That audible sputtering you hear comes courtesy of indignant Tea Tantrumers whose self-righteous denials have fallen flat. My new nickname for any and all of these fools: Elmer Thudd.
I posted the above story mere minutes ago. It only took that long for another one to come to my attention.
Amid all that protesty spittle flying around all those denials of having spat on Congress members and screaming slurs, carrying racist signs, and sneaking in nasty little coded words and phrases, we get yet another example of why they are laughably-- and cryably-- wrong. Via a tweet posted on the Twitter page of the Springboro Tea Party:
“Illegals everywhere today! So many spics makes me feel like a speck. Grrr. Wheres my gun!?” said the March 21 posting on the site managed by the group’s founder, Sonny Thomas.
There now, wasn't that Christian of him?
The Twitter posting triggered cancellations by several local and statewide candidates and elected officials scheduled to speak at a Springboro Tea Party rally scheduled for Saturday, April 17, at North Park. However, some officials say this doesn’t tarnish the Tea Party movement as a whole.
Of course it doesn't. It's just one isolated incident. Sure, one of many. Add all those isolated incidents up and what do you get? Why, one might call it a very negative impression of "the Tea Party movement as a whole."
Little by little we'll fight our way back. Wonder how much of this was from actually doing something instead of vacillating? Via Taegan-
A new Quinnipiac poll finds that Democrats are having a mini-surge in Ohio and now lead in both the U.S. Senate and Governor's races.
In the Senate race, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) leads Rob Portman (R) 41% to 37%, reversing a three point Portman lead in February. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) also edges Portman, 38% to 37%, reversing a five point Portman lead.
In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Ted Strickland (D) leading challenger John Kasich (R), 43% to 38%.
A few days ago, we witnessed a pathetic Tea Tantrum crowd bullying a man with Parkinson's, all caught on video.
Now he's very, very sorry. That's commendable, but let's take a step back and consider the broader point. When people are stirred up, encouraged, cheered on by others (are you listening Republican Congress members?), they do things they might not ordinarily do... ever.
Heh. I was just watching the reconciliation conference on CSPAN 2, and all of the R reps were afflicted with what I call Tort Reform Tourette's. Guess they need to get another disease stat.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the House of Representatives prepares to vote Sunday on a package that Democrats say will make health care more affordable, critics insist the "big government takeover of health care" is not only unwarranted, but that a part of the solution is so obvious it's a crime Democrats failed to embrace it.
It's called tort reform, or putting the brakes on junk lawsuits. If doctors and hospitals don't need to worry about defending themselves against baseless malpractice lawsuits, they'll stop ordering needless, duplicative tests and halt the practice of defensive medicine, Republican congressional leaders say. It's an easy and necessary way to bring down costs for all Americans, they say.
The problem is, Ohio has already taken that step, as have many other states. Yet five years after a difficult but successful fight in Columbus to pass tort reform, health-care costs in the state have not gone down. And health policy analysts say it may not be possible to say whether costs would have spiked even higher had Ohio not passed lawsuit reform.
Costs climbed even after the legislature limited the size of jury verdicts for pain and suffering to $250,000 except in catastrophic cases, restricted punitive damages, and made it tougher to take a case to trial. In 2004, the year Ohio passed lawsuit liability reform, average premiums for employer-based family health plans were $9,590, according to data from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. By 2008, average family premiums were $11,425.
This means that four years after the state passed tort reform, health insurance for Ohio families in employer plans had gone up by 19 percent.
Previously, I posted a video of a man with Parkinson's disease getting verbally abused, right up in his face, by a bunch of vulgar Tea Tantrumers. They accused him of wanting "handouts" because he supports health care reform. They threw money at him, humiliated him, and harassed him.
Bob, the man with Parkinson's who was targeted by the Tea Partiers, sat down with ProgressOhio for an interview. He is 60 years old and was first diagnosed with Parkinsons 15 years ago. He has two masters degrees and a Ph.D. from Cornell. He taught at the University of Michigan and worked as a nuclear engineer.
