On October 13, 2009, we learned that Maine republican Olympia Snowe stated she would vote yes for the Baucus version of a health care bill. Will the Blue Dog Democrats support a government option if one is embedded?
It does not matter!!!
A frustrated commenter on this blog, after learning of Senator Snowe’s decision, asked what next.
This was my response:
“The answer to our problems is quite simple.
I always go back to the war analogy (which this clearly is a war for our minds and souls).
The Obama camp won a major battle when he stole the election.
They have won a few minor battles and skirmishes since.
However, they have already lost some major battles.
Hopefully this will be clarified in the article.”
Here is some food for thought as you comment on the Citizen Wells open thread for October 14, 2009.
What organization allowed Obama to steal the presidency, ACORN funding, a flawed stimulus bill, Nancy Pelosi gaining power, Harry reid gaining power, mortgage crisis, out of control spending, decline of the US Dollar and a host of other maladies and outrages?
Answer
US Congress.
What organization will have most of it’s members up for reelection next year?
Answer
US Congress.
What organization can remove a usurper president?
Answer
US Congress.
What organization can repeal bad legislation such as a government run health care plan?
Answer
US Congress.
What organization are we going to drastically change next year?
US Congress.
Let not your heart be troubled.
God bless Joe Wilson.
October 13, 2009 late afternoon
“Committee Passes Baucus’s $829 Billion Healthcare Bill
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe joined Democrats to vote yes on the healthcare reform bill”
“After two weeks of debate and a closely watched examination by the Congressional Budget Office , Sen. Max Baucus’s healthcare bill has, for now, proved resilient. On Tuesday, after several final hours of debate, Baucus’s Senate Finance Committee approved the bill by a 14-9 vote, as Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican, joined the committee’s 13 Democrats in voting yes.”
“Key Senate Committee Votes Against Government-Run Health Insurance Plan”
“The Senate Finance Committee has voted against creating a new government health insurance plan to compete with the private market.
The 15-to-8 vote could forecast the fate of the public option in the Senate as a whole. The outcome was expected but still a defeat for liberals who view government-sponsored insurance for the middle class as a key component of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Five committee Democrats, including Chairman Max Baucus, joined with all 10 committee Republicans to defeat the measure by Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.
Opponents said a public option would drive private insurers out of business and amount to a government takeover. Proponents said it would give consumers choice and competition.”
“Democrats remain divided on the need to create a government plan — and Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is already in the hot seat — accused of being lukewarm, if not downright hostile, to the public option.
Sen. Kent Conrad, D-ND, who has crafted an alternative plan that would set up a series of non-profit health care cooperatives, blasted Rockefeller’s plan, saying, “The devil is in the details.” Conrad said if the amendment is implemented, “every major hospital goes broke.”
“I can’t possibly support any amendment that does that,” he said.
Congressional aides on both sides of the issue say that the public option amendments are not expected to pass out of the Finance Committee. Schumer has called the committee debate a beginning of “a conversation about the public option,” saying, “It gets people thinking.”
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-NM, said he could support a public option, but he disagrees with Rockefeller’s approach. “I think there is a problem with providing Medicare reimbursement rates,” Bingaman said, echoing the concerns of Conrad.
As senators continue to spar over the public option, two liberal groups are launching a hard-hitting television and Internet ad featuring a young father from Montana. Bing Perrine, 26, who needs a heart operation and is uninsured and deeply in debt, looks straight into the camera and asks Baucus: “Whose side are you on?”
The ad is sponsored by Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which say Baucus is too cozy with insurance and health care interests that have contributed to his campaigns and oppose a government plan.”
From the Media Research Center, September 10, 2009:
“Bozell Challenges Media on Obama’s Health Care Reform Speech
September 10, 2009 10:35 ET
“Media must expose Obama’s calculated lying, scare tactics”
Alexandria, VA – Media Research Center President Brent Bozell issued the following statement this morning demanding the media report President Obama’s lies, distortions and exaggerations delivered in his speech on health care reform last night:
“Barack Obama will not stop committing serial dishonesty with the American people until the media expose his false figures and bogus exaggerations for what they are: fraudulent scare tactics.
“Last night Obama told a litany of lies. He said the total cost of his health reform would be $900 billion over ten years, but even the government-run Congressional Budget Office found it would cost $1.6 trillion. He claimed his reform would not cover illegal immigrants or abortions, but nothing in any of the Democrat bills requires citizen verification and several organizations including the National Right to Life Committee have shown exactly how federal funds would be used to pay for abortion-on-demand. He knows these are lies and he tells them because he is confident the left wing ‘news’ media will let him get away with it.
