At the National Governors Association press conference, some Republican governors have been very critical of the economic stimulus plan and have expressed their intention to refuse federal help. What is ironic is that some see it as wrong-headed and a dangerous addition to the national debt — although the Republican administration is the one who put us deeply into debt and the economic crisis to begin with.

It is difficult to comprehend the Republican attitude when you think that the economic crisis doesn’t affect only Democrats, but all the American people. Maybe these governors are afraid that any success of the stimulus plan will benefit their political opponents. Definitely, the GOP is taking a gamble. It is political suicide to refuse help when you have unemployment on the rise in the all the states. These governors will benefit from this stimulus plan. Republican Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana wants to take some of the money but decline the rest. Either you can accept the stimulus plan or you can refuse it. The GOP can’t accept the money and be critical of it. As the Creole of Sierra Leone say, “Do not tell the man who is carrying you that he stinks.”