Are Democratic Blue Dogs peeking under the Tea Part tent or are they already in the tent? Could it be that the Blue Dog Democrats are Dixiecrats in disguise?
We’ve all been hearing the “Town Hall Meeting” stories the past few days, and the images presented have been of gatherings where you might see some current or former official “death panel” for the benefit of the crowd, where the few people who shout the loudest bully the rest into silence, and where threats of physical intimidation are part of the debate.
I attended one of these meetings, and based on what I saw I’m here to tell you that it is possible to hold an event that features none of the images previously described.
Instead, what I say was an event where people asked their questions, the Congressman answered—and from time to time the angry members of the audience got their shout on, too...but not in a way that was able to ever take control of the venue.
There were helpful lessons that can be applied by others who want to have these meetings, and today’s conversation examines what can be done to make them work for you, too.
So you think the Blue Dog Democrats and thier Republican bedfellas are fiscally conservative? Does $187.1 million in campaign contributions from health and insurance interests sound conservative? Maybe it does to the C Street crowd, but to this dumb ass Hillbilly it sounds like a pay off to me. Reckon this bunch prayed over the definition of fiscally conservative before they took the $187.1 million? Ok enough ranting, let's get to the facts.
* Members of five committees working on health care reform legislation received $187.1 million in campaign contributions over their career from health and insurance interests
* Elected officials who voted against health reform legislation received 65% more in contributions from health and insurance interests than officials who voted for reform
* Health reform legislation is bottled up in two committees whose members have received nearly $100 million in campaign contributions from vested industries. Click hereto read the entire report.
Boy it is not hard to figure out why single-payer was taken off the table. It is not hard to realize why even a Public Option is now suddenly threatened. With folks like Max Baucus being bought off daily, no wonder doing the right thing has been so hard. Come to find out, ol Max is making a bundle off the Healthcare debate and it is likely shaping the way the bill will end up looking like in that Chamber.
Regina Benjamin nominated by President Obama to be our next surgeon general, looks like the real deal. So what's the big deal about this appointment? It's a contrast appointment. It's a moral appointment. It's a appointment that sends a clear message to the greedy, selfish Corporate Health Care industry. Regina Benjamin is the antithesis of the Corporate Health Care industry. She is a Dr. that makes house calls and buys medicine for her patients out of her own pocket. Yes Barack Obama sent a clear message to the greedy CEO's and the Republicans when he made this appointment. Barack Obama took the moral high ground away from the Republicans. Now the Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats have the option of supporting the morally right Regina Benjamin or the immoral, greedy Corporate Health Care industry. Brilliant!
Bill LaFrana sent us a copy of his email to the Blue Dog Democrats and one he sent to Ben Chandler. Bill has given us permission to post them. It will take thousand of emails like these to make a difference. Bill's emails are after the hump. The Blue Dog email address is BlueDog@mail.house.gov
Connie Morris sent me a copy of her email to the Blue Dog Democrats and has given us permission to post it. It will take thousand of emails like these to make a difference. Connie's email is after the hump. The Blue Dog email address is BlueDog@mail.house.gov
After President Obama came back from overseas and "persuaded" Congress to get serious about Healthcare, lawmakers in the House have gotten on the ball. They unveiled their plan today to overhaul the system. It has a lot of good things in it, but predictably awaits an uncertain fate in the "House of Lords" known as the U.S. Senate and will probably draw opposition from Corporate Democrats as well as Republicans.
Blue Dog Democrats, better known around here as "Corporate Democrats" are becoming upset at the process on the healthcare plan that is shaping in the Congress. Unfortunately, they are not upset that the current debate may yet leave millions of their constituents uninsured but they are seemingly upset that they are not being given enough room by the leadership to sink a public option. It appears they are upset with Democrats who actually want to pass reform that benefits more than the insurance companies.