“Worst still, Obama used these lies to play on Americans greatest fears and vulnerabilities. He warned that more people would die unless we passed his sweeping plan and threatened that our country’s economic pulse would weaken with American businesses closing. And still, the media let him get away with it.
“This must stop. The media must expose Obama’s calculated scare tactics and lying on ‘reform.’ Failing to do so gives him a green light to lie and cry wolf about whatever he wants, whenever he wants. And it will aid in the most radical government takeover ever attempted in America.””
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.
Today, Labor Day, September 7, 2009, the Citizen Wells blog will attempt to cover live, a Labor Day celebration in Burlington, Vermont. There are two major reasons that I chose to cover this event. First, Senator Bernie Sanders will be there and I hope to catch his comments on health care reform. Second, Vermont Workers’ Center, a community-based workers’ rights organization will be there to promote their stance regarding health care as a human right. I hope to clarify what they mean by human right.
To watch the Citizen Wells coverage, go to this link. When I am not broadcasting live, a video will play. Remember, this is my first attempt at this and I will be flying by the seat of my pants. A right click on the screen will allow you to zoom in for a larger viewing area.
“Burlington Labor Day Celebration & Benefit Concert
September 7, 2009 – 12:00pm – 3:00pm
WHEN: 12 noon – 3pm, Monday, September 7
WHERE: Battery Park, Burlington
WHAT: Senator Bernie Sanders will join hundreds of working families for the 8th Annual Burlington Labor Day Celebration sharing in a community potluck, music, street theater and ice cream. This year’s celebration is being sponsored by the Vermont Workers’ Center, a community-based workers’ rights organization who has been building a statewide grassroots organizing campaign called the “Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign” that over that past couple of years has been redefine healthcare as a public good. There will also be a special tribute to the contributions and struggles of working families from Jennifer Henry, the President of the Fletcher Allen nurses union and United Professions of Vermont/AFT. Music will be performed local Burlington busker John Holland and Rik & Bec, a new local duo of Rik Palieri and Rebecca Padula.
“Labor Day is a day to celebrate and remember both the work we all do day in and day out and the long struggles of working people who fought hard for the eight hour day, for Social Security, the end of child labor and even the weekend,” said James Haslam, Director of the Vermont Workers’ Center. “But more than ever, use should use Labor Day as a reminder that we need to be carrying on this tradition by organizing in our workplaces and our communities. This is a time re-commit to the current struggles for more livable wage jobs, fair retirement, strong and healthy communities, and re-defining quality healthcare as a fundamental human right for everyone.”
BACKGROUND: The Vermont Workers’ Center was started in 1998 as a workers’ rights and social justice organization, and have been involved in campaigns to improve working conditions and win livable wages in hundreds of Vermont workplaces across the state. In 2008, they launched the Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign to build a statewide grassroots network of Vermonters committed to redefining healthcare policy to establish healthcare as a basic public good for all.
MORE INFO: www.workerscenter.org www.workerscenter.org/healthcare
802-861-4892″
From their website:
“Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign
The Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign, a project of the Vermont Workers’ Center (VWC), aims to change what is “politically possible” in the healthcare debate through grassroots organizing and a strategic reframing of healthcare as a basic human right and the healthcare crisis as a human rights emergency.
Our Goals
Our long-term goal is a universal system in which health care is recognized as a public good and provided collectively, rather than as a commodity sold in a marketplace, and where the human right to health of all residents of the state is fully recognized, regardless of race, gender or gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, nationality or immigration status. Financing must be based on principles of universality, equity, and social solidarity, such as a single-payer system. The only legislation that has been introduced into the Vermont State Legislature for the 2009-2010 session that meets these standards are H.100 and S.88.