Bob was able to have a $150,000 surgery that greatly increased his quality of life, thanks to Medicare and the Cleveland Clinic. He attended the event in Columbus because he believes in giving back and thinks everyone should have access to affordable health insurance and quality health care.
"Everyone take your own action."
He's right, and he is a hero.
H/t: Digby, who has a lot more "sickening behavior" to share with you.
Just now on MSNBC- Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH), who voted against the November bill, announced this morning in an emotional speech that he will vote for the health care bill. Boccieri is the fourth congressman to flip from no to yes.
By GottaLaff I've said repeatedly how desperate the GOP is now that health care reform is about to become a reality (fingers crossed). They're so desperate, in fact, that they're resorting to the worst, bottom of the barrel tactics, because that's all they have.
In southern Ohio, opponents of the bill have created a blowback effect by airing an ad targeting Rep. Steve Driehaus to stand firm as a "no" vote on the legislation. The ad prominently featured the congressman’s young daughters, in violation of the unwritten law that forbids dragging lawmakers' family members – most especially their underage children – into the fray.
That's right. They used innocent children, because they don't like the fact that it's legal to get an abortion, and ... well... ironically, and sadly...
...the ad wasn't even necessary:
[T]he ultimate puzzlement in the Driehaus controversy is why the spot ran at all: The freshman lawmaker had already signaled his intention to vote against the bill because it doesn’t have strong enough curbs on abortion funding.
Committee spokeswoman Sarah Longwell said showing the children was a mistake and that the group was taking out another ad to apologize. She said the committee already apologized directly to Driehaus.
Too bad the spot was aired and the damage was done, huh? The apology won't erase that, nor will it do anything to alter the insensitive douchebaggery that is sure to make its way into the next news cycle, whether from the Committee or somewhere else.
Video shot by the Columbus Dispatch from today's Honk and Wave in Support of Health Care at Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy's district office contains a segment wherein the teabaggers mock and scorn an apparent Parkinson's victim telling him "he's in the wrong end of town to ask for handouts", calling him a communist and throwing money at him to "pay for his health care".
Yes, there it was, outside of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy's district office, an unruly crowd adorned with bumper stickers (including a baby) and Palin for President tee shirts. And yes, one even threw dollar bills at a man with Parkinson's, and another shouted directly into his face.
How compassionate. How humane. How patriotic.
Note the man standing nearby, smiling serenely, rocking that very baby to the lullaby of cacophonous shrieks of "Obama's a communist!"
You know what they say, love the fetus, expose the child to crass, despicable behavior. Some role models.
Washington (CNN) – President Obama heads back to Ohio Monday, his fifth trip to the state since assuming the presidency over a year ago.
In a further push for congressional passage of his health care overhaul, the president is scheduled to deliver an address on health insurance in Strongsville, outside of Cleveland.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A record high number of concealed handgun permits issued were issued in the state in 2009.
Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said the state's county sheriffs issued 56,691 licenses, which surpassed the previous record of 45,497 set in 2004 when the concealed handgun law first went into effect.
"If there's something to take away from these numbers, it is that more and more Ohioans are comfortable exercising the right to carry concealed handguns," said Cordray in a news release.
"There are some nice people in Washington, but they can drive you crazy."
People are yelling out "I love you" to Obama. He loves them back.
[He's explaining the mess that Bush left him and that some of his policies were not popular.] Stabilizing banks was a tough pill to swallow.
If you can take tough steps, we're willing to invest in your future.
The Recovery Act has been misunderstood. It wasn't the bank bailout. It was cutting taxes for 95% of working families. Increasing unemployment insurance, extending COBRA, giving aid to states... And the largest investment in infrastructure....
The worst of the economic storm has past, but families are still reeling...
Plants close, businesses shut down, jobs disappear....
This all comes after one of the toughest decades our middle class has faced in generations. Some folks made tons of money, but so many others were just pedaling faster and faster, but slipping behind. Average income over last decade flat lined, or went down, and that was BEFORE the crisis.
And costs have gone up! Including health care needs.
