We had Thanksgiving with my mom and a few family members today. It was good to see her and visit with some of my family. My dad passed away several years ago and I miss him everyday.
I want to sincerely state that I am thankful for many things. Being born in this country and all of those that helped start and save this country over it’s history. I am thankful for my mom and dad, my family, my teachers my friends who helped me through the difficult times. I am thankful for many things including the good Americans that visit and comment here and all the other patriotic Americans who are trying to save this country. However, of all the people in my life, I most of all want to thank my mom.
My mom is almost 85, still fairly spry and has a everpresent great attitude. She cooked a large Thanksgiving meal for us and she was at her happiest doing so, doing for others, especially her family.
My mom became the oldest child after her older brother was killed by a car. She grew up in the country, just outside a small town in NC. She lived through the Great Depression and they were fortunate to grow most of their food. Even so, she has told me many stories of picking up coal along the side of railroad tracks, of traveling hobos begging for food.
My mother made excellent grades in school but had to drop out before finishing to help her family. She was a stay at home mom for us four children part of the time, but when she did work, she worked at jobs that people who didn’t finish high school got. My mother has always worked hard, whether tending to our needs or working outside the home. She never complained.
My mother continues to give to her family, her community and church and to those sick at home. She always has a smile to give and is always thinking of others. I believe that is much of the secret to her happiness. She is always thinking of others.
My mother worked hard and sacrificed so that I could attend school and college. So that I could get the better jobs.
I was truly blessed by God to have such a mother. I am very thankful.
I am writing this message to you as my significant other assembles Christmas packages for five elderly ladies in an assisted living facility not far from us. These ladies have no family members to care for them. This is an annual tradition at the coffee shop we frequent, the same coffee shop where I bring you so many tidings of gloom.
My lady deserves all the credit for this. She just got back from shopping and also tried to deliver an old coat for a drive for those in need of winter apparel. Just a hint for those females who bank on the best makeup, shoes and dresses. For most of us, it is still what is on the inside that matters most and she just became even lovelier.
Watching her came at a most fortuitous time for me. I had just finished reading the Ellen Goodman article about Sarah Palin and her book. Another veiled attempt to put down Sarah Palin and what is right about this country. The bane of my existence is reading about so much negativity and attacks on good people.
So, let us not forget the good in this world and that people matter. No matter what the Senate and House do, irrespective of the socialist agenda of the Obama Administration, there is good around us and a reason for us to go on and embrace what is right about this country.
“Oh, that God the gift would give us
To see ourselves as others see us”… Robert Burns
Mike Huckabee is on a 60 city tour to promote his new book, ” A Simple Christmas.” Friday, November 13, 2009, Governor Huckabee was at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, NC to sign copies of his book. I shook hands with Mr. Huckabee and shared a few brief comments with him about this blog.
To Governor Mike Huckabee from the Citizen Wells blog, concerned Americans across the nation.
Mr. Huckabee, you do seem to be a very nice man, there is a consenus of agreement on that, but you have offended many concerned Americans with your uninformed opinion on Obama’s eligibility issues and your stance on illegal aliens and other issues. Upholding the US Constitution and rule of law is the highest priority of the good people reading this blog as well as millions of other Americans. These are hard working, sincere Americans that do not fit neetly into compartments of birthers and right wing conservatives. This blog, like the tea party movement, represents Americans of all political parties, economic strata and religious persuasions. Your Pelosi like insults of those questioning Obama and his natural born citizen status were not taken lightly. I suggest you do some homework and listen. Even Lou Dobbs of CNN, the Communist News Network, acknowledged that the suspicious COLB presented by the Obama camp was just a piece of paper that referred to another piece of paper.
Last year Fox was the only network presenting any realistic coverage of issues surrounding Barack Obama. Sean Hannity and then Glenn Beck asked probing questions that the MSM ignored or glossed over. However, I critized Fox then for not covering controversial issues surrounding Obama. Some of those issues have now been addressed and still Fox has been hands off on the eligibility issue. Bill O’Reilly has bragged about grilling Obama in an interview last year, and perhaps, compared to the MSM, he did. However, many well informed Americans, including myself, believe O’Reilly gave Obama a free ride.
So Governor Huckabee, it is somewhat understandable why you were ill informed regarding Obama’s eligibility. However, ultimately, you should not have insulted well informed, concerned Americans who rightfully believe that Obama is not a natural born citizen. It is not too late. Below are comments from the good Americans of this blog. Some retired military, some with legal educations, but all genuinely care about this country.
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:08pm Pixel Patriot
“Huckabee might be a nice man but he is still a hypocrite. You can’t condone ILLEGAL immigration and open borders during a time of war while there are laws on the books going unfunded and unenforced. I would have more respect for him if he advocated compassionately deporting the ILLEGAL immigrants ASAP and hitting the employers with hefty fines while simultaneously changing the immigration laws so that more are allowed to enter every year but from the back of the line. If the families don’t want to be separated, the families go too until they get back in. No more anchor babies. Also, the radical Islamic jihadists are the first to go and it is just fine if the door hits them in the butt on the way out!