What It Will Take
This will not be an easy struggle. In order to win such fundamental reform, we need a strong, statewide grassroots network that will be able to put enough pressure on the legislature and governor to force them to stand up to the insurance industry, those employers who will oppose such a system on ideological grounds, and other powerful interests vested in the status quo. This effort requires:
strong organizing committees throughout the state
diverse leadership
a mass base
What We’ve Done
Since the launch of this campaign in April 2008, the Workers’ Center has conducted a Human Rights Healthcare Survey of over 1400 Vermonters, over 95% of whom recognized that healthcare is a human right. We have held seven Human Rights Hearings around the state, in which hundreds of Vermonters have told their healthcare stories to panels of community and faith leaders. Based on the surveys and hearings, we have put together a report and video Voices of the Vermont Healthcare Crisis: The Human Right to Healthcare. And we organized one of the largest rallies for fundamental healthcare reform in Vermont history in Montpelier on May 1st, 2009.
Where To Go
Since May 1st, we have been working to:
consolidate our local organizing committees in major population centers throughout the state
deepen the understanding of human rights principles for healthcare throughout our base
strategize with local organizing committees about the best way to hold elected officials accountable to human rights principles.
If you would like to learn more or get involved in this grassroots movement contact us at info@workerscenter.org, or (802) 861-2877.
“Please email your neighbors and friends…anyone you know who lives in Las Vegas or surrounding areas about the Tea Party Express on Monday…all the information is below… and you might want to have them read the following….very telling of “Dirty Harry” Reid and the present power hungry LIBERAL THUGS how occupy our White House and who are taking our country down a destructive path!!”
“ATTENTION NEVADANS: We need your urgent help!
We here at the Tea Party Express have been informed by several national news media outlets that they will be on hand to cover our “Tea Party Express” rally in Las Vegas, Nevada this Monday, August 31st at 11:00 AM. The rally will be held at the Sports Center of Las Vegas (located at 121 E. Sunset Road).
We know this is not the most convenient time for some people to attend a rally, but we simply must have a huge crowd on hand. To help underscore why this is so important, consider this: CNN is planning on having their CNN Express news bus. Some news outlets will be broadcasting live. We can’t afford to have a rally with a small crowd on hand (especially given how successful the “Tea Party Express” rallies have been so far these first two days).
So we need your help. If you live close enough to Las Vegas to attend the rally (even if you have to take an early lunch) then PLEASE make it to the rally. Load up your car with as many people as you can.
If you live too far away, or absolutely cannot attend, then we need your help to get the word out. Forward this email on to everyone you know. Post messages to online discussion forums and blogs. Call anyone and everyone you know who lives in or near Las Vegas.
MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009
11:00 AM — Las Vegas “Tea Party Express” Rally
The Sports Center of Las Vegas
121 E. Sunset Road
** FORWARD THIS EMAIL – CLICK HERE **”
Congressman Steve King of Iowa held a town hall meeting recently. Apparently it was civil. After reading an article in the Daily Times Herald based in Carroll, Iowa, I would like to comment on a few statements that he made.
August 26, 2009
“Clearing some air with congressman King”
“King, who thinks Obama is clearly a native of Hawaii, addressed this issue in our interview after the town hall meeting.
Daily Times Herald: Unlike some of the town-hall meetings that are looped over and over again on cable news this one was exceedingly civil. You had some people bring up points that were obviously at odds with your viewpoint. One thing that has happened at some of these town-hall meetings that have been so highly publicized is that people have held up birth certificates and questioned the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency.
That’s not something I’ve ever seen you do, and I’ve actually heard you speak movingly about what it was like being there in January and watching Obama be inaugurated. Obviously some of these people that hold these views about Obama’s legitimacy are conservative.
Would you have any message for them? Do you think Obama’s a legitimate president, that this birther issue should be set side and that those people should move on on the issues?
Congressman King: “I spent my time before the inauguration to look into that because I thought it was the time to do so.
“We discovered working with a small group and their staff in the Library of Congress the microfiche copy of one of the two Hawaii newspapers that published the birth announcement of President Obama on Aug. 4, 1961.
“It was published on either Aug. 10 or 16. I looked at that copy, and we began to play that out on how would that actually be there in many of the public libraries in America if he wasn’t born in Hawaii.
“It almost comes down to, yes, that information could have been sent, but his mother would have had to imagine that she was protecting the interests of a future president in order to do such a thing.
“I don’t think anyone has that kind of clairvoyance, yet alone a young mother, at that time.
“I came to the conclusion that it’s improbable that Obama was not born in Hawaii as he says.
“I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t ask under Hawaiian law that the certificate of live birth, the real legitimate birth certificate, be released to the public. I’ve seen the one that they put out. It doesn’t look exactly like some of the others they’ve used to compare it.