I didn't run for president to run from these challenges. [huge applause] I ran to rebuild our economy for EVERYone who's willing to work hard, not just a few. To create jobs... to improve schools... to make higher education affordable, and yes, to deal with runaway hc costs [huge applause]!
I had no illusions that this would be hard. 7 presidents have tried it. ... And all failed... and I had a bunch of advisors tell me this may not be smartest thing to do, you have a lot on your plate... you may not get cooperation, get push back from Big Inusrance, etc. Don't do it!
Let me tell you why I did it. I knew insurance premiums doubled in last decade. ... lists other economic reasons...
When you lose jobs, you lose insurance... I took it up because I wanted to ease burdens on families/businesses who can't afford rates... [huge applause] that Big Insurance charges [paraphrased]
Dispel notion that we were focused on that, not economy. All I think about is how to create jobs, get banks lending again. I've done that entire year. But hc is part of the drag on our economy...
So, the good news: We've gotten pretty far.. but we had a little bit of a buzz saw this week. [laughter]. Part of reason is it was so long, drawn on. That's what happens in Congress, it's a long process, partisan, exploit fears, ads that scare BeJeezus out of everybody.
I understand why, after MA election, people in DC were all in a tizzy.. what does it mean for Obama? Is he weakened? Ohhh, how's he gonna survive this? But THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME [applause] This is about YOU! I didn't take this up to boost my poll numbers. To boost poll numbers, you don't do anything. All of Wash. would be saying, "What a genius!"
Some say, if Obama loses we win. But I think that if I win, YOU win. So if I wanted to take path of least resistance, I'd have done something a lot easier. We'll keep on working to get this done. With Dems, I HOPE with R's, with anyone who will step up. I won't watch more people get squashed by insurance companies...
There's no control on what they do, their stocks skyrocket. So long as I have breath in me I won't stop fighting for you, I'll take my lumps. [huge applause]. I won't stop fighting to make sure there's accountability in our financial system, till we have jobs for everybody... [huge applause]
That's why I'm asking Congress to pass Jobs Bill...
So long as I'm president, I won't stop fighting... for restoring home values... [sorry, missed some]... for giving our kids the best education... to give every American a fair shake, which is why I signed ... Lily Ledbetter Act. [lots of applause] ... credit card bill of rights... fighting for tough consumer protection agency...
I won't stop fighting to open up government. This is hard because we don't control every branch. We've put in toughest laws, ethics rules of any admin. in history. Opened up our logs, first time... Cut waste, abuse in Wash.
And I'm gonna keep on fighting for real, meaningful hcr. We got SCHIP, but we will fight to hold Big Insur. accountable... fight for providing insurance for everyone. There will be more fights ahead. I won't win every round.
We're having fight right now...we want our money back (re: banks). We want our money back! [cheers] But it's gonna be a fight, you watch.
I guarantee you, when we start trying to change regulatory reform they'll say, "Why is he meddling in financial industry?" No, I want rules in place so when they make dumb decisions, they'll be rules in place. I don't mind having a fight!
Q and A:
Q: Will you support continued Pell Grants?
A: Yes. We made, with help of Congress, enormous investment in higher education. We increased the level of each Pell Grant, and put in more money. We want to continue to do this. A lot of banks still serve as middle men, take out several billion in profits. But loans can go directly to students, so you save billions that can be put back in system.
But... even as we put more $ in, we are also trying to reach out to Universities to reduce inflation in higher education.
The latest Quinnipiac poll in Ohio finds a general uptick for Democrats over the summer, evidencing itself in higher approval ratings and stronger showings for the party's U.S. Senate candidates.
In a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) has opened a 26% to 17% lead over Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D), with 55% still undecided.
In a GOP primary, former Rep. Rob Portman (R) leads businessman Tom Ganley (R), 27% to 9%, with 61% still undecided.
In general election matchups, Fisher tops Portman, 42% to 31%, and beats Ganley 41% to 29%. Brunner tops Portman, 39% to 34%, and beats Ganley 39% to 31%.
