As we move at breakneck speed into the final days and hours of the healthcare showdown, it's a ghastly feeling to be betrayed by some of our own, but that's exactly what's happening.
We're going to identify the villains and put names and faces on these people thugs. Sadly, they call themselves Democrats.
Get out the popcorn for the videos that follow.
We need to shame these people into doing the right thing. This work costs money, can you please continue to donate.
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UPDATE:
Mike Ross Will be on CSPAN this Sunday Morning from 10 - 10:30 AM EST. I believe this is live with call-ins. It would be a true homerun if he heard from us, especially people who live in his district. If the Mike Ross segment is live, here are the CSPAN call in numbers:
Democrat(202) 737-0002
Rrepublican (202) 737-0002
Independent (202)628-0205
Here's where we stand. Both the Ways and Means Committee and the Education and Labor Committee in the House have passed the America's Affordable Health Choices Act, the House's health reform bill. We have now officially made it farther than Bill Clinton did in the 1990s. It's historic.
One would think, that all Democrats would want to lock arms and march together up Constitution Avenue, given the enormity of this achievement. Well one would be wrong to have such a thought.
Here are a few Democrats who just don't think it's necessary that all Americans have guaranteed and affordable healthcare.
Democrats need to learn once and for all that you can't build a majority on the backs of Blue Dog traitors.
Democratic Betrayers on Education and Labor:
Mr. Obama took no questions Friday afternoon after giving what amounted to a dressing-down to some legislators in both parties just hours after the House Committee on Education and Labor approved legislation remake the nation’s health care system by a 26-to-22 vote. Three Democrats crossed party lines to vote against the bill — Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, Jared Polis of Colorado and Dina Titus of Nevada.
Democratic Betrayers on Ways and Means
That vote came eight hours after the House Ways and Means Committee approved the measure, 23 to 18, with three Democrats voting no. They were Ron Kind of Wisconsin, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and John Tanner of Tennessee.
A ROGUES GALLERY OF TRAITOR DEMS
Earl (Blue Cross) Pomeroy
Jane Hamsher had a chat with Earl (Blue Cross) Pomeroy. Mr. Pomeroy is a proud Blue Dog Democrat. He is also the former insurance commissioner of North Dakota.
Mike (We can kill this legislation) Ross
Here's all the contact information for Mr. Ross, put the numbers on your speed dial!
Talk about infuriating. Dana Bash from CNN had the guy who's threatening to derail the most important domestic legislation of the last fifty years and she couldn't bring herself to ask a single relevant question. Why? I'll tell you why. It's called access. If she asks a question which might benefit the American people she loses her access to all of them. It's also known as a quid pro quo, go along and get along. Who loses? The American people, we always lose.
Then along comes Mike Stark. Mike is what is known as the skunk at the party. Funny, they're always running--to a meeting, or a vote, if anyone asks them a consequential uncomfortable question.
Still not angry? Take a look at Mike's "How Can I Help You" page. Do you see healthcare on the list? Nah. Mike and his family have really good taxpayer subsidized healthcare. His constituents? They can just shut up and die
Meet Blue Dog Dan (Americans don't want no public funding of abortion) Lipinski.
Dan wants you to know that the American people stand with him, in their opposition to the public funding of abortion. And Dan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with pro life Americans, so he proudly declares, "I'll vote against healthcare reform if it includes public funding for abortion."
Dan, what do you have to say to Terri Zduncyk a very desperate constituent? You think she gives a rat's ass about public funding of abortion?
Some in Congress are talking about delaying health care reform for another three weeks through the August Congressional recess. Just to put a fine point on it, over three weeks in America: * 143,250 people will lose their health insurance coverage [pdf] * 53,507 people will file for bankruptcy because they can't pay their medical bills * 1,265 people will die [pdf] because they lack coverage
Here are some national numbers on our American catastrophe:
- 44,230 more people are losing health coverage each week. - 191,670 more people are losing health coverage each month. - 2.3 million more people are losing health coverage each year (more people than live in the state of Nebraska!)
Then broken down by state:
Maine (Collins, Snowe) = people losing coverage/week: 110, month: 500, year: 5,950 Connecticut (Lieberman) = losing coverage/week: 310, month: 1350, year: 16,220 Nebraska (Nelson) = losing coverage/week: 220, month: 930, year: 11,210 Oregon (Wyden) = losing coverage/week: 620, month: 2,690, year: 32,300 Louisiana (Landrieu) = losing coverage/week:810, month: 3,530, year: 42,350
And meet Charles Gonzalez (not a Blue Dog).
Contrast the demeanor of Gonzalez to that of Mike Ross Public Enemy # 1. We may not agree 100% with Mr. Gonzalez, but at least he has the sense to engage in a reasonable discussion with our intrepid reporter. When you are not covered in shame, when you have as much to hide as Public Enemy #1 Mike Ross does, it's not so damn difficult to face a few serious questions.
Here's a heads up for next week. We'll need you to do what it takes with the traitor Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Instructions to follow. If you live in the Mike Ross Congressional district your calls are critically important.
Even Organizing for America, President Obama's organization is advertising against Ross. And Organizing for America is rolling out a nationwide listening tour, targeting the traitor Blue Dog.
Here again, if you can continue to donate, it helps us do this work.
This will likely be the only opportunity in our lifetime to bring guaranteed and affordable healthcare to all Americans. Can you please support this fight? We cannot let down the American people. https://secure.firedoglake.com/...
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