“So I just wish the subject weren’t there. I think he could have avoided the subject if he would have just simply laid his birth certificate out.
“I don’t know what his motive for not doing that would be unless it would be something that is embarrassing, that he doesn’t want us to know, and, otherwise, I think he would have let us know. But he’s the one that has to answer that, and we have core public policy things to move forward on, and that’s not a priority of mine to dig into it.
“The truth will eventually emerge.” ”
Citizen Wells comments:
Since when does a birth announcement vet a presidential candidate?
Congressman King does question why Obama does not reveal his original long form birth certificate. However, he should demand that Obama do so.
“Daily Times Herald: You have a lot of concern about government involvement with health care. One place where that occurs right now, some would say successfully, others would have issues with it particularly in light of some of the stories that have broken in the last few weeks, is the Veterans Administration. If the government is terrible at running health care, should the services provided through the VA be privatized?
Congressman King: “I think our Veterans Administration does a good job with the health care that they deliver to our veterans. We’ve been expanding the clinic access in the district – Shenandoah and here (Carroll) and up in Spirit Lake. We continue to work on that. The standard that we want is I don’t want to see a veteran drive more than an hour to go to any clinic. That expansion’s taking place, although the Veterans Administration deserves the lion’s share of the credit.”
Citizen Wells comments:
If congressman King believes that the VA is doing a good job of health care, he is ill informed. A cursory examination of recent news reveals that there are major problems in VA hospitals. I personally know someone that was butchered in a VA hospital. I have an aunt that is active with the American Legion and she works with a lot of veterans being processed at a VA hospital. She has told me about many problems that the veterans have.
The VA hospitals have outlived their usefulness. The Government has no business managing healthcare. I am certain that if the VA hospitals were closed and the money guaranteed for the veterans at non government hospitals, the cost would go down and most important, the quality would go up.
“None of the attendees challenged Barack Obama’s constitutional legitimacy as president as has been the case elsewhere where so-called “birthers” have hijacked elected officials’ town-hall meetings to charge that Obama wasn’t born in the United States.”
Citizen Wells comment:
Note the insulting, condescending tone. Using the term birthers for concerned Americans and using the term hijacked for exercising their First Amendment rights.
Congressman King and the reporter require educating.
Thanks to commenter ccwarrior and the Count Us Out blog for the info.
** Update – This was posted by commenter JustMe **
“CW,
the VA is a sorry excuse for health care, especially given the fact the folks that gave life/limb to protect our freedom. My husband, a physician, until earlier this year could see some Veterans in private practice (after jumping through a bazillion hoops). No more! Don’t know exactly what’s changed but know that it has.
Now they have to drive great distances just to be seen in a clinic. Then must drive even greater distances (in the case of our west TX town… they must drive to another state) to have access to a hospital. None of it makes sense.
They are also having difficulty getting their meds. My husband is greatly saddened to see how these people are treated.
If we got rid of the VA system, I bet we could afford to have healthcare for all. The operating costs have to be enormous.
My gardener’s father is a Vet and has cancer. He has had to travel great distances recently just to be seen. He said the VA has written him off and referred him to hospice to die. He isn’t ready for hospice at this point. They also refused to consider a small procedure to put his “elimination system” back together that would have allowed him and his care givers an easier time.”
Yesterday, August 26, 2009, the Citizen Wells blog presented an article about Obama’s ties to SEIU, a group that claims to be a union representing working people.
“SEIU,Service Employees International Union, thugs have been a prominent feature at many of the town hall meetings on health care. Did you ever wonder why they were there. This article from American Thinker on January 6, 2009, months before these town hall meetings, will shed some light on their presence.”
Today, August 27, 2009, a great commenter on this blog alerted us to another article referring to SEIU as the new mafia.
“SEIU, The New Mafia”
“We all have heard about the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) during the 2008 general election. Even more recently, the SEIU was active in being “ushers” at the Tampa town hall meeting on August 6, 2009 sponsored by Florida State Representative Betty Reed (D-Dist. 59) with special guest, Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), on the topic of healthcare reform. It was no surprise that SEIU members acted on their best, I mean, not on their best behavior when using mafia-like tactics in preventing ANY proud American willing to practice their first amendment right of free speech.”
