Big government moderate Republicans have tried to distinguish themselves from conservatives in primaries based on how a conservative voted on a bill requiring gas stations in Iowa to sell a certain product.
That product is ethanol.
How the heck did we get here?
The law requires gas stations to sell and advertise for a certain product. Now, if ObamaCare was bad because it was government requiring a consumer to purchase a product, how is it different when government requires retailer to sell a product?
And no, saying “but, but, but it’s good for Iowa’s economy” isn’t enough to overcome the principle of the matter.
Does government have the right to force a private business to sell a certain product? Yes or no?
And if government can require a private business to sell a certain product, what is to stop it from requiring private citizens to buy a product?
Another common exception from big government Republicans is “but there were exemptions so it’s not a mandate.”
Really?
So just because an employer offered exemptions to their vaccine mandates, did that mean they weren’t vaccine mandates?
Of course not.
While big government moderate Republicans continue to criticize State Sen. Jim Carlin and representatives like Rep. Steve Bradley and Rep. Skyler Wheeler, they’re essentially telling us what most of us already know — they’re for sale.
They don’t really believe in small, limited government.
And I wish they’d just be honest about it.
Instead they’re trying to use solid, principled votes in favor of small, limited government and the free market as a black eye.
But voting against the fuel mandate bill shouldn’t be considered a black eye among conservatives — or even Republicans. It should be considered a duty of any limited government, principled politician.
