Holding Down the Economy for Political Gain?

I have been hesitant to embrace the idea that the GOP is intentionally trying to keep the economy from recovering in order to make political gains. Instead, I have taken the more charitable route of assuming the policies they are pushing arise from honestly held ideological differences. But if members of the GOP are willing to take positions that undermine national defense just to make political gains, why wouldn’t they do something similar to the economy?:

…Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar … has unapologetically backed Obama in support of START… In an attempt to rally bipartisan support for the treaty, the White House has enlisted the kind of GOP foreign policy wise men that Lugar exemplifies — among them former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and James A. Baker. But they have had no success with members of their own party, and it has left them scratching their heads over the source of the GOP opposition.

“It’s not clear to me what it is,” said Brent Scowcroft, a former national security adviser to President George H.W. Bush who noted that this START treaty is not very different from previous ones negotiated and ratified under Republican presidents. “I’ve got to think that it’s the increasingly partisan nature and the desire for the president not to have a foreign policy victory.” …

In fact, Lugar has opposed most of Obama’s domestic agenda, voting against the Recovery Act, the health care reform bill, and financial regulatory reform legislation. But on START he is adamant.

“One of those warheads could demolish my city of Indianapolis. Now some Americans may have forgotten that, I’ve not forgotten that,” Lugar said… “At this point, I’m simply trying, in as civil a manner as possible to say to my colleagues, please do your duty by your country.” …

Read more at Economist’s View