I have had the misfortune of calling ALL the senators' offices today who are "members" of that vile "Gang of 15". And we MUST be getting to them, so keep it up! All of then were VERY rude to me except for - ironically - Evan Bayh's office. I am fortunate enough to have had the resources to contribute rather heavily to many many Democratic candidates and incumbents throughout the last few cycles.
Senator Claire McCaskill's office was the most rude senatorial office I have EVER called. I gave her a grand in 2006. Yes, you cannot, and should not, be able to buy a senator. But I am sure if I was a registered lobbyist employed by a healthcare company, that grand would have gone a HELL of a lot further.
The most interesting thing i encountered was speaking to Sen. Blanche Lincoln's office in her home state of Missouri. Haha, the staffer tried to give me a line of bullshit that her constituents DO NOT WANT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE BECAUSE "ARKANSAS IS A CONSERVATIVE STATE." Well, I told the rude and nasty staffer, I LIVED in Arkansas for two years during the Clinton years as part of my job. And the sheer poverty, both black and white, was absolutely appalling. Now, I can agree that AR is a "conservative state" based on SOCIAL ISSUES, like abortion and such. But that 40% of Arkansasans who lack health insurance would beg to disagree that they would turn down having decent. quality health insurance because they, oh, live in a "conservative state."
Fucking-A, these people are such liars and are in the pocket of the health care lobby. As for the gang of 15 assholes, they will NEVER EVER see a dime of mine again. In fact, If UHC fails, I will max out each and every one of their GOP opponents. And I can do it. (I don't mean to sound arrogant in saying that, so I apologize if I came across as obnoxious there).
But, not all is lost. Based on the sheer rudeness and outright hostility, WE MUST MAKING PROGRESS! Or why else would they be so exacerbated. Continue to donate money to organizations, many of which are readily accessible on the front page of this site every single day, but also, call call call call call call call call call their offices and MAKE them see our point of view.
But, as God as my witness, folks like that awful disappointing Claire McCaskill, whom I had very high hopes for, has seen the last of my hard earned dollars. So has Senator Evan Bayh (R Asshole - IN)