Generic Congressional Ballot
Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 46%, Democrats 39%
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Support for candidates from both parties surged following Congress' passage of the national health care plan, but Republican candidates still hold a seven-point lead over Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% would vote for their district's Republican congressional candidate, up three points from last week, while 39% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent, up four points from the previous survey.
Voter support for Democrats is at its highest level measured since early December 2009, while GOP support matches the highest level measured since weekly tracking began in early April 2007.
Forty-five percent (45%) of voters not affiliated with either major party now prefer the Republican candidate, while 25% like the Democrat. Unaffiliated support for Republicans held steady from last week, but support for Democrats is up six points from the previous survey.
One week after President Obama signed the health care bill into law, 54% of the nation's likely voters favor repealing the it.
Following passage of the health care bill, Obama experienced a modest bounce in support in the Rasmussen Reports daily President Tracking Poll. But his support came primarily from increased enthusiasm among Democrats, while the views of GOP voters and unaffiliateds were largely unchanged.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
Two weeks ago, Republicans posted a 10-point lead on the Generic Ballot, their biggest margin in nearly three years of weekly tracking. GOP candidates started 2010 ahead by nine points, while support for Democrats fell to its lowest level over the same period. Towards the end of 2009, Republicans enjoyed a more modest lead over Democrats, with the gap between the two down to four points in early December. Still, since the beginning of the year, the Republican lead hasn't dipped below seven points.
Throughout the fall and winter of 2008, support for Democratic congressional candidates ranged from 42% to 47%. Republican support ranged from 37% to 41%. When Obama was inaugurated in January 2009, Democrats enjoyed a seven-point advantage on the Generic Ballot.
The two parties were very close on the Generic Ballot throughout the spring of 2009, but in late June - around the same time Democrats began their campaign for health care reform -- Republicans pulled ahead for good.
Separate polling finds that 52% of voters believe the average member of the Tea Party movement has a better understanding of the issues facing America today than the average member of Congress. Still, on a three-way congressional generic ballot, the Tea Party candidate comes in third, picking up just 21% of the vote. The Democrat earns 34% support to the Republican's 27% when a Tea Party candidate is on the ballot.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of all voters favor their state suing the federal government to fight the requirement in the new national health care plan that every American must by or obtain health insurance.
Most voters still believe cost is the biggest problem with health care in America today, but most also think passage of the health care plan will drive costs even higher.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters expect Washington to grow more partisan over the next year, which is only one point below the highest level measured since regular tracking of the question began in January 2009.
Separate polling taken just before the House vote approving the health care plan found that just 11% of voters rate Congress' performance as good or excellent, a range it's been hovering in since late 2007. Sixty-four percent (64%) say Congress is doing a poor job.
Not a single House Republican voted for the plan, and 50% of voters say they're less likely to vote this November to reelect any member of Congress who votes for the plan.
Sixty-three percent (63%) think it would be better for the country if most incumbents in Congress were defeated this November. Just 27% say their representative in Congress is the best possible person for the job.
Congress' top leaders are feeling the heat from voters this month, as separate polling shows three of the four - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority leader John Boehner - reaching or matching their highest unfavorable ratings of the past year. Pelosi remains by far the most unpopular congressional leader.
Many Democrats view the passage of the national health care plan as President Obama's greatest achievement yet in office, but voters for the first time are evenly divided in their assessments of the president's leadership.
Many Democrats view the passage of the national health care plan as Obama's greatest achievement yet in office, but voters for the first time are evenly divided in their assessments of the president's leadership. Forty-four percent (44%) rate Obama's leadership skills as good or excellent. But 43% say the president's leadership is poor, the highest such finding since his election in November 2008.
Fifty-three percent (53%) now are at least somewhat concerned that those opposed to Obama’s policies will resort to violence, up 10 points from last September.
Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it's free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/generic_congressional_ballot
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act: How Our State Can Protect Patients' Rights
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act
How Your State Can Protect Patients' Rights
Press Release - State Legislators Last Line of Defense Against ObamaCare
In December 2008, ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act became model legislation. The model language mirrors Arizona Proposition 101, which was narrowly defeated in 2008.
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act protects the rights of patients to pay directly for medical services, and it prohibits penalties levied on patients for declining participation in a particular health plan.
The Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which was recently the subject of a front-page New York Times article, has already been filed or prefiled in 35 states—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Most notably, Arizona's HCR 2014, a revised version of the ALEC model, will be put on the ballot in 2010.
Lawmakers in an additional five states—Montana, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Utah—have publicly announced their intentions to file the legislation. A citizen-led initiative has also been announced in Colorado.
California: (0 active)
Connecticut: (0 active)
Hawaii: (0 active)
Maine: (0 active)
Massachusetts: (0 active)
Montana: (0 active; 1 announced)
Nevada: (0 active)
New York: (0 active)
North Carolina: (0 active; 1 announced)
Oregon: (0 active)
Rhode Island: (0 active; 1 announced)
Texas: (0 active)
Utah: (0 active; 1 announced)
Vermont: (0 active)
Source: American Legislative Exchange Council
As anti-freedom health policy—such as an individual mandate, an employer mandate, and the "public plan"—surface at the state and national levels, ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act has become an essential tool in securing the rights of patients to make their own health care choices.
Ensuring Access to Health Services—Without Waiting Lists
When consumers control the dollars, they make the decisions. On the other hand, a single-payer health —which forces patients to enroll in a one-size-fits-all plan with rich benefits and weak cost-sharing—will cause spending to skyrocket and policymakers to ration care as a cost-containment measure.
Look at what's happened in New Zealand, where breast cancer patients were blocked from accessing the lifesaving drug Herceptin—because it cost too much. Or think about brain injury patients in Canada—a country that ranks 19th among 26 reporting OECD nations in access to CT scanners.
Under a socialized medicine scheme, many patients will suffer, and some will die on a waiting list. Patients don't deserve that kind of treatment. ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act will prevent patients from being enrolled in a single-payer health system that will simultaneously pay for everyone's health care and limit access to it.
Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act ensures a person's right to pay directly for medical care. Single-payer systems, like in Canada, make it illegal for citizens to go outside the government's health care plan and contract for their own medical services. Cost overruns require most single-payer plans to restrict patient choices, and instead mandate an "evidence-based" treatment schedule that standardizes care.
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act ensures that patients—not government officials—should decide which doctor to see, what treatments to get, and whether or not to get a second or third opinion.
Preventing Costly, "Free" Universal Coverage
States should heed the painful lessons set by Wisconsin's high-cost universal health plan. In 2007, that state proposed—and rejected—a single-payer health plan for its citizens. The Wisconsin plan would have required all citizens to drop their private health coverage and instead enroll in a state-administered plan. Financing the plan would have meant a $15.2 billion dollar tax increase—the largest tax increase ever enacted by any state. And the plan would have become more expensive every year—comprising nearly 40 percent of Wisconsin's budget in the first year alone.
