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1/24/2011
Dems attacking - conservatives must attack back
I’m going to say it as many times as I have to, as many times as this junk shows up in the left-wing blogosphere. Arguing against Obamacare and then accepting health insurance from one’s employer, even if it happens to be the federal government, is not hypocrisy. Bill Christofferson is one of the lefties that continues to harp on it – and this time, was goaded on by Daily Kos. From a Daily Kos e-mail last Thursday noon:
FoxPolitics,
Yesterday, House Republicans voted to repeal the new health insurance reform law. Even though they know the law won’t actually be repealed--because Democrats hold the White House and the Senate--they voted anyway in order to appease their Tea Party base.
In response, Daily Kos is teaming up with Blue America to make House Republicans pay a political price for this grandstanding. In key districts around the country, we’re going to run a radio ad highlighting the cruelty and hypocrisy of the Republican effort to repeal health insurance reform. You can listen to a sample version of the ad, and contribute $10 to help us get the ad on the air, by following this link.
The ad makes two points:
- Republicans in Congress just voted to raise health insurance premiums, take away prescription drug benefits, and allow insurance companies to cut off coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions - -And--
- These cuts didn’t apply to the health insurance plans Republican members of Congress receive.
It only costs $2,500 per district for local media to pick up on this ad and produce a story on it. We know this because an allied organization, Americans United for Change, went after freshman Republican Andy Harris with a radio ad like this back in November. Even though Americans United for Change only spent $2,500 on the ad, local media picked up on it anyway. Harris took a big hit.
We’re expanding this campaign into other Republican-held districts. The ad is already produced, an advertising placement expert is lined up, communication staff is ready to contact local media, and the name of the Republican member of Congress in the ad can be changed to fit any district. All we need to make it work is your $10 contribution. [Link edited out by me.]
Republicans peaked in the 2010 elections. As their cruelty and hypocrisy come to light, they are quickly sliding downhill. In just two months, Democrats have erased the electoral advantage Republicans held in 2010. That trend will only continue if we capitalize on opportunities like this.
Let’s make it happen. Please, contribute $10 to run this ad in key districts. [link edited out by me.]
Keep fighting,
Chris Bowers
Campaign Director, Daily Kos
Be prepared to fight more and more of this very stuff. GOP representatives in Congress will need your support and my support with every conversation we have and every dollar we give.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
So, voting to diminish health care access for the rest of the country while exempting yourself is not hypocritical because.....?
dave allen (Mon Jan 24 07:17:01 2011)
Does this need to be a race to the bottom? Does an untrue or unjustified attack be any party make it OK to reciprocate and escalate? How about some civility...Think about this with Gabby Giffords in mind.
Dean Weichmann (Mon Jan 24 07:22:10 2011)
As linked in today's piece, Jeremy Shown makes the point and answers your posit Dave:
The second post was from Zach Wisniewski at Blogging Blue arguing that because Ron Johnson opposed the health reform, he should not accept the health plan extended to him as a member of the U.S. Senate. I guess to someone who hasn't really thought about the way we get health insurance in this country this sounds like a good point, but the majority of Americans still get their health insurance through their employer. When President Obama and the Democrats in congress had the opportunity to reform health care they didn't end this practice, at least not on purpose, so they must think it's a good way to get insurance. If so, why then wouldn't Johnson accept the insurance that is part of his Senate compensation? Yes, it a government plan, but in this case the relevant characteristic is that it is insurance tied to employment.
If our friends on the left really think people ought to be able to refuse health coverage on principle, they might want to start working on their friend of the court briefs. The individual mandate to purchase insurance was part of the reform that became law, remember?
Jo (Mon Jan 24 07:29:54 2011)
Gabby Giffords? Dean, this is political discussion. People disagree here. Let's work to get the facts straight. How would you do it?
Jo (Mon Jan 24 07:32:54 2011)
Reduce healthcare, gut or privatize social security, gouge medicare and all this while corporations are registering record profits, Wall Sreet is handing out massive bonuses, the very banks that got us into trouble are prospering and clamoring for deregulation and we continue an endless war in the middle east costing over a billion a week?! What about thoughtful rational budgeting with a focus on America and Americans first? This ad nauseum prattle has succeeded in making my stomach sick.
bobbi (Mon Jan 24 07:49:57 2011)
Jo,
As you know, I have consistently said that no one should receive employer paid health insurance. So, Ron Johnson (unlike Kagen) and probably Reid Ribble (unlike Kagen) take the government plan , the employer plan, while striving to reduce access for people like me who pay our own way. And their government plan is paid for by me. Politicians should lead by example and in the past election when many of the newly elected talked about hypocritical politicians I still fail to see how this is OK that they continue to accept government run and taxpayer paid for health care!
dave allen (Mon Jan 24 08:00:29 2011)
Bobbi, you are absolutely correct, though none of this is going to occur while our "esteemed colleagues" are on the payroll of corporate interests.
