The DNC has released a new ad that highlights Republican attempts to end Medicare. Just this year, 137 Republicans voted in the House for a budget proposal offered by the Republican leadership which would have ended Medicare for future generations of seniors. DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“You know that Republican attempts to lie and mislead the public have reached the height of absurdity when the GOP – a party which has worked for decades to kill a program that provides health care to 40 million seniors – tries to portray itself as an ally to this country’s senior citizens. The truth is that while Republicans have opposed Medicare since its inception, Democrats have worked for more than 40 years to strengthen the program. The President’s proposed health insurance reforms would strengthen Medicare by cutting waste, ending special interest subsidies that are undermining the program and closing the prescription drug program's donut hole. While the President's plan wouldn't cut one dime from the benefits seniors are receiving from Medicare, Republicans in the House voted earlier this year to abolish a program that has been vital to seniors, their health and their quality of life for over forty years. The Republican Party has opposed Medicare, tried to dismantle Social Security just four years ago and is now opposing plans to strengthen Medicare for generations to come. Republicans are no friends of seniors."
I'm hanging on my the skin of my teeth now since my rent went up by $61 a month and, because of California's budget woes, I had to buy a Medi-gap policy at the cost of $110 a month. It's kind of scary to suddenly have your obligations go up so drastically. It might not matter if my income wws more than just Social Security.
If I lost Medicare, I'd just start looking for a plot somewhere - you know, the hole in the ground kind.
The Republicans are completely out of power and have nothing to do anymore with how bills in Congress are written into law.
The real blame can be placed at the feet of the Blue Dog DINO-Fascists, and their leader Rahm Emanual, as well as the puppet president of the upper 1% plutocracy and their multinational corporations that have stolen democracy from WE THE PEOPLE.
The progressives are taking back the Democratic Party. Last week they quickly raised over half a million dollars and donated it all to progressive candidates who support true health care reform.
This was a powerful message sent to the Blue Dogs and President Obama. That message is, "Either you enact laws for the benefit of WE THE PEOPLE, instead of for big business, or we will vote you out of office in your next Democratic Primary!"
We voted out the Republican Neocon-Fascists over the last two election cycles. Now it's time we voted out the Blue Dog Dino-Fascists as well!
The Republicans are completely out of power and have nothing to do anymore with how bills in Congress are written into law.
The real blame can be placed at the feet of the Blue Dog DINO-Fascists, and their leader Rahm Emanual, as well as the puppet president of the upper 1% plutocracy and their multinational corporations that have stolen democracy from WE THE PEOPLE.
The progressives are taking back the Democratic Party. Last week they quickly raised over half a million dollars and donated it all to progressive candidates who support true health care reform.
This was a powerful message sent to the Blue Dogs and President Obama. That message is, "Either you enact laws for the benefit of WE THE PEOPLE, instead of for big business, or we will vote you out of office in your next Democratic Primary!"
We voted out the Republican Neocon-Fascists over the last two election cycles. Now it's time we voted out the Blue Dog Dino-Fascists as well!
Who cares about the Republicans? The Democrats have the majority in both houses of Congress, yet they keep making excuses and blaming Republicans for their own failure to wean themselves from the big business legalized bribes coming through the K Street lobbyists.
We need Medicare for all. That is what the majority of the country wants. But Obama and the rest of his Blue Dog DINO-Fascists are in the pocket of big business, so the only plan that we will see is one that caters to them and not to WE THE PEOPLE.
While this ad is targeted at the healthcare issue, there is an underlying issue that must be dealt with prior to the 2010 elections. The right-wing has found a way to define the debate on issues in this country, and that needs to be turned around soon. By going on the attack with their lunatic claims and lies, they have unfortunately caused the Dems to go into a defensive posture. The source of these attacks are a small and vitriolic group of right-wing die-hards, urged and exhorted by the extremist right-wing talk show hosts. They have learned that by repeating lies, and doing so in a threatening manner (or often like a child throwing a temper tantrum), they can attract the attention of the national media, and derail reasonable debate on the important issues affecting all US citizens.