With ballooning budget deficits, states can't afford costly, "free"-in-name-only universal health coverage. ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act will save taxpayers from crippling, health-related tax hikes and budget cuts.
Guarding Against Mandates That Don't Work
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act would block legislation that imposes costly, bureaucratic penalties for choosing to obtain or decline health coverage. This provision strikes at the heart of an individual mandate—implemented in Massachusetts and elsewhere—that penalize individuals and businesses for failing to purchase health insurance.
The Massachusetts example is particularly instructive for states facing an individual mandate. Three years into the mandate, Massachusetts still hasn't achieved 100% coverage—in fact, the Bay State still has more than 200,000 uninsured residents. Many of the uninsured were exempt from the mandate because coverage was too expensive. Over half of those who did get insurance got fully- or partially-subsidized coverage, courtesy of Massachusetts taxpayers.
What's worse, health spending has increased by 42 percent in Massachusetts since the mandate was enacted; taxpayers, doctors, and hospitals are facing increased taxes and fees; and patients are finding it hard to see a doctor.
Simply put, ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act would protect against intrusive mandates that just don't work.
http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=ALEC_s_Freedom_of_Choice_in_Health_Care_Act&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=12858
How Your State Can Protect Patients' Rights
Press Release - State Legislators Last Line of Defense Against ObamaCare
In December 2008, ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act became model legislation. The model language mirrors Arizona Proposition 101, which was narrowly defeated in 2008.
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act protects the rights of patients to pay directly for medical services, and it prohibits penalties levied on patients for declining participation in a particular health plan.
The Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which was recently the subject of a front-page New York Times article, has already been filed or prefiled in 35 states—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Most notably, Arizona's HCR 2014, a revised version of the ALEC model, will be put on the ballot in 2010.
Lawmakers in an additional five states—Montana, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Utah—have publicly announced their intentions to file the legislation. A citizen-led initiative has also been announced in Colorado.
California: (0 active)
Connecticut: (0 active)
Hawaii: (0 active)
Maine: (0 active)
Massachusetts: (0 active)
Montana: (0 active; 1 announced)
Nevada: (0 active)
New York: (0 active)
North Carolina: (0 active; 1 announced)
Oregon: (0 active)
Rhode Island: (0 active; 1 announced)
Texas: (0 active)
Utah: (0 active; 1 announced)
Vermont: (0 active)
Source: American Legislative Exchange Council
As anti-freedom health policy—such as an individual mandate, an employer mandate, and the "public plan"—surface at the state and national levels, ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act has become an essential tool in securing the rights of patients to make their own health care choices.
Ensuring Access to Health Services—Without Waiting Lists
When consumers control the dollars, they make the decisions. On the other hand, a single-payer health —which forces patients to enroll in a one-size-fits-all plan with rich benefits and weak cost-sharing—will cause spending to skyrocket and policymakers to ration care as a cost-containment measure.
Look at what's happened in New Zealand, where breast cancer patients were blocked from accessing the lifesaving drug Herceptin—because it cost too much. Or think about brain injury patients in Canada—a country that ranks 19th among 26 reporting OECD nations in access to CT scanners.
Under a socialized medicine scheme, many patients will suffer, and some will die on a waiting list. Patients don't deserve that kind of treatment. ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act will prevent patients from being enrolled in a single-payer health system that will simultaneously pay for everyone's health care and limit access to it.
Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act ensures a person's right to pay directly for medical care. Single-payer systems, like in Canada, make it illegal for citizens to go outside the government's health care plan and contract for their own medical services. Cost overruns require most single-payer plans to restrict patient choices, and instead mandate an "evidence-based" treatment schedule that standardizes care.
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act ensures that patients—not government officials—should decide which doctor to see, what treatments to get, and whether or not to get a second or third opinion.
Preventing Costly, "Free" Universal Coverage
States should heed the painful lessons set by Wisconsin's high-cost universal health plan. In 2007, that state proposed—and rejected—a single-payer health plan for its citizens. The Wisconsin plan would have required all citizens to drop their private health coverage and instead enroll in a state-administered plan. Financing the plan would have meant a $15.2 billion dollar tax increase—the largest tax increase ever enacted by any state. And the plan would have become more expensive every year—comprising nearly 40 percent of Wisconsin's budget in the first year alone.
With ballooning budget deficits, states can't afford costly, "free"-in-name-only universal health coverage. ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act will save taxpayers from crippling, health-related tax hikes and budget cuts.
Guarding Against Mandates That Don't Work
ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act would block legislation that imposes costly, bureaucratic penalties for choosing to obtain or decline health coverage. This provision strikes at the heart of an individual mandate—implemented in Massachusetts and elsewhere—that penalize individuals and businesses for failing to purchase health insurance.
The Massachusetts example is particularly instructive for states facing an individual mandate. Three years into the mandate, Massachusetts still hasn't achieved 100% coverage—in fact, the Bay State still has more than 200,000 uninsured residents. Many of the uninsured were exempt from the mandate because coverage was too expensive. Over half of those who did get insurance got fully- or partially-subsidized coverage, courtesy of Massachusetts taxpayers.
What's worse, health spending has increased by 42 percent in Massachusetts since the mandate was enacted; taxpayers, doctors, and hospitals are facing increased taxes and fees; and patients are finding it hard to see a doctor.
Simply put, ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act would protect against intrusive mandates that just don't work.
http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=ALEC_s_Freedom_of_Choice_in_Health_Care_Act&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=12858
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Join Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to Discuss the Constitutionality of the Democrats' Recently Passed Health Care Bill
CONFERENCE CALL
Please Join
Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA), one of 13 State Attorney Generals challenging the Constitutionality of the Health Care bill
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
What: Discussion on the Constitutionality of the Democrats' recently passed Health Care bill.
When: Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Please Join
Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA), one of 13 State Attorney Generals challenging the Constitutionality of the Health Care bill
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
What: Discussion on the Constitutionality of the Democrats' recently passed Health Care bill.
When: Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Monday, March 29, 2010
Health reform opponents launch petition drive Tuesday in Pontiac!
Health reform opponents launch petition drive
Published: Monday, March 29, 2010
By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The Oakland Press
A group calling itself Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom plans to organize and launch a petition drive in Pontiac Tuesday to allow Michigan residents to opt out of the new health care reform laws.
The group will lay out the details of their petition and specify how to legally circulate the petitions to ensure enough signatures are gathered to place the initiative on the November 2010 statewide ballot.
“This will be a large-scale event,” said Glenn Clark, chairman of the 9th District congressional Republicans and a conservative activist. “There’s a lot of interest.”
Clark said he expects some who attend will be retired union members who face taxes on their “Cadillac” insurance plans.
“They realize if you tax something, you get less of it,” Clark said Monday.