“Furthermore, the SEIU advocates for illegal alien employment as evidenced by their adopted amendments and resolutions from their 2008 convention in Puerto Rico! Yes, in an economic climate where LEGAL immigrants and Americans are losing their jobs, the SEIU writes “How To” guides for employers if they are subjected to an I.C.E. raid. This would partly explain their behavior at town hall meetings around the country as they do not want the COMMON SENSE voice being heard about some of the issues surrounding the healthcare crisis; i.e. illegal aliens who receive free healthcare at the American’s expense!”
“So, I’ve browsed the SEIU’s 2008 amendments and resolutions and provided specific examples of how their intended goal of promoting jobs in all industries for all people actually has counterproductive practices. On face value, this organization is just the street level thug division of the Organize for America movement which is an extension of the Obama’s 2008 campaign. In fact, I actually feel sorry for SEIU members for being exploited by the liberals to advance their agenda instead of filling their ranks with people that fully understand issues and grasp the severity of their actions.”
Obama’s SEIU Thugs Attack a Black Conservative Outside Russ Carnahan Town Hall.
The following comes directly from the SEIU constitution. There is so much unAmerican, anti business, marxists propaganda there that I had a difficult time deciding what to include.
Resolution # 102a Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Building Workers’ Strength with Comprehensive Immigration Reform
SEIU members have many reasons to stand united for comprehensive immigration reform.
All working people face lower pay and benefits when some hard-working, taxpaying workers are driven into an underground economy because they are denied legal status.
The political strength of working people is seriously undermined when millions of workers are denied the right to vote because they have no real path to citizenship.
Our primary mission – to unite all working people for a better future – cannot be achieved as long as many workers face exploitation and discrimination.
Our communities are weakened when politicians eager to exploit divisions pass laws that result in workers being denied access to drivers’ licenses and insurance or qualified high school graduates being denied a college education.
As a result of the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform last year, we have seen an alarming increase in local laws that target immigrant workers and their families, along with costly deportation raids that make headlines but do not realistically fix a broken system. Deportation threats without reform have pushed undocumented immigrants further into the underground economy, dividing the workforce and driving down wages and benefits for all working people.
When the Bush administration announced a federal attack on undocumented immigrant workers, including a new policy on “no match” Social Security cases, SEIU developed a tool kit and held legal trainings to educate employers and workers on their rights in the event of a worksite raid and/or “no match” letter.
As the federal crackdowns increase, so do state and local laws that target immigrant workers and fuel fear, hate, and division in communities across the country. Legislation in states such as Arizona, Oklahoma, and Virginia that deputizes local law enforcement and empower them to persecute undocumented immigrants will cost billions in taxpayer dollars, but solve nothing.
We will oppose initiatives including guest worker programs if they do not provide future immigrant workers with a safe, orderly, and legal process that includes full protection of U.S. laws and a pathway to citizenship.
SEIU members will continue to help immigrant workers organize to unite their strength with us.
Resolution # 105b Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Justice for All: Reforming Our National Healthcare System
This Moment Calls for Our Leadership
Our nation’s healthcare crisis has touched every kitchen table, every worker, every boardroom, and every patient and continues to grow worse each day. 48 million people in the United States have no health insurance and hundreds ofmillions more are under-insured, making it difficult or impossible for them to access quality health care;
SEIU will bring its full resources to this fight in the form of national membership mobilization, political action, and local resources to amplify our voice on this issue and be prepared for the real healthcare reform work that begins on November 5, 2008 with a newly elected President and Congress.
3. While we continue to defend employer-based plans that provide quality healthcare for our members, the current employer -based health care system is not a realistic foundation for 21st century health care reform, particularly given the competitive challenges of a global economy.
Further be it resolved:
To win national healthcare reform SEIU members pledge to:
Help to build and grow Healthcare United, an organization of both union and non-union nurses and healthcare workers, and support the work of Americans for Health Care — to speak out with healthcare consumers to help lead the fight.
Resolution # 106a Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Quality Public Education for All
A high quality, universal public education system is crucial to ensuring equal opportunity for our children. But our nation’s children do not have equal access to a quality public education. The opportunities provided by public schools have been selective and have excluded too many of our children. Millions of children of working families, particularly in lower income communities, do not have access to schools in which all students can thrive.
Resolution # 107 Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Rebuilding the Middle Class
Commit 50% of the growth budgets and 50% of non-growth staff during the first 100 days of the 111th • Congress toward the passage of Employee Free Choice and healthcare reform.
