Shutdown Showdown: Day 9 

Last week a Park Service ranger dared to expose the administration's government shutdown game plan. The ranger told the Washington Times, "We've been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It's disgusting." Disgusting doesn't begin to describe it.

The families of our fallen heroes in Afghanistan are being denied death benefits. They are also being told that they have to pay their own way to Dover Air Force Base, where the caskets containing the bodies of our soldiers return home from the battlefield. 

Don't miss what is going on here. It is a craven strategy to "make life as difficult for people" as possible, hoping the public will blame congressional conservatives. Polls suggest it is working to some extent, and Obama and the liberal media are working overtime to reinforce that narrative. 

Congressional Republicans are furious. Speaker Boehner said, "I think it's disgraceful that they're withholding these benefits." As the shutdown loomed, House Republicans went out of their way to make sure our troops were taken care of. That's why the Pentagon has recalled nearly half of all the federal workers furloughed during the shutdown. Boehner vowed that the House would pass legislation today to clarify the issue. 

Rep. Duncan Hunter, Jr. (R-CA) was even more direct. He called the administration's decision "boneheaded," adding that it was an "in your face, middle finger to the military families." As I wrote Monday, the left's disrespect toward our men and women in uniform remains consistent. 

By the way, the same administration that can't find the money for soldiers' death benefits apparently has the cash to keep Big Bird on the air. 

UPDATE: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said this afternoon that President Obama has ordered the death benefits to be reinstated. I suspect that the White House concluded this strategy had backfired, just like closing the World War II Memorial. But if the benefits can be legally reinstated, that suggests they didn't need to be cut off in the first place! 

Obama Hits 37% Low! 

Here's an example of the media's bias in its reporting on the government shutdown. The Associated Press has just done a new poll and released the results in a story headlined: "GOP Gets The Blame In Shutdown." 

Seven paragraphs into the report we learn the following: "Most Americans disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job, the poll suggests, with 53 percent unhappy with his performance and 37 percent approving of it."

The president's approval rating is below 40%? The last AP poll, conducted in mid-April, found Obama enjoyed a 50% approval rating with 47% disapproving. That represents a 19-point negative swing in six months. That should have been the headline. 

Don't get me wrong. Cynicism is growing, and it is directed at both parties. But if you are wondering why Obama has dropped so low, look no further than his press conference yesterday. 

The president who said he wanted to bring civility to Washington, who claims to have "bent over backwards" to avoid harsh rhetoric, spoke for an hour yesterday comparing conservatives to arsonists, hostage takers and deadbeats. I doubt his condescending tone is going over well with many people in the heartland, including some who may have voted for him. 

What's Missing? 

Many conservatives noticed that Obama wasn't asked one question yesterday about the rollout of Obamacare, which administration officials knew would be a disaster. What do you expect from the liberal media? But I'm one conservative who noticed something even more troubling.

Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, has an opinion piece in today's Wall Street Journal suggesting a way out of the government shutdown impasse -- he's proposing entitlement and tax reform.

From past proposals, it seems very likely that this "way out" will involve cutting Social Security benefits and making Medicare more expensive for those who have managed to save some money for their golden years. 

But the most disturbing aspect of Ryan's column is that he never addresses the very issue that caused this whole mess: the attempt to delay the job-killing, tax-hiking, premium-raising disaster that is otherwise known as Obamacare. 

Over half the public believes that Obamacare needs to be repealed. I doubt if more than 30% of the public thinks Social Security benefits should be cut for anyone. 

Time For A Change? 

For decades the left has owned the tactic of civil disobedience with its frequent public demonstrations and street theater. It has always been a useful tool for intimidating politicians and pushing America to the left. Folks see angry demonstrators and naturally assume something must be wrong. 

Are conservatives moving toward an acceptance of using that tactic? Perhaps so. 

You'll recall that the Tea Party movement began spontaneously at town hall meetings across the country in 2009. Citizens showed up and demanded answers from their elected representatives about the debt and Obamacare. 

Since then we have seen more individuals engaging in their own acts of civil disobedience. There is the example of Roy Costner, the South Carolina high school valedictorian who tore up his approved speech and led students in the Lord's Prayer in defiance of school officials. 

I recall one local example. A decorated military officer was visiting his son's school on a parent career day. He was stopped at the door and told to remove a medal with two crossed guns from his uniform. He replied that he had earned his medal, he was going speak to his son's class and if the school wanted to stop him, it would have to call the police, which should make for an interesting article in the local papers. He addressed his sons class without incident.

A few years ago, Operation Rescue drove the left into mass hysteria by organizing thousands of people to engage in peaceful prayer protests in front of abortion clinics. 

In recent days there have been reports suggesting that pro-Constitution truck drivers plan to circle the Washington Beltway, occupying all three lanes, showing Washington what a real shutdown is like. 

As you can imagine, this is unlikely to win the hearts of area commuters, and it may not even happen at all. But on talk radio this morning, many callers said it was time conservatives started putting their bodies on the line and showed the same commitment to our values as the left has done for decades. 

It may happen soon enough. Responsible leaders of the Catholic Church have said they will close their institutions and go to jail if the Obama Administration tries to force them to pay for abortion and sterilization in their health care policies. 

I know many of you are busy, but I would be interested in your feedback. 

As the attack on much of what we hold dear intensifies, has the time come for conservatives to add to the arsenal of tactics? In addition to voting, debating and lobbying, is it time for selective civil disobedience in order to save the country?