Vulnerable Rick Crawford Caves, Tim Griffin Follows Suit

Congressman Rick Crawford, likely feeling the heat of the Republican payroll tax cut fiasco, today decided to cave into political realtiy and called on Speaker Boehner to allow a vote on the Senate payroll tax cut extension plan.

Crawford’s decision today caught the attention of the Washington Post’s “The Plum Line” which called hm a vulnerable freshman in a competitive district facing a real Democratic challenger.

From the Washington Post:

And here’s the key nugget from a letter Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas just sent to Speaker Boehner, specifically citing his constituents’ anger as a reason that it’s time to allow the vote on the Senate plan:

“These past few days I have met with my constituents in Arkansas’s First District, they are angry and they don’t understand why Congress cannot sit down, hammer out our differences, and have a solution we can all support. My constituents are honest, hard-working people who deserve a Congress that will put partisan politics aside in favor of the greater good. Congress must come together and act to ensure that my constituents, and millions of Americans all across the country, are not hit with higher taxes on January 1st…

“We are now in a position that requires all options to be on the table, that requires Republicans to not only demand a willingness to compromise, but to offer it as well.”

That’s telling stuff: Crawford’s claim that his constituents are angry at Congress for failing to break through the gridlock — and that this is why House Republicans need to signal a willingness to compromise — suggests again that the public is concluding that Republicans are the ones to blame for allowing the tax hike creep ever closer to reality.’

Republicans are getting roasted by the public for refusing to back the payroll tax cut issue and, according to recent polls, the GOP is actually losing the message war on taxes to President Obama.

It should be noted that Rick Crawford publicly backed away from Congressman Tim Griffin’s position of refusing to vote for the bi-partisan Senate bill that provides real tax relief to Arkansas’s middle-class taxpayers.

Griffin isolated himself politically on this issue with his standing by the side of embattled Speaker Boehner. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell today called on House Republicans to vote for the Senate bill, making Griffin’s refusal to vote for a middle-class tax cut even more perilous.

McConnell’s point is simple: House Republicans should vote for the short-term extension now and then get to the negotiation table to discuss the a one-year extension.  There’s a common sense solution.

What did Tim Griffin do next?  He joined with Rick Crawford on the issue.

“The agreement reached is not everything I hoped for, but it includes the critical pro-jobs Keystone pipeline provision, relief to taxpayers and small businesses and requires the Senate to appoint negotiators so we can forge a year solution: I will support it.”

Although he came along kicking and screaming, it was about Griffin’s only viable political option. If Arkansas’ middle-class taxpayers had seen their payroll taxes go up in January, you can bet they’ll blame the Congressman who refused to fight for them.

Of course, let’s not forget, if this was a tax cut for millionaires, Tim Griffin would move heaven an earth to vote for it. Tim Griffin fights for the richest 1%, and ignores the hard-working middle-class.