Rather than be placed in a defensive position and not knowing when and where the next salvo of crazy lies are going to hit, the Democrats must hit back at this small, but vocal group of extremists. The way to do this to the expose and widen the schism that exists in the GOP party. Respected GOP party leaders and moderates are sitting back and letting this free-for-all against truth happen because it ends up hurting the Democratic party, and strengthens their chance of recapturing seats in the 2010 election. There is no motivation for them to reign in the crazy liars on the extreme right in their party as long as they don't suffer any consequences. To reverse this situation the Dems must challenge the GOP leadership as to whether they believe in the whacky claims the right-wings nuts are espousing. Challenge the GOP leadership to sit in front of the TV camera (i.e. on Sunday morning political talk shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, etc.) and say whether they agree with the crazy lies coming from the right-wing extremists in their party:
1) That Obama is not a US citizen.
2) That Obama's healthcare program dictates mandatory death panels.
3) That Obama's address to school children encouraging them to stay in school and work hard in their academic pursuits is a left-wing brainwashing session.
There are no doubt more of these whacko claims that can be asked of these GOP leaders. If they claim that they don't believe these wild lies, ask them why they continue to let their right-wing shock troops continue to peddle these mis-truths. Do these claims from the right-wing extremists in their party really represent what the GOP leadership thinks? Who is really leading the GOP these days? What are the reasonable points of debates that the GOP leadership is providing? What are the plans that the GOP leadership has to address the nations ills? Lord knows we've heard nothing constructive from the Republicans lately. Have they really devolved and abrogated their leadership to the siren sounds of the right-wing extremists in their party? Challenge them to be responsible statesmen, and move the debate around facts and the issues. Challenge them to take back the leadership from the right-wing extremists. Let's see whose really running the GOP. So far, it looks more like Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Glen Beck, O-Reilly and their ilk are running the GOP. If so, look for more candidates from the GOP with the acumen, poise and statesmanship of Sarah Palin to grace our TV screens.
The GOP attempt to destroy Medicare is just one of a long list of "Seek and Destroy" missions the party of NO is launching. Think about it. Without Medicare, millions of seniors will have absolutely nothing. Wait a minute!! That's just what the Rat Bastards want, along with Poor and Middle class children who just watched their School budget slashed and burned. I recently listened to one of FDR's stirring speeches, pointing out the need for Americans to stand up, grow a pair, and fight [To the Death if need be] the enemy within..........Mmmmm.. I wonder who that would be.
No, but I've been singing old labor songs. Have you?
"We shall not, we shall not be moved.
We shall not, we shall not be moved.
Like the tree that planted by the water,
We shall not be moved."
"Union is behind us, we shall not be moved.
Union is behind us, we shall not be moved.
Like the tree that's planted by the water,
We shall not be moved."
Solidarity forever!
Solidarity forever!
Solidarity forever!
For the union makes us strong
When the union's inspiration
through the workers' blood shall run,
There can be no power greater
anywhere beneath the sun.
Yet what force on earth is weaker
than the feeble strength of one?
But the union makes us strong.
They have taken untold millions
that they never toiled to earn,
But without our brain and muscle
not a single wheel can turn.
We can break their haughty power;
gain our freedom when we learn
That the Union makes us strong.
In our hands is placed a power
greater than their hoarded gold;
Greater than the might of armies,
magnified a thousand-fold.
We can bring to birth a new world
from the ashes of the old
For the Union makes us strong.
This labor anthem was written in 1915 by IWW songwriter and union organizer Ralph Chaplin using the music of Julia Ward Howe's Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Amen Tylinca! I learned those emotional labor anthems at an early age, right along with patriotic anthems we all know and love. A well employed America. A Health Care covered America, and a globally respected America should be every man and womans desire.
This is exactly the sort of shenanigans that make it very hard for me to claim the moral high ground when I get into arguments with my Republican friends. Granted, this isn't anywhere near as bad as the "death panel" stuff that has been spouting from the right, but a lie is a lie. Please stop it. Stick to the facts. When you don't, you make it seem like you've got a weak argument.