Resolution # 115a Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean
Today, progressive, democratically elected movements continue to grow in strength across Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela are increasingly committed to fighting against poverty and illiteracy and for a more just society.
Resolution # 122 Adopted at the 2008 SEIU Convention
Resolution on the Campaign for the New American Dream
WHEREAS in February 2008, the International Executive Board endorsed Barrack Obama to become the next President of the United States, and since that time SEIU members and leaders from around the country have worked tirelessly in primaries and caucuses from Oregon to Pennsylvania, from Texas to Wisconsin, in Puerto Rico, Indiana, Ohio and other states. We have also built upon our successes in the 2006 Congressional General Elections in 2008 to preserve a democratic seat in Massachusetts, elect a progressive democratic in Maryland and make unprecedented gains in difficult congressional districts against anti-worker candidates.
SEIU will help expand the work of nonprofit entities such as Mi Familia Vota, Strengthen Our Lives (S.O.L.), and The American Dream Fund so that all working people, including immigrants, will be active and united.
SEIU,Service Employees International Union, thugs have been a prominent feature at many of the town hall meetings on health care. Did you ever wonder why they were there. This article from American Thinker on January 6, 2009, months before these town hall meetings, will shed some light on their presence. And while your reading this article, note the mention of Robert Blackwell, you remember, the man who received many favors from Obama and donated a lot of money to Obama’s campaigns.
“Pay-to-Play Politics, the SEIU and Obamacare
The Governor of Illinois, for all his well-documented faults, has performed at least one valuable public service. He has made it clear to the meanest intelligence that our new President-elect emerged from a hopelessly corrupt political culture. Barack Obama oozed from the same stinking Chicago swamp that produced Blagojevich, and a man whose formative years were spent wallowing in the muck with such creatures isn’t likely to be long in White House before the stench of pay-to-play politics begins to pervade the place. That this has important implications for the future of health care in this country has already been demonstrated by a brazen episode of cronyism involving one of America’s most prestigious health care institutions, the University of Chicago Medical Center.
It is no secret that, immediately following Obama’s election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, UCMC created a new position called “Vice President for Community and External Affairs” and bestowed it-along with a lavish salary-upon Michelle Obama. It is less well known, however, that one of her husband’s cronies subsequently received preferential treatment in a UCMC contract bidding process. Specifically, the medical center altered its normal procedure for soliciting contact proposals so that longtime Obama “friend” and political donor, Robert Blackwell, could submit a bid to upgrade UCMC’s intranet. Naturally, officials of the medical center deny that the expanded process was in any way connected to Obama’s influence, but Blackwell Consulting was awarded the $600,000 contract.
What does this have to do with national health care policy? Well, Mr. Obama achieved his November victory with more than a little help from such “friends.” These benefactors paid a lot to put him in the White House, and they weren’t all motivated by a desire “make history.” Among the most generous of Obama’s supporters was another entity that has figured prominently in the Illinois culture of corruption — the Service Employees International Union. According to CNSNews, the SEIU’s political action committee made “more than $27 million in independent expenditures” in support of Obama’s presidential campaign while its members “knocked on 1.87 million doors, made 4.4 million phone calls, registered 85,914 voters and sent more than 2.5 million pieces of mail.”
In return for all this largesse, the SEIU wants help in unionizing the health care industry. And a clear sign that Obama intends to provide that assistance can be found in his nomination of California Representative Hilda Solis, the hand-picked candidate of SEIU President Andy Stern, for U.S. Secretary of Labor. Solis made her priorities clear during the press conference at which her nomination was announced: “As secretary of Labor, I’ll work to strengthen our unions …” And a key strategy in “strengthening” unions will be an aggressive program to organize health care workers. Indeed, she has a track record of doing just that. As it was phrased in the gleeful news release from SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, “She has stood alongside healthcare workers as they fought to form unions in their hospitals.”
Larry Sinclair confuses Obama supporters with facts in this Youtube video:
“Organizing For America members say “you don’t need to read 1000 pages of a bill…””
“University of Central Florida Students transported by Organizing for America to the Alan Grayson/Joe Biden events in Orlando do not even know what they are supporting. These students (all but 1 of which are members of SDS) were transported to the Biden school speech and then to the Marriott Hotel for the $1000, $5000, & $10,000 per donor Biden/Grayson/Kosmas fund raiser in a Black SUV. The SDS president was seen coming and going from the Hotel on his cell phone calling other members.”
Citizen WElls 