'Pledge to America' doomed to fail?

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AP – FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2010 file photo, House Minority

Leader John Boehner of Ohio, left, holds up …

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Sylvia Cochran Sylvia Cochran – Tue Sep 28, 3:08 pm ET
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Just in time for the midterm election, the GOP has rolled out its Pledge to America. While it
captures the sentiments of a large chunk of the American public, it is questionable if this
document truly accomplishes what it proposes. An analysis of recent similar examples points to
the fatal flaw this type of campaign promise holds.
Republicans are well aware of the anti-incumbent sentiment that has gripped the American
electorate and they waste no time capitalizing on the country's mood. Rolling out the GOP
Pledge to America, a number of House Republicans chose a suburban Washington hardware store
as symbolic backdrop for their announcement.
Key points that are part and parcel to the GOP pledge include a repeal of the recently passed
health care reform bill, an injunction against using federal funds for abortions and provisions for
small-business tax deductions totaling 20 percent of the ventures' incomes.
If these provisions sound familiar, it is by design.
1994 Contract with America failed to deliver
In 1994, the Republican Party unveiled its Contract with America. As a joint venture of Newt
Gingrich, Tom DeLay and other GOP greats, it presented and outlined a plan of action should the
party be successful in reclaiming its majority status in the United States House.
Part of this campaign promise were provisions to audit Congress in search of wasteful spenders,
ban proxy committee votes and enact committee chair term limits. There was talk of tax cuts for
small businesses and also welfare reform.
Because there is a world of difference between introducing legislation and actually passing it,
history shows that many of the line items included in the Contract with America failed. As of
2000, 95 programs that the contract promised to eliminate not only remained in force but actually
featured a 13-percent increase.
1988 'read my lips' pledge
President George H. W. Bush gave a rousing acceptance speech on Aug. 18, 1988, at the
Republican National Convention. Most famous was this phrase: "Read my lips: no new taxes." A
subsequent rise in tax rates followed the rash campaign promise.
1986 taxpayer protection pledge
The Taxpayer Protection Pledge is the brain child of Americans for Tax Reform. Unlike the GOP
Pledge to America or Contract with America, this document is actually open to bipartisan
signature. Signers promise to vote against income tax increases for private citizens and
corporations. Seeing that as of July 2009 only 172 House and 34 Senate members have actually
signed the pledge, it is clear that it does not have a lot of bipartisan support or effect.
Is the GOP Pledge to America more of the same?
The Contract with America, "Read my Lips" Pledge and the Taxpayer Protection Pledge have a
common theme: They propose ideals that may not be realistically enforceable in a quickly
changing economy. Moreover, these campaign promises outline a general GOP pledge to its
electorate but do precious little to outline how they will garner the bipartisan support needed to
get all the votes required or counter presidential vetoes.
This explains why the Republican Party as a whole is not fully on board with the Pledge to
America. Detractors cite the pledge's general tone and lack of nuts and bolts details as a major
sticking point. They also note that it is too reminiscent of the Contract with America, which
netted the GOP a House win but did not translate into the promised reforms made.