South Carolina Republican Governor Mark Sanford , the author of an open letter to Congress refusing bailout funds for his state, has added his voice to the many who are calling on President Bush to absolutely not release funds from TARP for the Detroit automakers.
“I believe this would be a very great mistake,” Sanford said in a letter written to the President on Monday. “It would open the floodgates of federal monies for every distressed industry across this country-and there will be many in this economic slowdown.”
“I believe we are at a tipping point in moving from a market-based economy to a politically-based economy, wherein one’s success can be determined not by good decisions and good work, but by the size of one’s voice and connection to Washington,” Sanford wrote. “The real economic stimulus of this country lies in the daily work and effort of millions you have seen across this land. These bailouts not only represent an enormous cost they are left to carry, but a shattering of the rights and responsibilities that have historically been linked to achieving the American Dream.”
As an aside, it would also be illegal.
A handful of GOP Senators and Congressmen have taken the lead in fighting this bailout in the trenches, for which the public should be very grateful. But where are the other bold faces of the GOP? Why aren’t any other governors speaking out or following Governor Sanford’s lead? Sadly, while the party faithful are being polled on potential 2012 Presidential Picks from the 2008 recycle bin, a man of true conservative leadership is being ignored as an obvious choice.
Ed at HotAir seems to agree:
The first time I heard Sanford speak, I wondered why he hadn’t thrown his hat into the ring in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes. His leadership on limited government and refusal to throw away money we don’t have should put Sanford in the first rank of candidates for national leadership in 2012, if we’re bright enough to recognize it.
