Cross-posted in various forms at Eclectablog.com.
GOPosaurs, look. You lost. We won. That's called DEMOCRACY. Just like you accused us of beating dead horses when we lost the election to Bush, it's now time for you to move on.
I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods but, here in Michigan, the GOP just can't seem to let it go.
Two absurd examples after the jump.
While the Obama administration, Congressional Dems and Organizing for America are working diligently to spread the good word about the recently-passed health insurance reform law, GOP Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08) is working very hard to keep fear levels at "11".
From the Tea Party Times Livingston County Daily Press & Argus we had this article earlier this week: "Rogers warns of bad omens for small businesses":
Rogers was the headline speaker at Tuesday's Good Morning Livingston program at Cleary University's Johnson Center in Genoa Township.
He told a packed room that the federal government's reach into the health-care and banking industries will prove detrimental to small businesses.
Rogers said the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — which he voted against — is already hampering business growth because employers are nervous about new costs they may incur through the health-care overhaul.
Hmmmm...why would they be nervous, I wonder? Could it possibly be because guys like Rogers are running around telling people to be scared? Naahhhhh...
I mean: yup.
On one hand you have people like my Congressman, Mark Schauer, reaching out to seniors and business owners, letting them know the positive impacts the new law will have in store for them.
On the other you have Rogers racheting up the Fear-O-Meter based on nothing more than his own hatred of all things Obama/Democrat.
Here's a funny bit:
Rogers, among other fiscal conservatives, continues to question how deficits can be cut when the health-care law involves expenditures.
"I don't know how it works," he said.
Really, Congressman? Is this one of those "Read the damn bill!" moments? Dude, it took me all of about 15 minutes with teh Googles to figure it out. I wrote an extensive blog about HERE, in fact.
So much easier to just SCARE people, though, right?
You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Congressman Rogers. What our country and our state and our seniors and our business owners need most right now is an injection of enthusiasm and optimism. That's the starting point for any economic recovery. Your Fear TourTM is just the opposite of what our leaders in Congress should be doing right now.
I only wish we had a stronger Democrat running against you in November.
And then there's our (not) good friend from Michigan's 7th district, one-term former Congressman Tim Walberg, who is holding a series of town hall meetings that "will focus on repealing and replacing the recently passed health care bill."
What is it about democracy that these Republicans hate so much? Because it means they lose sometimes??? Tim Walberg, as you may know, is the man who once said "Right now everybody in the United State has some health care, maybe even the emergency room...everyone can walk in an emergency room and receive basic health care". Classic.
He has two upcoming town halls and we (OFA and other local Democrats) are working diligently to turn out large numbers of supporters of President Obama and Congressman Mark Schauer to show Tim Walberg and the anti-reformers that our leaders in Washington ARE listening to us and that we support their efforts on behalf of Americans -- Americans without health insurance, Americans with pre-existing conditions and Americans and American small businesses being bankrupted by escalating health insurance costs.
For those in the area, here are the details:
The Chelsea event is NEXT MONDAY, April 26th and the second event is in Jackson on Tuesday, May 4th.
RSVP for the Chelsea event here: http://my.barackobama.com/...
Time: Monday, April 26 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: Christopher Wolff
Contact Phone: 734-546-0155
Location:
Chelsea Clocktower (Chelsea, MI)
320 N. Main Street
Chelsea, MI 48118
RSVP for the Jackson event here: http://my.barackobama.com/...
Time: Tuesday, May 4 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Host: Jody Money
Location:
Commonwealth Commerce Center (Jackson, MI)
209 E. Washington
Jackson, MI 49201
Please do RSVP as soon as possible so we can see how many folks plan to attend.
As it says on the event page:
We are standing up for reform that does the following for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, where Chelsea resides:
- Gives tax credits and other assistance to up to 167,000 families and 12,100 small businesses to help them afford coverage
- Improve Medicare for over 109,000 beneficiaries, including closing the doughnut hole
- Guarantees the 8,600 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage
- Allows 51,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents' insurance plans
- Protects 1,600 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs
- Provides millions of dollars in funding for 12 community health centers
We are starting our events earlier than Mr. Walberg's events to show his supporters when they arrive that WE are in the majority, not them. Arrive early. Be friendly. And most of all: BRING A FUN SIGN!
Here are some suggestions for your signs but, please, use your imagination and create your own!
"I support Congressman Schauer and President Obama!"
"Health insurance reform is law - that's called DEMOCRACY!"
"Washington IS listening to us! Thank you, Congressman Schauer!"
"Health insurance reform that lowers the deficit? Thank you, Congressman Schauer!"
"The emergency room is not 'health care'!"
"Still siding with Big Insurance Companies? How very Republican of you."
"We won the election. Get over it."
and, of course, the ever-popular -- "Waffles are delicious!"
And, don't forget: this is a public town hall meeting. Please go inside and ask Tim Walberg all the right questions. You know what to do :)
GOPosaurs: YOU LOST! Get over it. Move on. Health insurance reform is now LAW. Washington IS listening to us and democracy, painful and ugly as it sometimes is, prevailed.
I'm just sayin'...