Oh, don’t forget that Huckabee is on record saying Obama is a citizen and born in Hawaii. Huckabee is either complicit in covering for Obama’s crimes via silence or too incomprehensibly negligent to be a candidate for the office of the POTUS and not have a legal research team to definitively determine his opponents’ eligibility when in question as obvious as it was. Remember, the BC is not the issue; it is the dual nationalities which Obama publicly admitted to before the election.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:30pm Maddie
“Great points, Pixel Patriot. Although there are
plusses with Huckabee, I did hear him go down
the complacent trail of citizen and Hawaii. I’m not hitching my wagon to anyone who does that.
Ba-bye Huck.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:45pm citizenwells
“Huckabee was not my candidate in 2008 and I do not know if I could ever
vote for him.
However, he is intelligent and articulate and is not going away.
He appears to have opened his eyes on the Obama Camp and
he may be trainable.
Does he have the scruples he appears to have?
We will find out.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:06pm c.n.d.e. ville II
“At the moment, my litmus test for the salvageableness of any office holder is the eligibility issue. If Huckabee today starts asking questions about o’s background and eligibility for office, I MIGHT move him from my “I want you our of our government immediately” list to my “okay, maybe not immediately, but you had REALLY better mean this” list.
Realistically, since, at the moment, no potential candidates seem to pass my test, I may have to revise my standards. Sigh. lol Story of my life.
I dunno, if we keep settling for the lesser of evils, will we ever get the good (with warts and all, of course)?” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:53pm Don
“Huckabee isn’t my first choice. I would vote for him as the lesser of two evils, like I did McCain.
I did NOT like his stance on illegal aliens.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:06pm Maddie
“ARMY DAV—That’s exactly when I took him off the list—we are not right wing loonies.
Mr. Huckabee has now joined the ostriches
with their heads stuck in the sand—
hear no evil, see no evil little “cozy clan!””
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:08pm Magna Carta
“I do not trust Huckabee.There was a rape case or something in his home state and he let the guy out or something that really got some people worked up…THEY DID NOT WANT HIM TO ADVANCE.
Then,he did the Wal-Mart thing with illegals..pushing for DREAM ACT…etc…
Snake-oil salesman in my book.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:10pm Linda from NY
“Huckabee is a likable guy; soft-spoken and not apt to “go off the deep end,” but not POTUS material IMHO.
If he is complicit in the eligibility issue as many of you have said, then I cannot trust him to lead.
The “lesser of two evils” vote never appealed to me…that expression just irks me.
I am looking for the man/woman who is a proponent of the “greater good.”
They have to be more than willing to “talk the talk;” they will have to demonstrate to me they can “walk the walk.”
We need to vote in those who are willing to “fight” for the Constitution to be upheld, and the Declaration of Independence to be respected.
I am certain that will be easy to determine from what we already know.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:13pm Buraq ’08
“I’m not interested in Mike Huckabee in any way, shape, or form.
Firstly, he is much too soft spoken. He sounds like a therapist. A person either has leadership qualities, or he doesn’t. Mike doesn’t.
Secondly, he is a typical republican.
Thirdly, he looks like Gomer Pyle.
Fourthly, I support Sarah Palin.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:27pm Buraq ’08
“@ Citizenwells:
Heh, sorry. Sometimes I can get carried away.
Since the 2008 elections. I find that my patience is very thin for certain republicans. What really bugs me the most is that the GOP seems incapable of producing conservative leaders. I am very bothered by what seems to be the GOP’s intention to run the exact same failed candidates from 2008 as if they have learned nothing at all.
If they try to nominate McCain, Romney, or Huckabee again, I think my head may explode.
From my standpoint, Sarah Palin was the only bright spot from 2008.
Ideally, what I would like to see in a candidate is a true conservative fighter, and I really mean a fighter. Mike just comes across as too passive to me. Perhaps I am wrong.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:47pm ARMY D.A.V.
“Romney vs Huckabee or RINO vs RINO”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 7:00pm Prairie
“My take on Huckabee. When the country is being taken over by marxists, his show has not tackled one controversial topic outside of abortion. He is the really nice boy in school- that no girl would date. He doesn’t have what it takes to lead.” Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 8:04pm live oak
“Never Huckabee!!!”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 4:04am usapatriots-shout.blogspot.com
“Huckabee is likable but disingenous to me. What specifically turned me against him was his denial about Obama’s ineligibility to be president.
