It’s been a while now since Matthew Dowd became a political independent, slipping the surly bonds of two-party politics and entering the transcendent realm of country over party. We imagine it’s lovely there, but the received wisdom has been a bit obtuse.
Dowd’s ListenTo.Us is a call for leaders to use the Common Good as their guiding star, so it’s no surprise that on the day the Senate Republicans released their health care reform bill, Dowd responded with tweets like these:
My faith and humanity teaches me that leaders must ask themselves: Are my decisions helping or hurting the most vulnerable? We need to help.
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) June 22, 2017
I agree with you, but a fundamental problem is that capitalism does not necessarily line up with these values we both seem to hold.
— AW Stiles (@aw_stiles) June 22, 2017
The way capitalism is practiced today in America. We need compassionate common good capitalism.
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) June 22, 2017
I can agree with that completely. Keep it up Matthew. Really appreciate your outlook, helps me realize much more I can do & hope it spreads
— AW Stiles (@aw_stiles) June 22, 2017
Thanks. We can do this.
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) June 22, 2017
Wait … do what now? A little more to go on would be really helpful.
If your ideology conflicts with helping the poor and vulnerable, then you need to abandon your ideology.
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) June 22, 2017
Questions?
Which ideology conflicts with helping poor and vulnerable?
— Neil Hansen (@njh2005) June 22, 2017
Whose ideology does that?
— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) June 23, 2017
Seriously … we’d hate to find out it was one of ours.
People just disagree on how to do it…not whether to do it.
— sigh… (@cardinals150) June 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/holm_stephan/status/878016689215913984
Society should use all instruments available to help the poor and vulnerable.
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) June 22, 2017
Government is the very worst way to do those things.
— Chris (@concretevol) June 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/Gooms/status/878033611299069952
I think he means mandatory job training or retraining with an 18 month maximum on benefits along with basic economics and family budgeting
— Larry Waddell (@Xianworldview) June 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/Gooms/status/878033020824854528
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/878079163084660736
If your ideology perpetuates dependency of the poor and vulnerable rather than empowering them, then abandon your ideology
— Tom (@TB424) June 22, 2017
If your ideology condemns the poor and vulnerable to stay that way for generations, then you need to abandon your ideology.
— Bill Graziani (@TheGraz68) June 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/The_Virg_/status/878035318196375553
https://twitter.com/hboulware/status/878030328824078336
American taxpayers have spent over $22 trillion helping the poor. Name another country on Earth that has done more to help than we have.??
— Sean DuVall (@duvall172) June 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/PaulWolpert1/status/878032098040229888
https://twitter.com/Dalex_60/status/878021043205558272
Does it need to be compelled through the wasteful beauracracy of government? Or can we, you know, help people out of our own kindness?
— The Elitist (@Markmcafee19) June 23, 2017
You can help the poor & vulnerable without confiscatory government policies.
— ?Lisa Lu? (@lisalunu) June 22, 2017
If your ideology isn't based off of the #voluntary interaction of all humans then your ideology has no #principles.
— iOWNme (@xIOWNMEx) June 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/yesnicksearcy/status/878027037788839936
Societies should be judged on how they treat their most vulnerable. How would we measure up right now?
— Rick Evans (@cxorick) June 22, 2017
Exactly, millions of slaughtered unborn. So many beautiful souls.
— Travis (@travmcgee2016) June 23, 2017
So you're coming out in support of the Pro-Life movement, protecting the most vulnerable among us from a murder for convenience? #GoodtoKnow
— Doc Frenchy (@docfrenchy) June 22, 2017
My mom needs a new car. How much can I put you down for?
— Listening on 180g (@edalexport) June 22, 2017
<fart noise>
— Crash Tinkle (@SocrateezNutz) June 23, 2017
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Related:
'Officially the weirdest timeline': ABC News' Matthew Dowd now setting the standard for patriotism https://t.co/DR33veay4a
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 30, 2016
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