Democrats declared a ‘war on everyone’

Originally Posted in the Nashua Telegraph

For the past week, Democrats across the country have been viciously attacking Republican lawmakers for allegedly opposing equal pay for men and women. While rhetorical attacks have become commonplace on the political left, these attacks have been bigger and bolder than usual, and have come as part of the Democrats’ latest push to try to convince American women that the Republican Party is at war with them. But nothing could be further from reality.

In fact, if anyone has launched political war in this country, it is the Democrats who seem to be waging a “War on Everyone,” aimed at angering, distracting and dividing Americans of different genders, incomes and races.

For example, Democrat leaders have incessantly used the issue of gender equality and paycheck fairness to try and divide America. They constantly promote the largely disproven myth of gender-based income inequality, and then make excuses when their hypocrisy is unveiled as it was last week when reports showed that women at the White House make, on average, 12 percent less than men.

But for Democrats, this is about politics – not policy. As Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said last week, “They don’t care about the fix. All they care about is who pays at the ballot box.”

While I don’t believe that Democrats are secretly conspiring to drive women into poverty, there is no doubt that the policies they are mandating do, in fact, adversely affect American women.

Under the Obama administration, women now have fewer job prospects and are being forced into low-wage industries. Predictably, the poverty rate for women has increased dramatically, with 3.7 million more women falling into poverty. And young women have been impacted especially harshly, as more than a million women younger than 18 have become impoverished since President Barack Obama took office.

Democrats also continue to support Obamacare, despite the countless negative effects this law has had on women. Obamacare has forced women and families to change hospitals and health care providers, taking moms and their children away from their trusted family doctors. It has also forced hardworking, struggling women and families to pay higher taxes, higher premiums, and higher deductibles. And, as everyone knows, it has forced thousands of New Hampshire families to be dropped from their insurance coverage, even if they wanted to keep their plans.

Legislating is a complex and difficult process. We all know that. But Washington doesn’t have to be a battlefield and politics doesn’t have to be war. Instead of distracting and dividing, elected representatives should promote policies that ensure equality of opportunity instead of equality of outcome.

This week, Rep. Ann McLane Kuster introduced her new “women’s economic agenda” to New Hampshire in a strange “no recording devices allowed” Nashua setting. It’s unfortunate that she won’t let New Hampshire voters hear what she has to say about the Democrats’ agenda.

Maybe, instead of hiding from voters and promoting political games and policies that divide our nation, Ann Kuster and her political allies should be bringing Americans together. We all share common hopes – like the ability to live and flourish in a country that’s safe, has good schools, and a robust economy with good jobs. It was the melting pot of different people with different ideas sharing a common purpose that made America great. Legislators should be working on solutions that bring brighter days ahead.

Rep. Marilinda Garcia, R-Salem, is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2nd District.