The man or woman who would be our next president will do so if He/she runs on the platform of restoring America to the republic under the Constitution, promising to challenge Obama’s sealed documents, tightening the borders, repealing the health care plan –if Senate passes it and redefining America as a Christian/Judeo country. In my observations I think Palin has the guts to do this. It also may well depend upon who runs with her and if she stays with the Republicans or creates a third party.”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 8:46am Portuguese Revolutionary War Hero – Peter Francisco
“COUNT me as a NOOOOOOOOOOO.
We will Not settle for an appeaser and softy. We will not settle for a coneiver and one that conspired with McAmensty during teh election to SCREW Romeny and teh Republicans therefore getting us STUCK with a RINO who hushed, handcuffed and sabotaged his VP candidate and his own candidacy by sticking up MORE for BO than Palin. After the disaster of an INSURGENCY PRESIDENCY we need a STRONG CANDIDATE that we all can support and unite behind someone fromthe Reagan Wing of the Repuke Party otherwise lets start a new party.
Palin and DeMint or Bachmann are my Top Choices and we shoudl start organizing for them strating NOW.
Forget the DISRUPTERS which is what The Huckster is right along with his running mate McCain.
We need someone with Strong Conservative Principles that clearly has the character and the guts to Stand Firm, communicate clearly and take decisive actions. Someone that we will follow without doubts or REGRETS.
Palin, DeMint, Bachmann NO BODY ELSE right now. Even Romney is too weak as a Conservative even though I like him economically, but he has disappeared and that isn’t good.
Romney should run for Kennedy’s Senate seat and maybe in 2020 run for President”
Mike Huckabee, are you going to be a Statesman or a Politician?
We want our representatives to be nice and exercise protocol to the extent that it protects the American public.
John McCain was polite last year but he did not look after the interests of the public. We fault him for that.
Governor Mike Huckabee, who ran for president in 2008 and is a regular on Fox TV, appeared at a book signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, NC, today, Friday, November 13, 2009. I spoke briefly to Governor Huckabee and he is just as nice in person as he is on TV. A large crowd stood in line for the signing of Huckabee’s book, “A Simple Christmas.”
While waiting in line I spoke to several people about the state of the country, health care and Congress. All of the folks I spoke to seemed like average Americans and they weer not happy with Congress or the Health Care Bill.
One lady, much younger than I had recently moved from Florida. She has always voted and is not happy with the current state of things. She bought 6 of Huckabee’s books.
A couple near my age group were very unhappy with the state of things and especially the Health Care Bill. The lady stated I should run for office. Ouch. I must control my passion.
An older lady next to me was also concerned. She stated that she had never seen things go from bad to worse as when Obama got elected. She was very concerned but seemed pleased to hear of efforts to unseat congressmen next year.
MN Representative Michele Bachmann will be at the steps of the US Capitol Building on Thursday, November 5, 2009 to confront Nancy Pelosi and Congress about the socialist Health Care Bill being rammed down our throats.
“Bachmann: My Capitol Tea Party is ‘The Super Bowl of Freedom'”
Despite this occuring on a work day, many are planning on traveling to Washington DC to attend. Here is a notice of a bus trip from NC.
Due to overwhelming response from AFP members in North Carolina, we will take a bus from Raleigh to DC on Thursday, November 5th.
Nancy Pelosi is trying to ram a 1,990 page House bill down the throats of the American people, and Congress is expected to vote by the end of this week.
I’m asking you to take a crucial step before the House votes on the Health Care Bill and make a “Congressional House Call” this Thursday, November 5th in Washington, DC to tell your Senators and Congressman to vote NO on the government health care takeover.
Please catch the bus leaving from Raleigh if you are able. Michele Bachmann is gathering Members together for this event as we all join together and say, “Keep Your Hands Off My Health Care. Vote NO!”
Limited space available, the bus is leaving from the Raleigh District Drive Park and Ride lot at 6:30 am. (Directions Below) Eat breakfast before you come, bring a packed lunch and some cash for an inexpensive dinner on the way home.
Please register online for only $40. Due to limited time and space, we will only accept online registrations. Please click here to register.
If you wish to drive to DC yourself, here are the event details:
WHAT: Health Care “House Call” on Capitol Hill
WHO: Americans concerned about our health care future
WHEN: Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 12:00-1:00pm
WHERE: East Front Steps of the U.S. Capitol (House Side)
Dress casually and appropriately for the weather. Wear your walking shoes! If time permits, we will visit our Congressional offices. We hope to be back in Raleigh mid to late evening.
Additionally, there will be a Conference Call with Tim Phillips and Rep. Michelle Bachmann (MN-6) today, November 3rd at 5:00-5:30pm. Call 888-632-5950 and you will be directly connected by an operator. (This will be a short informational call with details for Thurs, there will be no Q&A)
Directions to catch the Bus
We will leave at 6:30 am at the District Drive Park and Ride which is just north of the intersection of Wade Avenue and Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. Please leave early to catch the bus Thursday morning allowing time for rush hour traffic, road construction, and getting lost.
