The NFIB once again shows its Republican stripes
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The performance by a representative of the National Federation of Independent Business on a PBS show last night should eliminate any doubts that the organization is anything but a mouthpiece for the Republican party.
Judy Woodruff had on the show Bill Rys from the NFIB and John Arensmeyer, who runs Small Business Majority, a small business advocacy group, which presents itself as an alternative to the NFIB. They were there to discuss President Obama’s latest small-business proposals.
And, of course, Rys had nothing but criticism for every single one of Obama’s proposals–the $5,000 tax credit for hiring, the $30 billion in TARP money for community banks to increase lending and so on. Not a positive word about any of it.
But, most telling was his reliance on the concept of uncertainty. In one exchange, he said:
“Small business owners want to see some certainty. One of the big challenges a lot of small business owners are facing are the number of new proposals that are coming out of Washington . . . . . ”
So, let’s get this straight here. Now, the problem is that Obama is trying to launch too many programs to help small business? In other words, now he’s being criticized for doing too much.
More important, however, is that word, “certainty.” Because, if you pay attention to the current Republican talking point, it’s just that–Obama is causing uncertainty by proposing all these things. But why would Rys rely on this objection–this word– if he and his organization weren’t on a direct line to the National Republican Party headquarters?
Sure, these latest proposals aren’t earth-shattering. As Arensmeyer pointed out, they’re not going to jump start supersonic growth or anything. And, as he acknowledged, each on on its own will have a small impact. But, as a package, the proposals are likely to pack a much more powerful punch.
Let me make this clear: The NFIB produces a lot of substantive, useful research and information. And there’s nothing wrong with the NFIB being a partisan organization, as long as it admits to being that, instead of what it has said in the past, which is that it merely represents the views of its constituency.
That’s like the American Enterprise Institute saying it’s simply an objective, unbiased thinktank.
Small businesses deserve better.
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I think there are very few (maybe none) truly non-partisan think tanks or trade associations in DC anymore.
To be influential in Washington, you need the support of members of the house and senate (or their staffs). It is very hard to get this support without at least leaning towards their political point of view.
Because of this, truly non-partisan views simply have no support base on the hill. This has resulted in almost all the think tanks and trade associations leaning politically one way or another.
NFIB clearly leans republican, but to be fair so does its membership. The Small Business Majority, BTW, clearly leans towards the democrats.
Small business does need a non-partisan voice, but it is unlikely to come from DC.
But if the NFIB’s membership skews Republican isn’t that because it attracts people with a certain political leaning due to its own political leaning?
About think tanks–American Enterprise and Heritage Foundation were formed as a part of a specific and quite brilliant strategy by the right-wing to influence public opinion, politics and the media.
At any rate, the point is the NFIB should be open about its bias, not pretend to be something it isn’t.