The event will be at 5 p.m. in the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium next to the county courthouse at 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac.
A similar even was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday in the cafeteria of the Howell Freshman Campus, 1400 West Grand River Avenue in Howell.
The petitions drive will also be launched at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at The Exchange, 314 East Michigan Avenue in Lansing.
The actual petitions will be available at the event, Clark said.
In general, the ballot question:
• Declares the right of people to provide for their own health care without being compelled by government to participate in any health system,
• Prohibits government from imposing prohibitions on the sale or purchase of health insurance in private health systems,
• Prohibits government from imposing penalties against people, employers and health systems for participating in direct pay activities of lawful health care services, and,
• Prohibits government from creating any disadvantage against a health system for permitting a person or employer to pay directly for services, or for permitting a health provider from accepting direct payment for health services.
Supporters need to gather 381,000 valid signatures by early July in order for the proposed constitutional amendment to appear on the November ballot.
According to the Michigan Council of State Legislatures, 36 states — including Michigan — have attempted to block forced participation in health care reform, either through ballot issues or through legislative action.
Contact staff writer Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649 or charlie.crumm@oakpress.com.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/29/news/local_news/doc4bb0be71d5d47282519661.txt
Published: Monday, March 29, 2010
By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The Oakland Press
A group calling itself Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom plans to organize and launch a petition drive in Pontiac Tuesday to allow Michigan residents to opt out of the new health care reform laws.
The group will lay out the details of their petition and specify how to legally circulate the petitions to ensure enough signatures are gathered to place the initiative on the November 2010 statewide ballot.
“This will be a large-scale event,” said Glenn Clark, chairman of the 9th District congressional Republicans and a conservative activist. “There’s a lot of interest.”
Clark said he expects some who attend will be retired union members who face taxes on their “Cadillac” insurance plans.
“They realize if you tax something, you get less of it,” Clark said Monday.
The event will be at 5 p.m. in the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium next to the county courthouse at 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac.
A similar even was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday in the cafeteria of the Howell Freshman Campus, 1400 West Grand River Avenue in Howell.
The petitions drive will also be launched at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at The Exchange, 314 East Michigan Avenue in Lansing.
The actual petitions will be available at the event, Clark said.
In general, the ballot question:
• Declares the right of people to provide for their own health care without being compelled by government to participate in any health system,
• Prohibits government from imposing prohibitions on the sale or purchase of health insurance in private health systems,
• Prohibits government from imposing penalties against people, employers and health systems for participating in direct pay activities of lawful health care services, and,
• Prohibits government from creating any disadvantage against a health system for permitting a person or employer to pay directly for services, or for permitting a health provider from accepting direct payment for health services.
Supporters need to gather 381,000 valid signatures by early July in order for the proposed constitutional amendment to appear on the November ballot.
According to the Michigan Council of State Legislatures, 36 states — including Michigan — have attempted to block forced participation in health care reform, either through ballot issues or through legislative action.
Contact staff writer Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649 or charlie.crumm@oakpress.com.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/29/news/local_news/doc4bb0be71d5d47282519661.txt
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Palin: Tea Party Activists - Don't Sit Down or Shut Up
Palin to tea party rally: Don't sit down, shut up
Mar 27, 3:44 PM (ET)
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
(AP) Sarah Palin, right, greets with Tea Party activists after speaking at the "Showdown in Searchlight"...
Full Image
SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. (AP) - Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists assembled in the dusty Nevada desert Saturday that Sen. Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown to campaign.
The wind whipped U.S. flags behind the former Alaska governor as she stood on a makeshift stage, holding a microphone and her notes as she spoke to the cheering crowd. She told them Reid, fighting for re-election, is "gambling away our future."
"Someone needs to tell him, this is not a crapshoot," Palin said.
About 7,000 people streamed into tiny Searchlight, a former mining town 60 miles south of Las Vegas, bringing American flags, "Don't Tread on Me" signs and outspoken anger toward Reid, President Barack Obama and the health care overhaul.
(AP) A Tea Party supporter wheels a cart at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in...
Full Image
Palin told them the big-government, big-debt spending spree of the Senate majority leader, Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over.
"You're fired!" Palin said.
A string of polls has shown Reid is vulnerable in politically moderate Nevada after pushing Obama's agenda in Congress. His standing has also been hurt by Nevada's double-digit unemployment and record foreclosure and bankruptcy rates.
The Searchlight native responded with sarcasm to the large crowd gathered in the hardscrabble town of about 1,000 he grew up in.
"I'm happy so many people came to see my hometown of Searchlight and spend their out-of-state money, especially in these tough economic times," Reid said Saturday in a statement released through his Senate campaign. "This election will be decided by Nevadans, not people from other states who parachuted in for one day to have a tea party."
(AP) Tea party supporters crowd at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in Searchlight, Nev.,...
Full Image
Traffic on a highway leading into the town was backed up more than two miles Saturday afternoon as people gathered for the rally, which kicks off a 42-city bus tour that ends in Washington on April 15, tax day.
Cars and RVs filled the dusty area where the rally was held, as people set up lawn chairs and braced against the stiff wind whipping up dust clouds and blowing dozens of flags straight out.
The rally that's been called a conservative Woodstock takes place just days after the historic health care vote that ushered in near-universal medical coverage and divided Congress and the nation. The vote was followed by reports of threats and vandalism aimed at some Washington lawmakers, mostly Democrats who supported the new law.
Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, appeared after spending Friday and Saturday morning campaigning for Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who led the 2008 ticket.
Now a Fox News analyst and potential 2012 presidential candidate, Palin faced criticism after posting a map on her Facebook page that had circles and cross hairs over 20 Democratic districts. She also sent a tweet saying, "Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!"
(AP) Tea party supporter Ruth Rubalcava holds a sign at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in...
Full Image
She said Saturday she wasn't inciting violence, just trying to inspire people to get involved.
"We're not going to sit down and shut up. Thank you for standing up," Palin said.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sent dozens of uniformed and plainclothes officers to patrol the crowd. Officer Jay Rivera said there was a report of a fistfight in the morning, but when police responded, they found nothing. He said there had been no arrests.
"So far it's nice and peaceful," Rivera said.
The tea party movement is a far-flung coalition of conservative groups angered by Washington spending, rising taxes and the growth and reach of government. It takes its name from the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when colonists dumped tea off English ships to protest what they considered unfair taxation by the British crown.
(AP) Tea party supporters gather at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in Searchlight, Nev.,...
Full Image
"Some of you are registered Republicans. Some of you are ... what we used to call Reagan Democrats," Palin said. "And some of you are like so many of my friends and my family, including my own husband, just independent, not registered in any party. Just true, blue-blooded Americans."
Some people milling around at the rally wore old-fashioned costumes and carried drums, lending to a festival-like atmosphere. Organizers had said up to 10,000 people might come; around 1 p.m., police estimated the crowd was about 7,000.