Raleigh Bus Driving Directions
From Raleigh
Coming from downtown Raleigh on Wade Avenue, you will exit onto Blue Ridge Road. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Blue Ridge. Make a quick Left onto District Drive.
Coming from Hillsborough Street, you will go north on Blue Ridge Road, pass the intersection of Wade Avenue/I-40 and then turn left onto District Drive.
From Durham, Chapel Hill and other places west of Raleigh
Traveling on I-40 East, you will take the Wade Avenue Exit. Go a couple miles and then take the Blue Ridge Road exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Blue Ridge Road. Go a short distance and turn left on District Drive.
From East of Raleigh
Traveling on I-40 W, take INNER Beltline/I-440/I-40 West. You will drive quite a distance across the southern edge of Raleigh on this road. You will take exit 293 and then a quick 293B which is still INNER Beltline I-440. Then take Exit 4 Wade Avenue. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Wade Avenue/I-40 West. Go about ½ miles and take Blue Ridge Road exit. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Blue Ridge Road. Go one short block and turn left onto District Drive.
I just returned from voting in NC, Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
I voted against the Obama agenda and the modern day Democrat Party.
I voted for upholding the US Constitution and rule of law.
I do not care for either party.
I voted a straight ticket.
I prefer to not vote a straight ticket.
However, this is an emergency.
I do not comprehend how an intelligent, well informed, concerned American voter can support the modern day Democrat Party.
Voting for Republican candidates was the lesser of evils.
However, going forward, all elected officials will be held more accountable.
I, and the rest of the American public, have had it with politically motivated, self serving politicians of all affiliations.
Let’s get by this emergency over the next year, vote out the jackasses in 2010, let all running for office know that we are watching them and expect them to act more like statesmen and less like politicians and return this country to a Constitutional Republic with liberty and justice for all.
Bank of America, according to the Wall Street Journal, has “suspended current commitments” to Acorn Housing, an affiliated group, and “will not enter into any further agreements with Acorn or any of its affiliates,” pending assessments by the bank of the organization’s operations. We know that if Bank of America was relying on the Charlotte Observer for news, they were not getting the truth about ACORN and Obama. However, as reported on this and other blogs, ACORN corruption and exploitation of the poor has been exposed for years. From Citizen Wells, October 8, 2008 – Catholic Bishops report, 1997, ACORN corruption
“To be eligible to receive CHD funds, a program must be run by the poor, benefit the poor, and change social structures that harm the poor.” However, in light of the politically oriented thrust of ACORN’s activities, it is fair to ask whether the CHD subsidies to ACORN are advisable and commensurate with the purposes of CHD.”
“This commentary does not oppose CHD funding of genuine, grassroots community organizations, run and supported by individual members of a parish or diocese. There is potential value and virtue in the collective voice. However, when the CHD funds Alinsky-style, church-based community organizations as in the best interest of the poor and supports organizations which advance other agendas, it divests the poor of their right to an authentic voice. This process tends to treat the poor as exploited units of human capital, rather than as human beings created in the dignity of God’s image.”
Do any Catholics work for Bank of America?
From Catholic News Service October 16, 2008.
“The Catholic Campaign for Human Development suspended funding a nationwide community organizing group after it was disclosed June 2 that nearly $1 million had been embezzled.
Funding was suspended for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, popularly known as ACORN, because of the financial irregularities, said Ralph McCloud, executive director of CCHD, the U.S. bishops’ domestic anti-poverty and social justice program.
“We’re not funding them at any level,” McCloud told Catholic News Service Oct. 15.
The suspension covers all 40 ACORN affiliates nationwide that had been approved for $1.13 million in grants for the funding cycle that started July 1, 2008.”
October 14, 2008 Senator John Cornyn letter to US Dept. of Justice
“I am increasingly concerned by reports of widespread election fraud by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (”ACORN”), which seem to emerge on a daily basis.
Specifically, I call your attention to state and local investigations into potentially hundreds of thousands of fraudulent voter registration applications filed by ACORN in North Carolina, Ohio, Nevada…”
US House of Representatives report, July 23, 2009, covered by Fox News and Citizen Wells
“The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has repeatedly
and deliberately engaged in systemic fraud. Both structurally and operationally, ACORN
hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal
conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a
partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate.
Emerging accounts of widespread deceit and corruption raise the need for a criminal
investigation of ACORN. By intentionally blurring the legal distinctions between 361
tax-exempt and non-exempt entities, ACORN diverts taxpayer and tax-exempt monies
into partisan political activities. Since 1994, more than $53 million in federal funds have
been pumped into ACORN, and under the Obama administration, ACORN stands to
receive a whopping $8.5 billion in available stimulus funds.