Jack Lohman (Mon Jan 24 08:08:35 2011)
I will go you one better Jo. Conservatives must go on the offensive. Let the OTHER side respond.
Oh, and to others, I suppose tasing and regulating health care even more, adding countless bureaucracies and rules will make health insurance MORE affordable? No logic there.
Race to the bottom- 4 yrs ago the cost of government (taxes plus costs paid in compliance with all mandates) was 50% of the economy. Today it is lapping up against 70%. IF all unfunded and underfunded liabilities are paid, COG exceeds 100%, so there is NOTHING left for the private, productive, wealth producing private sector. THAT is the REAL race to the bottom. THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED and soon. Not just window dressing but real cuts before we completely destroy the economy.
Ken Van Doren (Mon Jan 24 14:36:25 2011)
I don’t see why the republicans want to do away with health care. Personally I wouldn’t mind paying a little more in taxes so everyone can have health care; I believe that’s what a civilized nation with civil people should do. When I was in college I broke a vertebra in my neck, had no insurance the medical bills piled up. When I got out of school I didn’t have student loans to pay I had a huge medical bill. I did eventually pay them off after it wrecked my credit for 10 years. I’m not saying Obama‘s plan is perfect but at least he’s trying something.
joe (Mon Jan 24 14:43:51 2011)
Joe, the most efficient way of providing health care to 100% of our people is a Medicare-for-all system. Canada's taxes are about 2% higher than ours.
And Ken, thank God Libertarians only represent 5% of our people.
Jack Lohman (Mon Jan 24 14:55:21 2011)
I eagerly await your heroes in Congress denying themselves coverage for preexisting conditions.
Marcus (Mon Jan 24 18:00:44 2011)
Members of Congress don't have government health care, they have private health care that is paid for by there employer, which happens to be government.
It's not a bunch of fat cat pols voting to take away the health insurance of poor people while voting to have it themselves. Any citizen can run for office, and if you win part of your compensation is a really nice health insurance. Congressman also get really nice offices and good salaries.
Obama-care leads us to a one size fits all Canadian style health care system. I prefer the free market system, I wish to have insurance, and along with my employer, I pay for it.
Why should I pay higher taxes to insure some loser who's not willing to pay his own way?
Rohn W. Bishop (Mon Jan 24 18:20:38 2011)
Glad you've got yours Rohn, but it's a stupid system.You and all taxpayers and businesses are paying a 20% premium.
Dennis Kucinich said it best:
"We have a for-profit health care system, where $800,000,000,000 every year is spent on corporate profits, stock options, executive salaries, advertising, marketing and the cost of paperwork.
"In the for-profit system that we have, nearly one out of every three health care dollars goes for things not related to health care. If we took that $800,000,000,000 and spent it on care for people, we'd have enough money to cover all medically necessary needs in addition to dental care, vision care, mental health care, prescription drugs and long-term care.
"We would not have a situation where 50 million Americans don't have any health insurance. Americans would not have to worry about losing everything they have worked a lifetime for because they have an illness in the family.
"This debate is the wrong debate. A for-profit model is the wrong model. We should be talking about universal health care, single-payer not-for-profit health care, Medicare for All, quality health care for all Americans."
And I'm glad you have a job... for the moment. The 50 million people without health care would love to have jobs, with healthcare, but our politicians have given away our country and jobs.
You need to learn the whole story.
Jack Lohman (Tue Jan 25 06:29:28 2011)
"The for profit model is the wrong model"
That's what our whole economy is based on, profit! You take profit out of the economy, it's... communism.
How about universal government paid for car washes? I like a clean car, then this way every one can afford the "Works Wash"
Or universal government paid for cable, or universal government paid for internet? Where does it end?
I'll take the private sector, and pay for what I want and need.
Rohn W. Bishop (Tue Jan 25 17:59:20 2011)
There are some things where your argument makes total sense, and I support the free market (to an extent). But the items you mention are elective commodities, not necessary to save life or limb. They are elastic, not inelastic. And medicare-for-all is 95% contracted private hospitals and clinics. It is neither communism or socialism.
Jack Lohman (Tue Jan 25 18:10:56 2011)
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