Democrats who voted against SCHIP need to feel the heat. I know that my district is pretty conservative. I don't expect much from my representative. I understand that he usually votes with the Republicans on military matters. I don't like it, but I accept it.
I do not accept his vote on SCHIP. It's unconscionable. I sent him an e-mail to let him know just how I feel. My exact words follow.
Your vote against the the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was unconscionable. As you well know this is not a wealthy district. Many children in our district don't have insurance and their parents are hard pressed to pay medical bills. We will all save money if kids go to doctors' offices instead of emergency rooms.
Most importantly, children will die because of delayed treatment for financial reasons without SCHIP. The United States has a much higher infant mortality rate than most other developed countries. I cannot comprehend why you would vote to let children die. There is no excuse.
You seem to have forgotten part of your education at Campbell College. Perhaps these words will refresh your memory and remind you of your responsibilities.
- Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
- For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
- Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
- Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
- When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
- Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
- And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
You and I have an obligation to help sick children - a higher obligation. SCHIP will help sick children get well.
My wife is on-call 24 hours a day most days of the year to deliver healthy babies into the world. She does everything humanly possible that an obstetrician can do to help those babies get off to a good start. She accepts patients before they get Medicaid and risks going unpaid. Patients get equal treatment regardless of financial status.
I am furious that you would let some babies get inadequate care because they have parents who lack insurance or the ability to pay.
I donate money to Democrats. However, you will never see one red cent from me if you do not vote with the Democratic Party to over ride Bush's veto of SCHIP.
Not one red cent.
Ever.
UPDATE:
Reps that are targeted:
Politically, Democrats have begun targeting Republicans to try to sway their votes. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began airing radio ads against the following eight Republicans on the SCHIP issue: Steve Chabot (Ohio), Thelma Drake (Va.), Tom Feeney (Fla.), Sam Graves (Mo.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.), Jim Saxton and Tim Walberg (Mich.).
Between those who weren't around for the first SCHIP vote and the 'present' vote -- from Rep. Dianne Watson (D-Calif.) -- Democrats believe they have a handful of other votes they could count on during a veto override, putting them at around 270 votes in favor of the program.
If they are successful in flipping five to 10 Republicans in the next week or two, the real pressure will likely fall on the eight Democrats who voted against the program, almost all of whom represent rural conservative districts: Reps. David Boren (Okla.), Betty Castor (Fla.), Bobby Etheridge (N.C.), Baron Hill (Ind.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Jim Marshall (Ga.), Mike McIntyre (N.C.), and Gene Taylor (Miss.).