Operationally, ACORN is a shell game played in 120 cities, 43 states and the District of
Columbia through a complex structure designed to conceal illegal activities, to use
taxpayer and tax-exempt dollars for partisan political purposes, and to distract
investigators. Structurally, ACORN is a chess game in which senior management is
shielded from accountability by multiple layers of volunteers and compensated
employees who serve as pawns to take the fall for every bad act.”
“Already facing the loss of federal government funding, the community-organizing group Acorn also has run afoul of one of its big corporate partners, Bank of America Corp.
In response to questions from The Wall Street Journal, a spokesman for the banking company said it has “suspended current commitments” to Acorn Housing, an affiliated group, and “will not enter into any further agreements with Acorn or any of its affiliates,” pending assessments by the bank of the organization’s operations.
Acorn, officially the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has been under fire since the recent release of secretly recorded videos that showed Acorn employees offering advice on evading taxes, setting up brothels and smuggling illegal immigrants.
The News Hub panel discusses Bank of America’s retreat from Acorn, the government’s newly-announced $35 billion aid package to homeowners and signs of life in the corporate profits.
Acorn has called the actions unacceptable and has fired the workers involved. Last week, Acorn said it has selected Scott Harshbarger, a former Massachusetts attorney general, to investigate any wrongdoing at the organization.
Acorn Housing for years has worked with Bank of America and some other big banks on foreclosure-prevention efforts.
“Bank of America takes recent allegations made against Acorn and Acorn Housing Corporation employees very seriously,” the bank said in a statement.”
“Bank of America takes recent allegations made against Acorn and Acorn Housing Corporation employees very seriously,”
What planet has Bank of America been on the past year?
Is this indicative of the power of the mainstream media?
Was Bank of America controlled by the Democrats or Obama camp?
Obama, in his speech to Congress last night, September 9, 2009, attempted to portray the many concerns about his health care plan as lies and misrepresentations. He spoke of bogus claims by talk radio hosts and by politicians that the health care plan would set up panels of bureucrats to kill off senior citizens. At one point in the speech, SC representative Joe Wilson yelled out and called Obama a liar. Wilson apologized.
“While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable,” ” I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”
Representative Wilson, there is no need to apologize. Obama is and always has been a liar. We applaud you for standing up. Stick to your principles. Joe Wilson was pressured to apologize by Republicans and Democrats. Let’s inform these jackasses that they work for us and not an illegal president.
Watch this Youtube video.
“An audience member yells “liar” at Obama during his speech to Congress.
Obama also took a personal swipe at Sarah Palin during his speech.”
The Charlotte Observer, a liberal newspaper that gave Obama a free ride during the election, has finally produced a snippet of journalism, and though not comprehensive, is a start:
“Fact Check”
From AP
Obama: “I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits either now or in the future. Period.”
THE FACTS: “House Democrats offered abill that the Congressional Budget Office said would add $ 220 billion to the deficit over 10 years.”
(Citizen Wells: This is a huge Obama lie!!!)
Obama: “Nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or doctor you have.”
THE FACTS: “Employers sponsor coverage for most families, and they’d be free to change their health plans in ways that workers may not like, or drop insurance altogether.”
(Citizen Wells: Another Orwellian lie by Obama. Employers will begin dropping health plans and let employees sign up for government plans, thus achieving Obama’s goal of government run health care.)
Obama: “Don’t pay attention to these scary stories about how your benefits will be cut … That will never happen on my watch. I will protect Medicare.”
THE FACTS: “Obama and congressional Democrats want to pay for their health care plans in part by reducing medicare payments to providers by more than $ 500 billion over 10 years.”
(Citizen Wells: Straight out of Nazi Germany and “1984” by George Orwell. Tell a big lie and repeat it often.)
With the liberal Charlotte Observer reporting this much, you can bet that lies about the Obama Health care plan are much worse than this.
Thanks to commenter Army D.A.V. for the video info.
I just got off the phone with the NC Board of Education. I asked them 2 questions about the Obama speech to school students scheduled for September 8, 2009.
1. Will the state of NC participate in this?
2. Will opposing opinions be allowed?
The answer to both questions is that this will be handled at the local level. In NC this means the county school boards or other local governing body.
I am requesting that all NC citizens contact their local school boards, ask the above questions and voice your concern about allowing Obama to influence your children.
I am also requesting that citizens in other states contact your state board of education and find out what their policy is and likewise voice your concerns.
Exercise your First Amendment Rights and protect our children and our country.
Several days ago I contacted NC Senator Richard Burr’s office via email and telephone message. I received no response. I was inquiring about a health care forum that was scheduled for today, Tuesday, September 1, 2009. I discovered today by an internet search, that Senator Burr is part of a forum with John McCain and other Republicans. What concerns me is that they are fielding questions from “invited parties.” Senator Burr is against the Obama backed public option and that is good. However, why is Senator Burr not hosting town hall meetings for the public?
