I got a call from my Ohio Republican Congressman's office today and ended up talking to two different aides for about half an hour. The original reason for the call was a response to an email I sent them about the Congressman voting against the war supplemental. I don't like how Republicans make those kind of votes tests of patriotism when they are in the Majority, but look for excuses to vote no when in the minority. The aide said the congressman was worried about the lack of language preventing the release of detainee abuse photos. I mentioned that the President had given his word that they would not be released. He then said that the bill included funding for the IMF that could ultimately go to nations that support terrorism.
I told him that when it came down to it; the Congressman voted against funding of the troops that were placed on the field of battle by the previous administration. I told him I thought that the Congressman should have voted yes and sucked up to the fact that there were going to things in bills he didn't like now that he was in the minority. He got a little flustered and didn't really have a response so I put in a By the way, why I have you on the phone, I want to talk to you about health insurance reform...
I then tried to engage him on the health insurance reform debate. He quickly transfered me to another aide...
I got a lot of the Republican taking points from her... It is going to put the government in charge, etc. I told her that I was fine with that as my income keeps being eroded by increasing insurance premiums and deductibles. I suggested that with lower administrative costs and having a health incentive, rather than a profit incentive, it might make me better off. She then said, but your taxes will have to go up. I told her that I thought that would be great. That the tax increase I would pay for better better health care would be more than offset by not having to pay 10-20% premium increases every year on top of a $1200 deductible. She finally agreed that I might be better off.
I asked her if my understanding was correct that the Representative was against the public option. She agreed and we sparred over that for a time. I then asked, why should we have a private option at all? Silence. She did say repeatedly the Representative wanted to reform health care. I asked her why when he was in the majority for 6 years he didn't do anything about it. She said, well he supported S-Chip. I reminded her that that vote was last winter after the Democrats gained a huge majority in Congress and after his party had blocked it in the previous Congress. What else did he do while in the majority? He supported the Medicare prescription benefit. I reminded her that that was the one that was passed and was paid for with deficit spending and did not allow the government to bargain for lower drug prices. Why was the Representative now complaining that the health insurance reform might not be fully paid for? She then said that the Republicans did offer 23 amendments in the ways and means mark-up, for example, Congressmen should all have to be put into the public option. I asked her how those kind of political posturing amendments were going to improve my health care? Silence. I got the feeling that she wanted the call to end.
The last topic I spoke with her about was this birther craziness coming from southern Republicans. I asked her why the Representative had not denounced the crazies? She said that by saying anything about it, it would lend credibility to those making the argument. I told her I expected by Congressman to be braver and stand up for the truth. She again said he would not comment on the matter. I asked her if there were going to be any townhall meetings that I could attend - they do theirs as a tele-town hall on conference calls on the phone. He does not have public town hall meetings. Apparently, he doesn't like to rub elbows with the people.
What I learned: It is time to go on the offensive. Don't just pressure the blue dogs, but go after those moderate Republicans in the Midwest and in New England (oops, I forgot there are no more Republican Congressmen in New England). Anyway, take the fight to them and make them defend their inaction that created this mess. Once you get beyond their SCARE RHETORIC, they don't have much of an argument!