Leonard Grimes, a 70-year-old retired logger, said the nation is drifting toward socialism, and he's not convinced Obama is eligible to be president.
"I'd like him to prove he's an American citizen," said Grimes, a registered independent who is originally from Michigan but now lives in Golden Valley, Ariz.
He called the health care bill "a joke, just another way to enslave the American public."
(AP) Tea party supporter Chris Parker, of Reno, Nev., holds an American flag at the "Showdown in...
Full Image
Ketha Verzani, 60, said she came to the rally from her home in Las Vegas "to stand with those who want to clean house."
The Republican opposes the health care bill and worries Americans are losing their rights, including parental rights and gun rights.
"It seems like every day more and more of our rights are being taken away," Verzani said, sporting a Palin 2012 button to show support for the former Alaska governor who "doesn't beat around the bush."
Reid supporters set up a hospitality tent Saturday in the parking lot of a Searchlight casino, about a mile from the tea party rally. The Senate leader planned to spend part of the day at a new shooting range in Las Vegas with National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.
Luis Salvador, 55, an unemployed fire sprinkler fitter, drove down from Las Vegas to support Reid, who he said has done a lot for the state and doesn't deserve the protest brought to his hometown.
"You don't come to a man's house and start creating a ruckus," said Salvador, a registered independent. He and several others taped signs saying "Nevada Needs Harry Reid" to the side of a truck near the highway that runs through town.
Another Reid supporter, Judy Hill, 62, said she doesn't understand the hatred of Reid. The longtime Democrat from Searchlight, said she thinks people just don't know the man she calls a friend.
"They listen to the rhetoric. I think he's very misunderstood and under-appreciated," she said.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100327/D9EN6SB80.html
Mar 27, 3:44 PM (ET)
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
(AP) Sarah Palin, right, greets with Tea Party activists after speaking at the "Showdown in Searchlight"...
Full Image
SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. (AP) - Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists assembled in the dusty Nevada desert Saturday that Sen. Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown to campaign.
The wind whipped U.S. flags behind the former Alaska governor as she stood on a makeshift stage, holding a microphone and her notes as she spoke to the cheering crowd. She told them Reid, fighting for re-election, is "gambling away our future."
"Someone needs to tell him, this is not a crapshoot," Palin said.
About 7,000 people streamed into tiny Searchlight, a former mining town 60 miles south of Las Vegas, bringing American flags, "Don't Tread on Me" signs and outspoken anger toward Reid, President Barack Obama and the health care overhaul.
(AP) A Tea Party supporter wheels a cart at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in...
Full Image
Palin told them the big-government, big-debt spending spree of the Senate majority leader, Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over.
"You're fired!" Palin said.
A string of polls has shown Reid is vulnerable in politically moderate Nevada after pushing Obama's agenda in Congress. His standing has also been hurt by Nevada's double-digit unemployment and record foreclosure and bankruptcy rates.
The Searchlight native responded with sarcasm to the large crowd gathered in the hardscrabble town of about 1,000 he grew up in.
"I'm happy so many people came to see my hometown of Searchlight and spend their out-of-state money, especially in these tough economic times," Reid said Saturday in a statement released through his Senate campaign. "This election will be decided by Nevadans, not people from other states who parachuted in for one day to have a tea party."
(AP) Tea party supporters crowd at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in Searchlight, Nev.,...
Full Image
Traffic on a highway leading into the town was backed up more than two miles Saturday afternoon as people gathered for the rally, which kicks off a 42-city bus tour that ends in Washington on April 15, tax day.
Cars and RVs filled the dusty area where the rally was held, as people set up lawn chairs and braced against the stiff wind whipping up dust clouds and blowing dozens of flags straight out.
The rally that's been called a conservative Woodstock takes place just days after the historic health care vote that ushered in near-universal medical coverage and divided Congress and the nation. The vote was followed by reports of threats and vandalism aimed at some Washington lawmakers, mostly Democrats who supported the new law.
Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, appeared after spending Friday and Saturday morning campaigning for Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who led the 2008 ticket.
Now a Fox News analyst and potential 2012 presidential candidate, Palin faced criticism after posting a map on her Facebook page that had circles and cross hairs over 20 Democratic districts. She also sent a tweet saying, "Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!"
(AP) Tea party supporter Ruth Rubalcava holds a sign at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in...
Full Image
She said Saturday she wasn't inciting violence, just trying to inspire people to get involved.
"We're not going to sit down and shut up. Thank you for standing up," Palin said.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sent dozens of uniformed and plainclothes officers to patrol the crowd. Officer Jay Rivera said there was a report of a fistfight in the morning, but when police responded, they found nothing. He said there had been no arrests.
"So far it's nice and peaceful," Rivera said.
The tea party movement is a far-flung coalition of conservative groups angered by Washington spending, rising taxes and the growth and reach of government. It takes its name from the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when colonists dumped tea off English ships to protest what they considered unfair taxation by the British crown.
(AP) Tea party supporters gather at the "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally in Searchlight, Nev.,...
Full Image
"Some of you are registered Republicans. Some of you are ... what we used to call Reagan Democrats," Palin said. "And some of you are like so many of my friends and my family, including my own husband, just independent, not registered in any party. Just true, blue-blooded Americans."
Some people milling around at the rally wore old-fashioned costumes and carried drums, lending to a festival-like atmosphere. Organizers had said up to 10,000 people might come; around 1 p.m., police estimated the crowd was about 7,000.
Leonard Grimes, a 70-year-old retired logger, said the nation is drifting toward socialism, and he's not convinced Obama is eligible to be president.
"I'd like him to prove he's an American citizen," said Grimes, a registered independent who is originally from Michigan but now lives in Golden Valley, Ariz.
He called the health care bill "a joke, just another way to enslave the American public."
(AP) Tea party supporter Chris Parker, of Reno, Nev., holds an American flag at the "Showdown in...
Full Image
Ketha Verzani, 60, said she came to the rally from her home in Las Vegas "to stand with those who want to clean house."
The Republican opposes the health care bill and worries Americans are losing their rights, including parental rights and gun rights.
"It seems like every day more and more of our rights are being taken away," Verzani said, sporting a Palin 2012 button to show support for the former Alaska governor who "doesn't beat around the bush."
Reid supporters set up a hospitality tent Saturday in the parking lot of a Searchlight casino, about a mile from the tea party rally. The Senate leader planned to spend part of the day at a new shooting range in Las Vegas with National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.
Luis Salvador, 55, an unemployed fire sprinkler fitter, drove down from Las Vegas to support Reid, who he said has done a lot for the state and doesn't deserve the protest brought to his hometown.
"You don't come to a man's house and start creating a ruckus," said Salvador, a registered independent. He and several others taped signs saying "Nevada Needs Harry Reid" to the side of a truck near the highway that runs through town.