From News 14 in the Carolinas:
“McCain brings health care forum to N.C. children’s hospital”
“Sen. John McCain will join a group of fellow republican senators in Charlotte on Tuesday for a discussion on health care reform.
McCain, along with Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kent., will take questions from invited parties involved in the health care debate and discuss ways to make health care more affordable, accessible and available for American families.
The stop at Levine Children’s Hospital is part of McCain and McConnell’s cross-country tour, where they have been discussing health care and taking questions in various cities from those involved in the issue. The GOP lawmakers have challenged the plan offered by President Obama that could create a government option for health care that would compete with private insurers.
Burr’s health care plan would raise money by taxing health benefits, then use the revenue to give people tax credits to buy their own care.”
“This is a Constitutional Town Hall Meeting in Raleigh to which Senators Kay Hagan, Richard Burr, Representatives Brad Miller, Bob Etheridge, & David Price were invited but refused the invitation to…”
From Senator Richard Burr’s website:
“Issues
Reforming the Delivery of Health Care
Today, nearly 47 million people across America do not have health insurance, and this number is growing. In North Carolina alone, there are more than 1.5 million uninsured individuals.
Senator Burr believes we must make health insurance more accessible and affordable so that more families can have peace of mind that they can get quality medical care. As we search for long-term solutions, however, we must make sure people have the ability to choose their own doctor.
While some politicians support government-run health care, Senator Burr has a different approach. In order to give individuals and families choices in their health coverage and to avoid a one-size-fits-all program, we need to give people the means to purchase their own health insurance that fits their needs and the needs of their families. To address the growing problem of employees having limited or no access to employer-provided coverage, Senator Burr believes we should foster a broad choice of health insurance plans that stay with you through job and life changes so that you can access care when you need it. Americans should control their own insurance and not fear losing it with job changes.
As Congress works on proposals to reform health care system, Senator Burr firmly believes that any plan must:
Guarantee that every American can get affordable coverage
Demand we get more value for our health care dollar rather than imposing a new tax or passing on a new obligation to future generations
Transform the health care system so that we focus on keeping people healthy and well instead of only treating them when they are sick
Make health coverage affordable for those with pre-existing conditions
End the current discrimination in the tax code that benefits the wealthy and corporations but fails the poor and those who cannot get coverage through their employer
Guarantee that health care is accessible when people want it, where people want it
Be sustainable so that it will be there for future generations
With these goals in mind, Senator Burr recently joined with Senator Tom Coburn and Representatives Paul Ryan and Devin Nunes to introduce the Patients’ Choice Act, a bill that delivers on the shared principles of promoting universal access to quality, affordable health care, and does so without adding billions of dollars in new debt or taxes.
The Patients’ Choice Act would transform our health care system through the following key reforms:
Puts affordable coverage and choice within reach of all Americans. This is accomplished by first ending the discrimination in the tax code that rewards corporations and employers yet offers no benefit to the unemployed or those who do not have access to coverage through their job. Specifically, the Patients’ Choice Act would shift health care tax benefits to individuals and families, regardless of employment status, in the form of a tax credit worth about $2,200 for individuals and $5,700 for families. Americans would receive this benefit upfront, so they would not have to wait until they file their tax returns to get it. And Americans would be eligible for this benefit regardless of how much they pay in taxes. What’s more, under this plan, if you like the health care you have, you can keep it – but you’ll have more money in your pocket because you will still receive the tax credit.
Prevents cherry picking by guaranteeing access to coverage. The Patients’ Choice Act prevents cherry picking – when insurance companies choose to cover only healthy patients – by adjusting risk across insurance companies through an innovative reform called State Based Health Exchanges, which would be a voluntary, one-stop marketplace of insurance plans. These state exchanges — which would be open to all Americans — would offer a broad range of plans but all would be required to have the same standard benefits as those enjoyed by Members of Congress. Through this innovative reform, no individual could be turned down based on their age or health. This is because insurers who do cherry pick healthy patients would be penalized, and those that cover patients with pre-existing conditions and emphasize prevention and wellness would be rewarded.
Strengthens the health care safety net. Currently, about 40 percent of doctors and hospitals do not accept Medicaid patients because payments are so low. This means that needy moms and kids may have health coverage, but poor access to health care. The Patients’ Choice Act would remove the stigma from Medicaid recipients by giving them the ability to purchase the health coverage and care they need from any provider. We also provide simple new opportunities for automatic enrollment to help people who need coverage.
The United States currently spends twice as much on health care per person than other industrialized nations, yet we are not twice as healthy. The solution is not for the federal government to spend and tax Americans more, the answer is to get more value for our health care dollar through more choices. And this is exactly what the Patients’ Choice Act would accomplish.
