment: Congressman Joe Barton

Heard a story on NPR this morning about Obama’s “Fiscal Responsibility Summit” and was annoyed by a comment by Republican Senator Joe Barton. The congressman told the President “I think the House Republicans have shown that when we’re not included in the decision making, we’re disinclined to sign off on the solution.” According to the story, Obama called this “an important point.”

While I realize it’s a reality of partisan politics (and office politics, etc.) that people are more likely to vote for things they had a hand in creating, and vice-versa, why is it acceptable for a legislator to openly admit he’ll vote against something simply because he didn’t get to help create it? His vote should be determined by his assessment of the law he’s voting on, not just whether or not he got to play a role in its creation. The congressman’s goal should be to suppress such childish biases and do what’s best for the country, whether or not it makes him look good or feel important. And I wish President Obama’s response had been a tempered tongue-lashing to that effect.