Another Reid supporter, Judy Hill, 62, said she doesn't understand the hatred of Reid. The longtime Democrat from Searchlight, said she thinks people just don't know the man she calls a friend.
"They listen to the rhetoric. I think he's very misunderstood and under-appreciated," she said.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100327/D9EN6SB80.html
Average of National Polls on Pelosi-Peters Healthcare Takeover Law: Favor 40.5%, Oppose 50.4% - Gary Peters in Hiding from Voters
Pollster.com: Polls and Charts
Health Care Plan:
Favor / Oppose
Favor 40.5%; Oppose 50.4%
Pollster Dates N/Pop Favor Oppose Undecided No Opinion
CBS News 3/22-23/10 649 A 42 46 12 -
Quinnipiac 3/22-23/10 1552 RV 40 49 - 11
USA Today/Gallup 3/22/10 1005 A 49 40 - 11
Bloomberg 3/19-22/10 1002 A 38 50 12 -
CNN 3/19-21/10 1030 A 39 59 2 -
CBS News 3/18-21/10 1059 A 37 48 15 -
Quinnipiac 3/16-21/10 1907 RV 36 54 - 9
Rasmussen 3/19-20/10 1000 LV 41 54 5 -
Democracy Corps (D)/Third Way (D) 3/15-18/10 1016 LV 40 52 8 -
Rasmussen 3/17/10 1000 LV 45 52 3 -
FOX 3/16-17/10 900 RV 35 55 10 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 3/13-16/10 1000 A 48 53 - -
Kaiser / PSRA 3/10-15/10 1208 A 46 42 12 -
Rasmussen 3/13-14/10 1000 LV 43 53 4 -
PPP (D) 3/12-14/10 1403 RV 45 49 - 6
NBC/WSJ 3/11-14/10 1000 A 36 48 1 15
Pew 3/10-14/10 1500 A 38 48 13 -
OnMessage (R-RNC) 3/9-11/10 1200 LV 40 54 - -
YouGov/Polimetrix 3/6-8/10 1000 A 50 50 - -
AP-GfK 3/3-8/10 1002 A 41 43 - 16
Gallup 3/4-7/10 1014 A 45 48 - 7
Rasmussen 3/5-6/10 1000 LV 42 53 4 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 2/28-3/2/10 1000 A 53 47 - -
Rasmussen 2/27-28/10 1000 LV 44 52 4 -
Ipsos/McClatchy 2/26-28/10 1076 A 41 47 0 11
Rasmussen 2/21-22/10 1000 LV 41 56 4 -
Newsweek 2/17-18/10 1009 A 40 49 11 -
Public Opinion Strategies (R) 2/17-18/10 900 RV 40 52 2 5
YouGov/Polimetrix 2/13-16/10 1000 A 48 52 - -
Kaiser / PSRA 2/11-16/10 1201 A 43 43 12 -
PPP (D) 2/13-15/10 743 RV 39 50 - 11
Rasmussen 2/9-10/10 1000 LV 39 58 4 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 2/7-9/10 1000 A 46 54 - -
Pew 2/3-9/10 1383 A 38 50 12 -
ABC/Post 2/4-8/10 1004 A 46 49 - 5
Quinnipiac 2/2-8/10 2617 RV 35 54 - 11
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/31-2/2/10 1000 A 46 54 - -
PPP (D) 1/29-31/10 584 RV 36 51 - 13
Ipsos/McClatchy 1/28-31/10 1127 A 37 51 3 9
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/24-26/10 1000 A 45 54 - -
NBC/WSJ 1/23-25/10 800 A 31 46 1 22
Harris (internet) 1/18-25/10 2576 A 43 49 9 -
CNN 1/22-24/10 1009 A 38 58 3 -
NPR 1/20-23/10 800 LV 39 55 6 -
Rasmussen 1/20-21/10 1000 LV 40 58 3 -
PPP (D) 1/18-19/10 1151 RV 40 49 10 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/16-19/10 1000 A 44 56 - -
Rasmussen 1/16-17/10 1000 LV 38 56 6 -
AP-GfK 1/12-17/10 1008 A 42 42 - 16
ABC/Post 1/12-15/10 1083 A 44 51 - 5
NBC/WSJ 1/10-14/10 1002 A 33 46 3 18
FOX 1/12-13/10 900 RV 39 51 10 -
Kaiser / PSRA 1/7-12/10 980 A 42 41 16 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/6-12/10 1000 A 46 55 - -
Democracy Corps (D) 1/7-11/10 1200 LV 42 51 7 -
Quinnipiac 1/5-11/10 1767 RV 34 54 - 12
Gallup 1/8-10/10 1023 A 49 46 - 6
CNN 1/8-10/10 1021 A 40 57 2 -
Rasmussen 1/8-9/10 1000 LV 40 55 5 -
Allstate/National Journal 1/3-7/10 1200 A 44 46 - 10
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/2-5/10 1000 A 45 56 - -
Rasmussen 1/3/10 1000 LV 42 52 7 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/26-29/09 1000 A 48 52 - -
Rasmussen 12/27/09 1000 LV 40 55 5 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/20-22/09 1000 A 46 54 - -
CNN 12/16-20/09 1160 A 42 56 2 -
Quinnipiac 12/15-20/09 1616 RV 36 53 - 11
Rasmussen 12/18-19/09 1000 LV 41 55 5 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/13-15/09 1000 A 47 53 - -
NBC/WSJ 12/11-14/09 1009 A 32 47 4 17
AP-GfK 12/10-14/09 1001 A 36 44 2 18
Harris (internet) 12/7-14/09 2276 A 43 45 11 -
Rasmussen 12/12-13/09 1000 LV 40 56 5 -
USA Today/Gallup 12/11-13/09 1025 A 46 48 - 6
ABC/Post 12/10-13/09 1003 A 44 51 - 5
Pew 12/9-13/09 1503 A 35 48 17 -
FOX 12/8-9/09 900 RV 34 57 9 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/6-8/09 1000 A 51 49 - -
PPP (D) 12/4-7/09 1253 RV 39 52 - 9
Quinnipiac 12/1-6/09 2313 RV 38 52 - 10
Rasmussen 12/4-5/09 1000 LV 41 51 7 -
CNN 12/2-3/09 1041 A 36 61 4 -
Rasmussen 11/28/09 1000 LV 41 53 6 -
Rasmussen 11/21-22/09 1000 LV 38 56 6 -
USA Today/Gallup 11/20-22/09 1017 A 44 49 - 7
Ipsos/McClatchy 11/20-22/09 1176 A 34 46 3 17
FOX 11/17-18/09 900 RV 35 51 14 -
Democracy Corps (D) 11/12-16/09 1200 LV 43 49 9 -
Quinnipiac 11/9-16/09 2518 RV 35 51 - 14
CBS News 11/13-15/09 873 A 40 45 15 -
CNN 11/13-15/09 1014 A 46 49 5 -
PPP (D) 11/13-15/09 1066 RV 40 52 8 -
ABC/Post 11/12-15/09 1001 A 48 49 - 3