Senator Burr understands the growing cost of health insurance, and as a Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, he will continue to work on solutions to this problem.”
Citizen WElls 
Mike Huckabee, Huckabee book tour, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Fox show, A Simple Christmas, Huckabee 2008 presidential run, Huckabee running in 2012?, Citizen comments for Huckabee, Republican candidate
“Oh, that God the gift would give us
To see ourselves as others see us”… Robert Burns
Mike Huckabee is on a 60 city tour to promote his new book, ” A Simple Christmas.” Friday, November 13, 2009, Governor Huckabee was at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, NC to sign copies of his book. I shook hands with Mr. Huckabee and shared a few brief comments with him about this blog.
To Governor Mike Huckabee from the Citizen Wells blog, concerned Americans across the nation.
Mr. Huckabee, you do seem to be a very nice man, there is a consenus of agreement on that, but you have offended many concerned Americans with your uninformed opinion on Obama’s eligibility issues and your stance on illegal aliens and other issues. Upholding the US Constitution and rule of law is the highest priority of the good people reading this blog as well as millions of other Americans. These are hard working, sincere Americans that do not fit neetly into compartments of birthers and right wing conservatives. This blog, like the tea party movement, represents Americans of all political parties, economic strata and religious persuasions. Your Pelosi like insults of those questioning Obama and his natural born citizen status were not taken lightly. I suggest you do some homework and listen. Even Lou Dobbs of CNN, the Communist News Network, acknowledged that the suspicious COLB presented by the Obama camp was just a piece of paper that referred to another piece of paper.
Last year Fox was the only network presenting any realistic coverage of issues surrounding Barack Obama. Sean Hannity and then Glenn Beck asked probing questions that the MSM ignored or glossed over. However, I critized Fox then for not covering controversial issues surrounding Obama. Some of those issues have now been addressed and still Fox has been hands off on the eligibility issue. Bill O’Reilly has bragged about grilling Obama in an interview last year, and perhaps, compared to the MSM, he did. However, many well informed Americans, including myself, believe O’Reilly gave Obama a free ride.
So Governor Huckabee, it is somewhat understandable why you were ill informed regarding Obama’s eligibility. However, ultimately, you should not have insulted well informed, concerned Americans who rightfully believe that Obama is not a natural born citizen. It is not too late. Below are comments from the good Americans of this blog. Some retired military, some with legal educations, but all genuinely care about this country.
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:08pm Pixel Patriot
“Huckabee might be a nice man but he is still a hypocrite. You can’t condone ILLEGAL immigration and open borders during a time of war while there are laws on the books going unfunded and unenforced. I would have more respect for him if he advocated compassionately deporting the ILLEGAL immigrants ASAP and hitting the employers with hefty fines while simultaneously changing the immigration laws so that more are allowed to enter every year but from the back of the line. If the families don’t want to be separated, the families go too until they get back in. No more anchor babies. Also, the radical Islamic jihadists are the first to go and it is just fine if the door hits them in the butt on the way out!
Oh, don’t forget that Huckabee is on record saying Obama is a citizen and born in Hawaii. Huckabee is either complicit in covering for Obama’s crimes via silence or too incomprehensibly negligent to be a candidate for the office of the POTUS and not have a legal research team to definitively determine his opponents’ eligibility when in question as obvious as it was. Remember, the BC is not the issue; it is the dual nationalities which Obama publicly admitted to before the election.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:30pm Maddie
“Great points, Pixel Patriot. Although there are
plusses with Huckabee, I did hear him go down
the complacent trail of citizen and Hawaii. I’m not hitching my wagon to anyone who does that.
Ba-bye Huck.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 3:45pm citizenwells
“Huckabee was not my candidate in 2008 and I do not know if I could ever
vote for him.
However, he is intelligent and articulate and is not going away.
He appears to have opened his eyes on the Obama Camp and
he may be trainable.
Does he have the scruples he appears to have?
We will find out.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:06pm c.n.d.e. ville II
“At the moment, my litmus test for the salvageableness of any office holder is the eligibility issue. If Huckabee today starts asking questions about o’s background and eligibility for office, I MIGHT move him from my “I want you our of our government immediately” list to my “okay, maybe not immediately, but you had REALLY better mean this” list.
Realistically, since, at the moment, no potential candidates seem to pass my test, I may have to revise my standards. Sigh. lol Story of my life.
I dunno, if we keep settling for the lesser of evils, will we ever get the good (with warts and all, of course)?”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 4:53pm Don
“Huckabee isn’t my first choice. I would vote for him as the lesser of two evils, like I did McCain.
I did NOT like his stance on illegal aliens.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:06pm Maddie
“ARMY DAV—That’s exactly when I took him off the list—we are not right wing loonies.