As OhioDaily writes, “This type of message is offensive coming from anyone, but coming from someone in the position of dispatching police and prioritizing calls, it’s downright horrifying. The North Canton police have a hard enough job as it is without rogue dispatchers trying to incite a race riot or stirring tensions during the hot months of summer.”
Incite a race riot, then dispatch your own officers to the scene. In her mind, that probably makes some kind of sick sense.
Already I can see a higher energy than last night. The punditiots can now stop saying he is too low key. Maybe he just responds better to a crowd of people who don't couch their questions with Republican talking points.
He started right out with the word "change"... and job loss, collapsed financial system. He just said the Depression word.
Immediate danger has passed, but people are questioning his policies.
Passed a 2 year Recovery Act with an immediate tax cut for 95%. Extended unemployment, health coverage for those who lost jobs, emergency assistance.... Kept banking system from collapsing, helped homeowners...
Now is the second phase: Repairs, clean energy... projects. Staving off a deeper disaster. But, for the unemployed, recovery can't come soon enough. I read your letters. You are the focus of my attention.
It took us years to get into this mess, it'll take more than a few months to dig out. I will promise you this: WE WILL GET THERE.
He's listing his goals, his plans... education, rebuilding, etc. Pursuing health insurance reform, so everyone has access.
HEALTH CARE: Reform isn't just about the 46 million w/o insurance. With all the charges and criticisms, Americans may wonder what's in it for me? If you have health insurance, you'll have more security. It will KEEP THE GOVT. OUT OF HEALTH CARE DECISIONS, we will not be forcing govt. run health care, and keep the INSURANCE COMPANIES OUT OF YOUR DECISIONS TOO. You won't have to worry about pre-existing conditions. Or losing coverage if you lose your job. EVERYONE will have access to affordable plans via a marketplace.
If you run a small business, you'll also be able to choose a plan from this exchange as well.
If you're a taxpayer concerned about deficits, I am too. In the past 8 years, there were 2 large tax cuts for wealthy, funded two wars, and more WITHOUT PAYING FOR THEM. National debt doubled. We had to add to deficit in short term to deal with financial crisis.
I have to say, folks have a lot of nerve WHO GOT US INTO THIS FISCAL HOLE, TALKING ABOUT "FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY." I'm always a little surprised that people don't have a little shame, creating this mess....
The truth is, I am now president and I am responsible, and together we have to restore a sense of responsibility in Washington. Cut out what we don't need to pay for what we do.
I pledge not to sign reform if it adds one dime of deficit in next decade, and I mean what I say.
About 2/3 of health care reform by taking $ not spent wisely moved to things that will keep you healthy.
I still insist that health care reform not be paid for by middle class families.
Short term, plan must slow growth of health care costs by improving care in the long run.
Better care = lower expenses. Preventive care, mammograms, physicals end up lowering costs. Saves money, improves care.
Proposals change incentives, doctors can give best care, not just expensive care.
Eliminate waste in Medicare. Quality of care for srs. improved, AARP approves our methods as well.
Lowering costs is essential for families/businesses.
We spend one in six dollars on health care in America.
Our reform has forged an unprecedented consensus.
Quoting R "go for the kill" and "breaking me" lines. It's the American people who are being broken by declining coverage, high costs.
Happening too soon? If there's not a deadline in Wash. nothing happens. We may not be able to get bill out of Senate by end of August? That's ok, I just want them to keep working. I want the bill to be reconciled between House and Senate and DONE BY THE FALL, by the end of this year.
Too soon? That's odd. We've been talking about this since Truman. Too soon for families who see cost rise, coverage drop? Too soon? Maybe for some in Wash. but not America.
Others say this is too hard, why take it on? Americans don't shirk from a challenge! Mentions going to the moon, Kennedy.
Questions: None are preprogrammed.
Q: Plan has health care industry funding reform. Concerned. I own a Medicare certified home care agency. Budget has drastic cuts to reimbursement.
A: I don't think so. Homecare industry has endorsed reform effort.
Q: Okay, but budget has cuts for years that amounts to 13 billion?