Pew 11/12-15/09 1003 A 42 39 19 -
Rasmussen 11/13-14/09 1000 LV 47 49 5 -
Public Opinion Strategies (R) 11/9-11/09 700 RV 29 40 - -
AP-GfK 11/5-9/09 1006 A 39 45 3 14
Rasmussen 11/7-8/09 1000 LV 45 52 3 -
Gallup 11/5-8/09 1008 A 43 48 - 9
AP-GfK/RWJF/Stanford 10/29-11/8/09 1006 A 41 43 4 11
Pew 10/28-11/8/09 2000 A 38 47 19 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 11/1-3/09 1000 A 51 49 - -
CNN 10/30-11/1/09 1018 A 45 53 2 -
Ipsos/McClatchy 10/29-11/1/09 1077 A 39 49 9 3
Rasmussen 10/30-31/09 1000 LV 42 54 4 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/25-27/09 1000 A 41 29 30 -
Rasmussen 10/24-25/09 1000 LV 45 51 4 -
NBC/WSJ 10/22-25/09 1009 A 38 42 4 16
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/18-20/09 1000 A 49 51 - -
PPP (D) 10/16-19/09 766 RV 42 45 - 13
CNN 10/16-18/09 1038 A 49 49 2 -
ABC/Post 10/15-18/09 1004 A 45 48 - 7
Rasmussen 10/16-17/09 1000 LV 42 54 4 -
FOX 10/13-14/09 900 RV 35 54 10 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/11-13/09 1000 A 51 49 - -
Harris (internet) 10/5-12/09 2293 A 45 45 11 -
Rasmussen 10/10-11/09 1000 LV 44 50 5 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/4-6/09 1000 A 52 47 - -
AP-GfK 10/1-5/09 1003 A 40 40 3 17
Ipsos/McClatchy 10/1-5/09 1096 A 40 42 4 14
Quinnipiac 9/29-10/5/09 2630 RV 40 47 - 12
Gallup 10/1-4/09 1013 A 51 41 - 8
Pew 9/30-10/4/09 1500 A 34 47 19 -
Rasmussen 10/2-3/09 1000 LV 46 50 4 -
FOX 9/29-30/09 900 RV 33 53 14 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 9/27-29/09 1000 A 49 51 - -
Allstate/National Journal 9/24-28/09 1200 A 49 42 - 9
Rasmussen 9/24-25/09 1000 LV 41 56 3 -
CBS/Times 9/19-23/09 1042 A 30 23 1 46
YouGov/Polimetrix 9/20-22/09 1000 A 49 51 - -
PPP (D) 9/21/09 621 RV 45 46 - 9
NBC/WSJ 9/17-20/09 1011 A 39 41 3 17
Rasmussen 9/16-17/09 1000 LV 43 56 2 -
FOX 9/15-16/09 900 RV 38 48 14 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 9/13-15/09 1000 A 52 48 - -
Pew 9/10-15/09 1006 A 42 44 14 -
Harris (internet) 9/8-15/09 2334 A 49 41 10 -
Bloomberg 9/10-14/09 1004 A 48 42 10 -
Rasmussen 9/12-13/09 1000 LV 51 46 3 -
CNN 9/11-13/09 1012 A 51 46 3 -
USA Today/Gallup 9/11-13/09 1030 A 50 47 - 3
ABC/Post 9/10-12/09 1007 A 46 48 - 6
Rasmussen 9/10-11/09 1000 LV 47 49 4 -
OnMessage (R-RNC) 9/10/09 1200 LV 38 53 - -
Rasmussen 9/8-9/09 1000 LV 44 53 3 -
AP-GfK 9/3-8/09 1000 A 34 49 2 15
YouGov/Polimetrix 8/30-9/1/09 1000 A 46 54 - -
NSLC/Public Opinion Strategies (R) 8/30-9/1/09 800 RV 35 46 19 -
CNN 8/28-31/09 1010 A 48 51 2 -
Ipsos/McClatchy 8/27-31/09 1057 A 40 45 1 14
Pew 8/20-27/09 2003 A 38 44 18 -
Rasmussen 8/25-26/09 1000 LV 43 53 4 -
Harris (internet) 8/10-18/09 2498 A 49 40 11 -
NBC News 8/15-17/09 805 A 36 42 5 17
PPP (D) 8/14-17/09 909 RV 40 47 13 -
ABC/Post 8/13-17/09 1001 A 45 50 - 5
Public Opinion Strategies (R) 8/11-13/09 800 RV 25 37 - 37
FOX 8/11-12/09 900 RV 34 49 16 -
Rasmussen 8/9-10/09 1000 LV 42 53 5 -
CNN 7/31-8/3/09 1136 A 50 45 5 -
Rasmussen 7/26-27/09 1000 LV 47 49 3 -
NBC/WSJ 7/24-27/09 1011 A 36 42 5 17
NPR 7/22-26/09 850 LV 42 47 11 -
Pew 7/22-26/09 1506 A 38 44 18 -
FOX 7/21-22/09 900 RV 36 47 16 -
Harris (internet) 7/20-22/09 2029 A 42 38 20 -
Rasmussen 7/20-21/09 1000 LV 44 53 4 -
Rasmussen 7/10-11/09 1000 LV 46 49 5 -
Rasmussen 6/27-28/09 1000 LV 50 45 5 -
CNN 6/26-28/09 1026 A 51 45 4 -
Democracy Corps (D) 6/19-22/09 1000 LV 43 38 19 -
NBC/WSJ 6/12-15/09 1008 A 33 32 5 30
Democracy Corps (D) 5/28-6/1/09 1013 LV 45 36 19 -
NBC/WSJ 4/23-26/09 1005 A 33 26 7 34
HealthDay/Harris (internet) 1/27-29/09 2491 A 50 20 29 -
Question Text:
Democracy Corps As you may have heard, President Obama is preparing a plan to change the health care system. From what you have heard about this plan, do you favor or oppose Obama's health care proposal?
3/15-18/10: As you may have heard, President Obama has proposed a plan to change the health care system that passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate. From what you have heard about this plan, do you favor or oppose Obama's health care proposal?
Pew As of right now, do you generally favor or generally oppose the health care proposals being discussed in Congress?
NBC / WSJ From what you have heard about Barack Obama's health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea? If you do not have an opinion either way, please just say so.
Rasmussen Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?
NPR As you may have heard, President Obama and the Democrats in Congress are preparing a plan to change the health care system. From what you have heard about this plan, do you favor or oppose Obama and the Democrats' health care proposal?
Fox Based on what you know about the health care reform legislation being considered right now, do you favor or oppose the plan?