Mr. Huckabee has now joined the ostriches
with their heads stuck in the sand—
hear no evil, see no evil little “cozy clan!””
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:08pm Magna Carta
“I do not trust Huckabee.There was a rape case or something in his home state and he let the guy out or something that really got some people worked up…THEY DID NOT WANT HIM TO ADVANCE.
Then,he did the Wal-Mart thing with illegals..pushing for DREAM ACT…etc…
Snake-oil salesman in my book.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:10pm Linda from NY
“Huckabee is a likable guy; soft-spoken and not apt to “go off the deep end,” but not POTUS material IMHO.
If he is complicit in the eligibility issue as many of you have said, then I cannot trust him to lead.
The “lesser of two evils” vote never appealed to me…that expression just irks me.
I am looking for the man/woman who is a proponent of the “greater good.”
They have to be more than willing to “talk the talk;” they will have to demonstrate to me they can “walk the walk.”
We need to vote in those who are willing to “fight” for the Constitution to be upheld, and the Declaration of Independence to be respected.
I am certain that will be easy to determine from what we already know.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 5:13pm Buraq ’08
“I’m not interested in Mike Huckabee in any way, shape, or form.
Firstly, he is much too soft spoken. He sounds like a therapist. A person either has leadership qualities, or he doesn’t. Mike doesn’t.
Secondly, he is a typical republican.
Thirdly, he looks like Gomer Pyle.
Fourthly, I support Sarah Palin.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:27pm Buraq ’08
“@ Citizenwells:
Heh, sorry. Sometimes I can get carried away.
Since the 2008 elections. I find that my patience is very thin for certain republicans. What really bugs me the most is that the GOP seems incapable of producing conservative leaders. I am very bothered by what seems to be the GOP’s intention to run the exact same failed candidates from 2008 as if they have learned nothing at all.
If they try to nominate McCain, Romney, or Huckabee again, I think my head may explode.
From my standpoint, Sarah Palin was the only bright spot from 2008.
Ideally, what I would like to see in a candidate is a true conservative fighter, and I really mean a fighter. Mike just comes across as too passive to me. Perhaps I am wrong.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 6:47pm ARMY D.A.V.
“Romney vs Huckabee or RINO vs RINO”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 7:00pm Prairie
“My take on Huckabee. When the country is being taken over by marxists, his show has not tackled one controversial topic outside of abortion. He is the really nice boy in school- that no girl would date. He doesn’t have what it takes to lead.”
Submitted on 2009/11/13 at 8:04pm live oak
“Never Huckabee!!!”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 4:04am usapatriots-shout.blogspot.com
“Huckabee is likable but disingenous to me. What specifically turned me against him was his denial about Obama’s ineligibility to be president.
The man or woman who would be our next president will do so if He/she runs on the platform of restoring America to the republic under the Constitution, promising to challenge Obama’s sealed documents, tightening the borders, repealing the health care plan –if Senate passes it and redefining America as a Christian/Judeo country. In my observations I think Palin has the guts to do this. It also may well depend upon who runs with her and if she stays with the Republicans or creates a third party.”
Submitted on 2009/11/14 at 8:46am Portuguese Revolutionary War Hero – Peter Francisco
“COUNT me as a NOOOOOOOOOOO.
We will Not settle for an appeaser and softy. We will not settle for a coneiver and one that conspired with McAmensty during teh election to SCREW Romeny and teh Republicans therefore getting us STUCK with a RINO who hushed, handcuffed and sabotaged his VP candidate and his own candidacy by sticking up MORE for BO than Palin. After the disaster of an INSURGENCY PRESIDENCY we need a STRONG CANDIDATE that we all can support and unite behind someone fromthe Reagan Wing of the Repuke Party otherwise lets start a new party.
Palin and DeMint or Bachmann are my Top Choices and we shoudl start organizing for them strating NOW.
Forget the DISRUPTERS which is what The Huckster is right along with his running mate McCain.
We need someone with Strong Conservative Principles that clearly has the character and the guts to Stand Firm, communicate clearly and take decisive actions. Someone that we will follow without doubts or REGRETS.
Palin, DeMint, Bachmann NO BODY ELSE right now. Even Romney is too weak as a Conservative even though I like him economically, but he has disappeared and that isn’t good.
Romney should run for Kennedy’s Senate seat and maybe in 2020 run for President”
Mike Huckabee, are you going to be a Statesman or a Politician?
We want our representatives to be nice and exercise protocol to the extent that it protects the American public.
John McCain was polite last year but he did not look after the interests of the public. We fault him for that.
Governor Huckabee, are you listening?
Governor Huckabee, will you do the right thing?
137 Comments
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Tagged A Simple Christmas, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Citizen comments for Huckabee, Fox show, Huckabee 2008 presidential run, Huckabee book tour, Huckabee running in 2012?, Mike Huckabee, Republican candidate