A: The Medpac idea is to have health experts and drs. to make Medicare more cost efficient. Not just cutting, in some cases must be higher. Home care is more efficient than insitutional. In rural communities, drs aren't reimbursed enough, so they leave. We want to incentivize smart things. [Make things more efficient] Efficient smart care is good for providers and patients, and can provide higher remibursements for some.
Q: Willing to urge Reid/Pelosi to stay at work?
A: Reid said we can get this bill out of Finance Comm. by recess, then vote in fall. I want to get it right, but get it done promptly. Haven't talked to him today. As long as they work diligently, moving forward that builds consensus... No delay for sake of delay, due to worry about casting tough votes. If they're really working out tough problems, no prob. But no delay just because of politics... because they might be controversial. Medicare, Soc. Security were controversial. Roosevelt was called a socialist. But we can't be afraid to change a broken system.
Q: Medicare... doughnut hole. 1/4 seniors... so, meds v. food. Will you support House legis. to close the doughnut hole.
A: Even more, we extracted concessions from Pharma that closes it. That's why AARP endorsed the bill. Doughnut hole = you hit a ceiling where subsidies go away. You pay out of pocket, more thousands of $, and then help kicks in again. Costs srs. thousands. Reform will make sure we move to close the hole, a commitment.
Q: High school student asks how to help.
A: Plan extends insurance of parents, keep kids on until they're 25. So persuade your parents, get active. Call representatives. Everyone can do that, and should. It makes members of Congress nervous. But when you do this, make it PERSONAL. Tell your story. Sometimes the debates get abstract.
If your employer pays high premiums, that affects your salary, no raises. UNIONS MOST AFFECTED. Negotiations? Employers say they can't afford to raise hourly wage. Health care rates too high for that. So you carry the burden. That's why reform is so important, even to those who have insurance.
Q: Taxing health care benefits...? She lists the payments, from 24-50, rising into thousands. Tax credit can only benefit those who make enough $ to use a tax credit. Most don't need one. How will tax be equitable to older and female workers?
A: First, taxing: I oppose taxing of benefits of those receiving. Discussed: An expensive, fancier plan than Congress gets, cap tax deduction, so we discourage costly plans. It's legit debate to have, but I've said no to eliminating tax deduction for employers.
Q: Extend age of going on to parents' plan is fine. But large % still stuck. How can we be guaranteed?
A: Anybody would be eligible to get insurance through the exchange with subsidies for help from govt. if you can't afford it, as long as you're eligible financially. Assuming you qualify, a working person w/o a lot of money, you'd be eligible to buy through the exchange. That's the whole idea. The exchange offers private plans too. We help you purchase insurance. Any insurer w/in the exchange has to abide by rules (pre-existing, changing jobs, etc.).
Q: Provisions for prevention, and mental health services?
A: I'm a supporter of that... but in addition... issues of prevention and wellness. Ex: Nutritionist to help get wt. down before diabetes... or a counselor for a diabetes patient to help with regimen to keep disease under control. There will be reimbursements, incentives for prevention and wellness, that do not require costs from patient.
Q: Too much, too fast?
A: Great question. Get done by Aug. meant bills voted out of House/Senate by Aug., but still have to come back in fall, reconcile the two, get a new bill, back to Senate/House, and to my desk. Fall is the bottom line, but even by then, most changes phased in over several years.... in an intelligent, deliberate way. But some we need fast: Reduce prescrip. drugs for srs, or pre-existing conditions, and other things that need to get done.
Too much? No. Only by standards of Wash. politics today... anything becomes this big tangle of who's up, down, special interests, lobbyists scurrying around.... But we're not talking about scrapping existing system. If you have it, you can keep it, if you don't, we'll help. If you have it, we'll reform the industry so it can still profit... but can't engage in rules that collect premiums but don't pay out when you get sick.
What is complicated: Changing delivery systems to get more quality for less $. Won't happen over night. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic drove down costs, maintained quality. How? They started in 1921. Drs. get salary instead of fee for service. That may not be what all drs. want to do, but there are other ways. Important is what is needed for patient, not worrying about what is the govt. saying... a million forms...
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