What does it mean that Republicans in Congress “need to get off their hands and stop rooting for failure”?

Question

In June 3rd AP radio news, I heard Stephanie Cutter, Deputy Manager of the Obama re-election campaign, say:

Republicans in Congress have refused to approve measures that will improve job creation because they want the President to fail. They need to get off their hands and stop rooting for failure.

I’m not clear about what the last line, “They need to get off their hands and stop rooting for failure,” means. From (or to) what Republicans need to get off their hands? What does "get off one’s hand" mean? What does "root for failure" mean?

Would you explain the last line in plain English?

Answer 1

British English would use "stop sitting on their hands," which is perhaps more understandable: if you're sitting on your hands, you can't do anything.

Root for means "to cheer and encourage someone or something". Cutter is accusing Republicans of supporting a measure which will lead to failure of the President's initiatives.

"They need to do something positive and support our initiatives rather than those which will fail."

Answer 2

In an election year, it's harder to get reelected when the economy isn't doing well. Therefore, when the ruling party is trying to pass a measure designed to help an ailing economy, one strategic tactic might be for the opposition party to stonewall that initiative, in hopes that the bad economy lingers, which could help them gain some seats in the upcoming election.

That's essentially what Ms. Cutter is accusing the Republicans of doing: sitting on their hands (i.e., doing nothing), and rooting for failure (i.e., hoping that domestic problems linger long enough to affect the upcoming election in their favor).

We don't talk politics on the EL&U board, so I won't comment on whether or not I think her claims are accurate, or if they fall under the category of the counter-tactic, which is to accuse the minority party of stonewalling for political expedience when in fact they are simply opposing what they genuinely believe is bad legislation.

Answer 3

Others have pointed out the connection with sitting on one's hands. However, get off one's hands is a rather unusual phrase and I haven't ever heard it before. I would suggest that this may be a mixed metaphor, and the speaker is also thinking of get off your ass (or get off your butt), which essentially means "Stop being lazy! Get to work!"

Of course, in both cases, the meaning is that the Republicans are not doing anything and they should start doing something. Sitting on their hands would suggest that they are consciously choosing not to act, because they prefer what will happen if they don't (in this case, the President's failure). Sitting on their ass has the connotation that their inaction is due to laziness rather than a conscious decision; it is more insulting.

As get off your ass would be too rude for a public figure to use when speaking on the record, Ms. Cutter may have intentionally replaced ass by hands, thinking of sitting on your hands, but hoping that the more insulting phrase would be picked up by listeners.

Answer 4

Those who ‘sit on their hands’ do nothing, so the writer is saying that the Republicans in Congress need to be more active in approving measures that will improve job creation. Root means ‘cheer’ or otherwise express support.