CNN: 6/26/09 - 11/1/09 From everything you have heard or read so far, do you favor or oppose Barack Obama's plan to reform health care?
CNN: 11/13-15/09 As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have heard or read about that bill, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
CNN: 12/2-3/09 As you may know, the U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have read or heard about that bill, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
3/19-21/10: As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are trying to pass final legislation that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have read or heard about that legislation, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
Gallup Would you advise your representative in Congress to vote for or against a healthcare reform bill similar to the one proposed by President Obama?
Before 3/9/10: Thinking about health care legislation now being considered by Congress, would you advise your member of Congress to vote for or against a healthcare bill this year, or do you not have an opinion?
3/22/10: As you may know, yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that restructures the health care system. All in all, do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that Congress passed this bill?
AllState / National Journal And, on the topic of health care, as you understand it, do you support or oppose the current legislation to reform health care in the U.S.
PPP Do you support or oppose President Obama's health care plan, or do you not have an opinion?
ABC/Post Overall, given what you know about them, would you say you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Ipsos/
McClatchy As of right now, do you favor or oppose the healthcare reform proposals presently being discussed?
YouGov Overall, given what you know about them, do you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration?
2/28-3/2: Overall, given what you know about them, do you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being proposed by the Obama Administration?
Public Opinion
Strategies From what you have heard about Barack Obama's health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea? If you do not have an opinion either way, please just say so.
AP-GfK In general, do you support, oppose or neither support nor oppose the health care reform plans being discussed in Congress?
Harris Even if you don't know the details of his plan, how do you feel about President Obama's proposals for health care reform?
OnMessage Do you favor or oppose the current health care legislation being pushed by President Obama and the Democrats in Congress?
3/9-11/10: Do you favor or oppose the health care reform bill currently being considered by Congress?
Bloomberg In general, do you favor or oppose President Obama's plan for health care reform?
3/19-22/10: Do you favor or oppose the health care overhaul plan currently under debate in Congress? (Language changed 3/22 to:) Do you favor or oppose the health care overhaul plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last night?
CBS/Times Do you mostly support or mostly oppose the changes to the health care system proposed by Barack Obama, or don't you know enough about them yet to say?
CBS 3/18-21/10: From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the current health care reform bill?
Kaiser As of right now, do you generally support or generally oppose the health care proposals being discussed in Congress?
http://www.pollster.com/polls/us/healthplan.php
Health Care Plan:
Favor / Oppose
Favor 40.5%; Oppose 50.4%
Pollster Dates N/Pop Favor Oppose Undecided No Opinion
CBS News 3/22-23/10 649 A 42 46 12 -
Quinnipiac 3/22-23/10 1552 RV 40 49 - 11
USA Today/Gallup 3/22/10 1005 A 49 40 - 11
Bloomberg 3/19-22/10 1002 A 38 50 12 -
CNN 3/19-21/10 1030 A 39 59 2 -
CBS News 3/18-21/10 1059 A 37 48 15 -
Quinnipiac 3/16-21/10 1907 RV 36 54 - 9
Rasmussen 3/19-20/10 1000 LV 41 54 5 -
Democracy Corps (D)/Third Way (D) 3/15-18/10 1016 LV 40 52 8 -
Rasmussen 3/17/10 1000 LV 45 52 3 -
FOX 3/16-17/10 900 RV 35 55 10 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 3/13-16/10 1000 A 48 53 - -
Kaiser / PSRA 3/10-15/10 1208 A 46 42 12 -
Rasmussen 3/13-14/10 1000 LV 43 53 4 -
PPP (D) 3/12-14/10 1403 RV 45 49 - 6
NBC/WSJ 3/11-14/10 1000 A 36 48 1 15
Pew 3/10-14/10 1500 A 38 48 13 -
OnMessage (R-RNC) 3/9-11/10 1200 LV 40 54 - -
YouGov/Polimetrix 3/6-8/10 1000 A 50 50 - -
AP-GfK 3/3-8/10 1002 A 41 43 - 16
Gallup 3/4-7/10 1014 A 45 48 - 7
Rasmussen 3/5-6/10 1000 LV 42 53 4 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 2/28-3/2/10 1000 A 53 47 - -
Rasmussen 2/27-28/10 1000 LV 44 52 4 -
Ipsos/McClatchy 2/26-28/10 1076 A 41 47 0 11
Rasmussen 2/21-22/10 1000 LV 41 56 4 -
Newsweek 2/17-18/10 1009 A 40 49 11 -
Public Opinion Strategies (R) 2/17-18/10 900 RV 40 52 2 5
YouGov/Polimetrix 2/13-16/10 1000 A 48 52 - -
Kaiser / PSRA 2/11-16/10 1201 A 43 43 12 -
PPP (D) 2/13-15/10 743 RV 39 50 - 11
Rasmussen 2/9-10/10 1000 LV 39 58 4 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 2/7-9/10 1000 A 46 54 - -
Pew 2/3-9/10 1383 A 38 50 12 -
ABC/Post 2/4-8/10 1004 A 46 49 - 5
Quinnipiac 2/2-8/10 2617 RV 35 54 - 11
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/31-2/2/10 1000 A 46 54 - -
