(Also published at What Would Jack Do?)

Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) appeared on MSNBC with Chris Jansing...to attack President Obama's new deficit reduction plan.... Taking up the typical GOP talking point, Fleming said raising taxes on wealthy "job creators is a terrible idea that kills jobs because many of these people are small business owners who pay taxes through personal income rates. Fleming is himself a businesses owner, so Jansing asked, "If you have to pay more in taxes, you would get rid of some of those employees?" Fleming responded by saying that while his businesses made $6.3 million last year, after you "pay 500 employees, you pay rent, you pay equipment, and food," his profits "a mere fraction of that" -- "by the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over."

It seems that one of the hallmarks of today's GOP is a collective tone-deafness when it comes to what's happening to real, middle-class Americans- you know, the ones most definitely NOT like Republican Congressmen. That most Congressman live (physically and morally/philosophically) in the hermetically sealed environment that is official Washington isn't exactly news. What's stunning is the degree to which some Republicans clearly have NO idea what Americans have to deal with on a daily basis.

The latest example is Louisiana's John Fleming, who's being excoriated (not without justification) for saying that he has "maybe $400,000 left over" after paying business expenses and feeding his family. Granted, I can kind of see where Fleming was trying to get to, but in opening his mouth and inserting his silver size-11, he made it clear that he really has no idea what middle class Americans are coping with in today's I-got-mine-you-can-damn-well-get-your-own America. Even when Chris Jansing allowed him an opportunity to gracefully walk back the remarks she advised would not be well-received, Fleming doubled down.

Clueless, insensitive, devoid of compassion, completely tone-deaf...and evidently built to stay that way....

Yes, I understand that Fleming, as a businessman, has significant expenses to pay- salaries, supplies, equipment, advertising. It's what businessman do, and if they do it well they make a profit and perhaps even have the opportunity to grow their business. No reasonable person would begrudge Fleming his success. He took the risks, put in the hard work, made smart decisions, and has been fortunate enough to reap some positive results. That does NOT, however, provide a yardstick with which Fleming is allowed to judges others. Instead of making a defensible argument, or even accepting the graceful exit Jansing offered, Fleming defaulted to tired, shop-worn GOP talking points: JOB CREATORS GOOD, TAXES BAD, OBAMA EVIL SOCIALIST MENACE.

Here's an idea for Rep. Fleming: try a little compassion on for size. Instead of holding yourself up as the epitome of someone suffering the privations of today's economy, how about walking a mile in the shoes of someone less fortunate? I'll bet he wouldn't have to go far in your own district to have that opportunity. Then again, he's just tone-deaf and self-righteous enough to not understand what the fuss is about.

WE DESERVE BETTER. Lord knows his constituents certainly do.