Allen County Democratic Party

JG Calls Souder Out!

This morning's JG had an editorial about the Health Care Bill that passed Congress on Saturday night. It includes this:

Speaking of inflammatory rhetoric, U.S. Rep. Mark Souder seemed more interested in fanning the flames of opposition and xenophobia than accuracy when he said that the House bill would result in “free health care for the illegals who took your jobs.” The House vote specifically excluded the 6 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. from receiving benefits.

Of course, that is NOT TRUE.  Illegal immigrants DO NOT GET coverage under the plan.

Happy Veterans Day

Veterans Day actually commemorates Armistice Day, 1918, when fighting ceased in World War I.  In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day holiday with the following words:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.

To all of the men and women who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country, THANK YOU from the Allen County Democratic Party.

President Obama's speech at the Fort Hood memorial service

From the speech, which is incredibly appropriate as we celebrate Veterans Day tomorrow:

We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it. We saw that valor in those who braved bullets here at Fort Hood, just as surely as we see it in those who signed up knowing that they would serve in harm's way.

We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes.

We are a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses. And instead of claiming God for our side, we remember Lincoln's words, and always pray to be on the side of God.

You should read the whole thing.  H/T TPM.

Dan Parker on Health Insurance Reform

From the Indiana Democratic Party (sorry for the delay of a couple of days - your humble correspondent was enjoying beautiful weather, football and family):

INDIANAPOLIS -- Today, the Affordable Health Care for America Act was passed by the House of Representatives, an important step towards ensuring every American has access to quality, affordable, stable and secure health care coverage.  This legislation will finally rein in the insurance companies' worst practices while extending coverage to 36 million Americans and cutting the deficit by $104 billion in the next ten years.  The bill was supported by a wide range of groups including doctors, patients, seniors, consumers and Americans across the country.

 

Every Democrat in the Indiana Congressional Delegation voted for the bill.  All but one Republican voted against the bill.

 

After the bill's passage, Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker released the following statement:

 

"Last November, Americans voted for change, and today, that's what they got. Nearly one hundred years ago President Teddy Roosevelt called for health care reform, and today, we have come closer than ever to making it a reality."

 

"The Affordable Health Care for America Act will provide long overdue reforms to the insurance industry and important protections for Hoosiers.  It will also provide more quality, affordable choices while bringing down the sky-high costs for families and businesses and lowering the national deficit.  Because of this act, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions or cancel coverage because of illnesses."

 

"Today I thank President Obama and Hoosier Congressional Democrats for their strong leadership on health insurance reform. This has been a long legislative process, and there is still much work to be done in the coming weeks. Thankfully, Indiana's Democratic delegation has been tireless in their work to ensure this bill achieves lasting reform for Hoosiers in a responsible way."

 

Jon Stewart is the funniest person alive

In case you missed it, here is Jon Stewart's homage to Glenn Beck.  You must watch:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The 11/3 Project
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Let the Buyer Beware

The Republican plan for health reform - and the use of the terms "plan," "health" and "reform" are probably incorrect in this context - will not extend health coverage.  Check out the Congressional Budget Office report.

And although I didn't mean for the title of this post to be a pun, it does seem appropriate, no?

The difference between New Hampshire and Indiana

How do you know if you have been elected to local government in New Hampshire versus local government in Indiana?

Hint:  It has to do with the area codes of the congratulatory calls you get.

NY-23 shows that, indeed, all politics is local

First of all, the reason TV pundits talk about off-year elections as referenda on the President is that it saves them (the pundits, not the Presidents) from having to actually spend time learning about the local issues that have the real impact on elections.  When Jill Long beat Dan Heath in 1989 (for the Congressional seat formerly held by Dan Coats, when Coats was named Senator to replace Dan Quayle who spent four years a Heartbeat Away), it had to do with Republican dissatisfaction with Paul Helmke's annexation policies (not exactly a national issue) and the fact that Long ran a strong campaign.  Regardless of whether you were disappointed that Bush had won the previous November, it was clear that Long's election was not a repudiation of Bush or Republicanism by the voters of the Indiana 4th Congressional District.

And so on to NY-23, where Democrat Bill Owens became the first non-Republican to be elected to Congress since, more or less, the Civil War.

I guess all it takes is a group of people to become so focused on ideology that they forget the reason we elect Members of Congress:  to represent us in Washington.

Now that the Tea Party people realize that they can knock off a Republican but STILL lose an election, it will be interesting to see what happens next.  (And by the way, Charlie Crist has the best hair in American politics, no question.)

A simple question

Do you think if we all took a solemn oath proclaiming Joe Lieberman to be the most important person alive, and promising that every day each American would spend at least 10 minutes thinking about him, and that all media outlets would give him more coverage than anyone else, that he would just let us get on with health insurance reform?

I'm just asking.

Repower America

From the labor, environmental, business, education and outdoor recreation groups at Repower America, here is a place to listen to people from all walks of life in support of climate protection legislation.  All walks of life, including Fort Wayne City Councilpeople.  You can add your voice, as well.