GOP opponents of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D. Va.) sign pledge to repeal Obamacare
Full disclosure: Connolly is my representative in Northern Virginia. He is completely non-responsive to constituents. Indeed when I called his office (on many occasions) to see where he stood on a vote, his staff told me, right up until the actual vote itself, that Connolly was “undecided.” He voted for the Stimulus, Cap and Tax, and Obamacare.
This area of Virginia is considered part of the big blue base for Democrats in statewide elections. The Virginia 11th District is composed of parts of Fairfax and Prince William Counties. In 2008, Obama took Fairfax County by a margin of 60-39 (21 points) and Prince William by 56-43 (13 points). But in last year’s gubernatorial race, Republican Bob McDonnell took Fairfax by 51-49, a net swing of 23 points in one year, and Prince William by 59-41, a whopping 31 point swing.
Two Republicans, Keith Fimian and Pat Herrity, are vying for the opportunity to take on Connolly in November and they both just elevated Obamacare to Issue Number 1.
The two Virginia Republicans seeking to challenge 11th District Rep. Gerry Connolly have signed a pledge vowing to repeal the federal health care overhaul, further cementing the nearly $1 trillion initiative as the central issue in the June primary.
Both candidates already had denounced the legislation, which Connolly backed. Pat Herrity, a Fairfax County supervisor, labeled the Democratic incumbent “Gerry Pelosi” and announced he would “work tirelessly to repeal this bill.” Keith Fimian, a businessman who ran against Connolly in 2008, charged the changes would “devastate the best health care system in the world.”
But putting their names on a repeal pledge represents an irreversible promise to conservatives — and other opponents of the health care overhaul — who will decide the GOP nominee. And it signals that both Herrity and Fimian are putting great stock in public unease over remaking the nation’s health care system.
To show you how indefensible Obamacare really is, here is the DCCC’s response.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Jesse Ferguson pointed to several provisions in the health law — a prohibition on denying care because of pre-existing conditions, closing the “doughnut hole” in Medicare prescription drug coverage and small-business tax credits — that would be undone under the candidates’ repeal plan.
“The only people the Fimian-Herrity position helps are health insurance companies and their army of lobbyists,” he said.
First of all, the Democrats’ own legislative malpractice left the pre-existing condition requirement for children out of the bill. Secondly, the doughnut hole is filled with a $250 check, while at the same time, Medicare is being cut by $500 billion. Finally, the new law is already devastating small and large businesses across the country.
The funniest thing though, is the final accusation that the Republicans are in the pocket of the insurance industry. After all, isn’t it Obamacare, opposed by all Republicans, that requires everyone to purchase a health insurance policy?
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Lame article. “He is completely non-responsive to constituents.” Really? Just because one of his staff doesn’t respond the way you like or vote the way you want him to. It appears to me that the Rep is in line with his constituents given the support Obama received there in the last FEDERAL election. Finally your links to a right-wing website and the Senate GOP website are laughable. TrueSlant please remove this dolt from your publishing list.
I was kind of wondering which businesses, large and small, are already being devastated by the health care bill as none of the provisions are yet in force. Maybe its those small businesses (under 50 employees) who have not yet gotten the tax credit they will be receiving for insuring their employees.
As for the GOP candidates for the House you reference, I’m sure their intention to repeal the legislation will come in very handy in the next Congress as you’ve no doubt come up with some math that supports the anti-legislation forces gaining control of 2/3 of both houses of congress this November.
I gave the links to the businesses that have been affected. As for the repeal, you don’t need 2/3 of both Houses to defund agencies and programs. A simple majority is enough to starve them.
In response to another comment. See in context »I was kind of wondering which businesses, large and small, are already being devastated by the health care bill as none of the provisions are yet in force. Maybe its those small businesses (under 50 employees) who have not yet gotten the tax credit they will be receiving for insuring their employees.
I’m really interested in the psychology of economic growth. I was just reading a wishy washy TIME article which quoted various business types as basically saying, “The thing that’ll make the economy grow again is when businesses become confident that it’ll grow again.” Having the party of NO out there scaring the hell out of everyone about Obama’s policies, it would seem, is partly to blame for our slow recovery.
