Is the GOP deliberately trying to sabotage the 2014 midterms? -- By Tammy Bruce, The Washington Times

After this week's GOP State of the Union response, it has become undeniable that someone (everyone?) in the Republican machine has no idea what they're doing, and that is the generous assessment. The other option is that Republican leadership is deliberately sabotaging the midterm elections.

For those of us who understand the imperative of conservative victory in November, it's obvious the GOP must respond very differently to President Obama's yearly circus act of the State of the Union. We've now learned he pretty much repeats what he said the year before, so responding to it isn't exactly rocket science.

Take, for example, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' response. Mrs. McMorris Rodgers is well-liked and smart. I had the pleasure of meeting her last year at an Independent Women's Forum event honoring her. I found her dynamic, compelling and clearly a GOP star.

Then for the State of the Union response, some self-obsessed, cave dweller from the Land of the Clueless Consultants and Speech Coaches got their paws on her, and instead of the focused, interesting and compelling woman I met in Washington, D.C., we got a woman so overprepared and controlled that the powerful and smart Mrs. McMorris Rodgers had disappeared.

Criticism of the content of the GOP response has also been well-deserved. Within the first two minutes, the Republicans assured Americans that Mr. Obama (like the GOP) wants what's best for everyone. Really? There are many people who legitimately have every reason to not believe that. After all, this is a man who deliberately lied to the American people about one of the most important aspect of their personal lives — their health insurance and health care. To say nothing of the Internal Revenue Service, National Security Agency, Benghazi, Syria, Iran, and Fast and Furious crises (and the GOP did say nothing).

It's easy to understand why a man to whom the "Lie of the Year" award was presented isn't trusted to make the right decisions for America. In fact, the latest poll has found a supermajority of Americans have little or no confidence that Mr. Obama will make the right decisions for the country, while half simply don't find him trustworthy.

So, no, GOP, spending even one precious word when the nation is watching to support Mr. Obama or reassure people about his intentions is not your job. As a matter of fact, what people want to see is honesty about our situation, a commitment to principles and the articulation of a vision that doesn't mirror the agenda that is sending this nation off a cliff.

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