Maddow calls out Republican congressman for taking credit for program he voted against

An exchange Sunday between liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and Republican Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) set blogs abuzz after the liberal talker called out Shock's apparent hypocrisy in voting against a bill that created an education program in his district and then later touting the program's approval.

"You, in your district, I just read that you were at a community college touting a $350,000 green technology education program, talking about how great that was going to be for your district," Maddow said, according to a transcript on Huffington Post. "You voted against the bill that created that grant. That's happening a lot with Republicans sort of taking credit for things that Democratic bills do and then Republicans simultaneously touting their votes against them and trashing them. That's, I think, is a problem that needs to be resolved within your caucus. Because you seem like a very nice person but that is a very hypocritical stance to take."

Schock demurred. "Well Rachel, with all due respect I can assure you Republicans were not consulted on the stimulus bill. That bill was filed at 11pm the night before the 1030am we began debating it. None of our amendments were considered. There was no bipartisanship on this bill.

"I think the argument that liberals are making is absolutely ridiculous," he added. "With all due respect, Rachel, does that mean you are going to give back your Bush tax cuts that you continue to rail against. The fact of the matter is our country operates and is governed by a majority. And I, along with almost all my Republican colleagues and a good number of Democrats, have voted against the stimulus, the omnibus, all this runaway spending. But we lost those battles in the House... At the end of the day my constituents and their children and grandchildren will be on the hook for the deficit being created by this majority and they deserve to their fair share of federal spending."

"But you'll take the money for your district," NBC host David Gregory interjected.

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