A couple weeks ago, Rick Santorum was on Greta van Sustern. Greta had just politely criticized Obama (for bad form) for saying it was good news that we only lost 36k jobs at the start of the year, the point being that it isn’t good enough to say bad news is still relatively good news. Rick followed up that he had spoken to some of Reid’s opponents and that they were excited that things aren’t getting better, because it means that whoever gets the GOP nomination will probably take Reid’s seat. Isn’t that just like saying ‘bad news’ is relatively ‘good news’? I thought it was very ghoulish. Just like I think gumming up the congressional process to make the president look bad and then use his performance to get back in power is ghoulish.
In response to another comment. See in context »It’s going to be fun watching the GOP run a campaign on “Insurers should have the right to deny your coverage!”
Or
“Pre-Existing Conditions? Tough Shit!”
Or
“Your kids need health care? Get a 3rd job!”
It will be even more fun to point out that Medicare and Medicaid deny far more claims than the insurance companies. But when Uncle Sam says no, and he’s the only game in town, who you gonna call?
In response to another comment. See in context »Good luck with that. You can be for repealing HCR, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Be my guest.
It will be very amusing to watch. Party of Hell No, indeed!
In response to another comment. See in context »Bill, you know that’s a ludicrous argument. If you have a pre-existing condition and are on the individual market, you can’t get insurance anyway.
“Who you gonna call?” In either scenario, you’re begging your family for money and maxing out credit cards so you can fly to Singapore or Switzerland and get your surgery there.
In response to another comment. See in context »Exactly where in Medicare is the $500B cut coming from?
One other thing I’d like to point out.
Conservatives are bankrupt in the marketplace of ideas. You guys have no new ideas. The only thing you suggest running on, is getting rid of progress other people have made. Where are the conservative ideas beyond “hell no!”?
Let’s pretend you’re trying to sell me on your party. Why should I vote for Republicans? What new ideas do you bring to the table? Don’t tell me the Democrats are evil socialists, tell me what the Republican party would do to enrich our lives, and make the country better.
That’s the big thing I see missing from the tea-bagging conservative movement. No ideas at all. You basically advocate repealing the 20th century.
That isn’t hyperbole either, just look at what the conservative movement stands for today. You guys want to teach creationism in science class, repeal every social safety net people fought for for a hundred years, and reduce taxes to a level they were at in the early 1800’s, let religion dictate medical research, etc. etc. etc.
*crickets*
In response to another comment. See in context »“Finally, the new law is already devastating small and large businesses across the country.”
Giving Republican.Senate.Gov website opinions on the possible-maybe losses of tanning salon jobs is a major stretch, especially calling this devastating. How much will be saved in healthcare costs because fewer people may be going to tanning salons?
http://gowithyourownglow.org/The-Dangers-of-Tanning.html
However, I actually thought this was put in there to slap ‘OrangeMan Boehner’ in his wallet!
Regarding large business effects; They are complaining because they will only be able to take a tax deduction for the benefits they provide, rather than also getting a deduction for the government subsidies they receive? Again, a very weak argument from Republican.Senate.Gov! I think it only exposes more Corporate Welfare.
How much will be saved in healthcare costs because fewer people may be going to tanning salons?
You see? Another example of progressives trying to control everything and telling us how to live our lives. I use tanning beds all the time, because I’m allergic to pollen and most insects and can’t go outside. But I won’t get cancer because I use colloidal silver. More people would know about the benefits of silverwater if politicians got back to small government principles, am-I-right?
In response to another comment. See in context »jackreynolds,
First of all, sorry to hear about your health condition; I have family members with chronic conditions, and understand the challenges they present.
Regarding the “progressive” label, and wanting to control how you live your life; I actually think anyone should be able to do what they want, as long as it doesn’t directly affect others rights and freedoms. My point is that I think it is a weak argument and example of how the “new law is already devastating small and large businesses”.
My opinion about the use of tanning beds also applies to the use of tobacco, alcohol, or eating/drinking products that are known to have health risks. Any of these things in moderation probably will have little impact, just like I think taxes on these items should have little impact and not devastation. These also personally affect me, but I accept and understand the personal risks and impacts.
Regarding the use of silverwater; I know little about it other than the differing opinions that I just researched on the internet. But, I am not sure how you draw the line between small government and more people knowing about the benefits.
In response to another comment. See in context »I was totally kidding, man.
In response to another comment. See in context »Right over my f–king head
In response to another comment. See in context »I actually considered that after reading your other posts.
But at least I got in a pre-emptive strike for what will most likely be the reply to my first post.
later jack……