Kobach prefers Pledge over poor

Constitutional law professor Kris Kobach apparently doesn't care much for the Constitution. We've already seen he likes to add in religious undertones, now he's attacking Congressman Dennis Moore for voting against a bill that would prohibit the federal courts from hearing cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance.

This vote was a simple one to make -- vote with Tom DeLay, you're making a politician's vote. Vote against it, as Moore did, and you're making a Congressman's vote.

Screw the Constitution, I've got an election to win and an issue to demonize!

How ironic, then, that on the exact same day, we can assume Kobach would have joined in lock step with DeLay to defeat an extension of tax relief for working families earning between $10,000 and $11,000 a year. That covers 4 million low-income families.

That's an additional cost of $4.3 billion to the $146 billion bill. The Republicans called it "welfare" attached to a tax bill. Of course, it's not welfare-- all of these families are working, they're just working the kinds of low-income jobs Republicans wouldn't even let their kids work. As Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) said, "That is your Republican compassion. That is indecent, it is un-Christian and it is immoral."

Go here for an excellent analysis on how yesterday's bill actually increases taxes on low-income working families.

The point is, of course, that Kobach's priorities as a Congressman would be politically charged "culture votes," while kicking the working poor in the teeth. The message to 4 million American families yesterday?

"I won't give you a tax cut, but how about the pledge of allegiance instead? Just recite it at the check-out lane next time you can't afford to buy milk for your kids, despite working two jobs."