PPP (D) 1/29-31/10 584 RV 36 51 - 13
Ipsos/McClatchy 1/28-31/10 1127 A 37 51 3 9
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/24-26/10 1000 A 45 54 - -
NBC/WSJ 1/23-25/10 800 A 31 46 1 22
Harris (internet) 1/18-25/10 2576 A 43 49 9 -
CNN 1/22-24/10 1009 A 38 58 3 -
NPR 1/20-23/10 800 LV 39 55 6 -
Rasmussen 1/20-21/10 1000 LV 40 58 3 -
PPP (D) 1/18-19/10 1151 RV 40 49 10 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/16-19/10 1000 A 44 56 - -
Rasmussen 1/16-17/10 1000 LV 38 56 6 -
AP-GfK 1/12-17/10 1008 A 42 42 - 16
ABC/Post 1/12-15/10 1083 A 44 51 - 5
NBC/WSJ 1/10-14/10 1002 A 33 46 3 18
FOX 1/12-13/10 900 RV 39 51 10 -
Kaiser / PSRA 1/7-12/10 980 A 42 41 16 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/6-12/10 1000 A 46 55 - -
Democracy Corps (D) 1/7-11/10 1200 LV 42 51 7 -
Quinnipiac 1/5-11/10 1767 RV 34 54 - 12
Gallup 1/8-10/10 1023 A 49 46 - 6
CNN 1/8-10/10 1021 A 40 57 2 -
Rasmussen 1/8-9/10 1000 LV 40 55 5 -
Allstate/National Journal 1/3-7/10 1200 A 44 46 - 10
YouGov/Polimetrix 1/2-5/10 1000 A 45 56 - -
Rasmussen 1/3/10 1000 LV 42 52 7 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/26-29/09 1000 A 48 52 - -
Rasmussen 12/27/09 1000 LV 40 55 5 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/20-22/09 1000 A 46 54 - -
CNN 12/16-20/09 1160 A 42 56 2 -
Quinnipiac 12/15-20/09 1616 RV 36 53 - 11
Rasmussen 12/18-19/09 1000 LV 41 55 5 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/13-15/09 1000 A 47 53 - -
NBC/WSJ 12/11-14/09 1009 A 32 47 4 17
AP-GfK 12/10-14/09 1001 A 36 44 2 18
Harris (internet) 12/7-14/09 2276 A 43 45 11 -
Rasmussen 12/12-13/09 1000 LV 40 56 5 -
USA Today/Gallup 12/11-13/09 1025 A 46 48 - 6
ABC/Post 12/10-13/09 1003 A 44 51 - 5
Pew 12/9-13/09 1503 A 35 48 17 -
FOX 12/8-9/09 900 RV 34 57 9 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 12/6-8/09 1000 A 51 49 - -
PPP (D) 12/4-7/09 1253 RV 39 52 - 9
Quinnipiac 12/1-6/09 2313 RV 38 52 - 10
Rasmussen 12/4-5/09 1000 LV 41 51 7 -
CNN 12/2-3/09 1041 A 36 61 4 -
Rasmussen 11/28/09 1000 LV 41 53 6 -
Rasmussen 11/21-22/09 1000 LV 38 56 6 -
USA Today/Gallup 11/20-22/09 1017 A 44 49 - 7
Ipsos/McClatchy 11/20-22/09 1176 A 34 46 3 17
FOX 11/17-18/09 900 RV 35 51 14 -
Democracy Corps (D) 11/12-16/09 1200 LV 43 49 9 -
Quinnipiac 11/9-16/09 2518 RV 35 51 - 14
CBS News 11/13-15/09 873 A 40 45 15 -
CNN 11/13-15/09 1014 A 46 49 5 -
PPP (D) 11/13-15/09 1066 RV 40 52 8 -
ABC/Post 11/12-15/09 1001 A 48 49 - 3
Pew 11/12-15/09 1003 A 42 39 19 -
Rasmussen 11/13-14/09 1000 LV 47 49 5 -
Public Opinion Strategies (R) 11/9-11/09 700 RV 29 40 - -
AP-GfK 11/5-9/09 1006 A 39 45 3 14
Rasmussen 11/7-8/09 1000 LV 45 52 3 -
Gallup 11/5-8/09 1008 A 43 48 - 9
AP-GfK/RWJF/Stanford 10/29-11/8/09 1006 A 41 43 4 11
Pew 10/28-11/8/09 2000 A 38 47 19 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 11/1-3/09 1000 A 51 49 - -
CNN 10/30-11/1/09 1018 A 45 53 2 -
Ipsos/McClatchy 10/29-11/1/09 1077 A 39 49 9 3
Rasmussen 10/30-31/09 1000 LV 42 54 4 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/25-27/09 1000 A 41 29 30 -
Rasmussen 10/24-25/09 1000 LV 45 51 4 -
NBC/WSJ 10/22-25/09 1009 A 38 42 4 16
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/18-20/09 1000 A 49 51 - -
PPP (D) 10/16-19/09 766 RV 42 45 - 13
CNN 10/16-18/09 1038 A 49 49 2 -
ABC/Post 10/15-18/09 1004 A 45 48 - 7
Rasmussen 10/16-17/09 1000 LV 42 54 4 -
FOX 10/13-14/09 900 RV 35 54 10 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/11-13/09 1000 A 51 49 - -
Harris (internet) 10/5-12/09 2293 A 45 45 11 -
Rasmussen 10/10-11/09 1000 LV 44 50 5 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 10/4-6/09 1000 A 52 47 - -
AP-GfK 10/1-5/09 1003 A 40 40 3 17
Ipsos/McClatchy 10/1-5/09 1096 A 40 42 4 14
Quinnipiac 9/29-10/5/09 2630 RV 40 47 - 12
Gallup 10/1-4/09 1013 A 51 41 - 8
Pew 9/30-10/4/09 1500 A 34 47 19 -
Rasmussen 10/2-3/09 1000 LV 46 50 4 -
FOX 9/29-30/09 900 RV 33 53 14 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 9/27-29/09 1000 A 49 51 - -
Allstate/National Journal 9/24-28/09 1200 A 49 42 - 9
Rasmussen 9/24-25/09 1000 LV 41 56 3 -
CBS/Times 9/19-23/09 1042 A 30 23 1 46
YouGov/Polimetrix 9/20-22/09 1000 A 49 51 - -
PPP (D) 9/21/09 621 RV 45 46 - 9
NBC/WSJ 9/17-20/09 1011 A 39 41 3 17
Rasmussen 9/16-17/09 1000 LV 43 56 2 -
FOX 9/15-16/09 900 RV 38 48 14 -
YouGov/Polimetrix 9/13-15/09 1000 A 52 48 - -
Pew 9/10-15/09 1006 A 42 44 14 -
Harris (internet) 9/8-15/09 2334 A 49 41 10 -
Bloomberg 9/10-14/09 1004 A 48 42 10 -
Rasmussen 9/12-13/09 1000 LV 51 46 3 -
CNN 9/11-13/09 1012 A 51 46 3 -
USA Today/Gallup 9/11-13/09 1030 A 50 47 - 3
ABC/Post 9/10-12/09 1007 A 46 48 - 6
Rasmussen 9/10-11/09 1000 LV 47 49 4 -
OnMessage (R-RNC) 9/10/09 1200 LV 38 53 - -
Rasmussen 9/8-9/09 1000 LV 44 53 3 -
AP-GfK 9/3-8/09 1000 A 34 49 2 15
YouGov/Polimetrix 8/30-9/1/09 1000 A 46 54 - -
NSLC/Public Opinion Strategies (R) 8/30-9/1/09 800 RV 35 46 19 -
CNN 8/28-31/09 1010 A 48 51 2 -
Ipsos/McClatchy 8/27-31/09 1057 A 40 45 1 14
Pew 8/20-27/09 2003 A 38 44 18 -
Rasmussen 8/25-26/09 1000 LV 43 53 4 -
Harris (internet) 8/10-18/09 2498 A 49 40 11 -
NBC News 8/15-17/09 805 A 36 42 5 17
PPP (D) 8/14-17/09 909 RV 40 47 13 -
ABC/Post 8/13-17/09 1001 A 45 50 - 5
Public Opinion Strategies (R) 8/11-13/09 800 RV 25 37 - 37
FOX 8/11-12/09 900 RV 34 49 16 -
Rasmussen 8/9-10/09 1000 LV 42 53 5 -
CNN 7/31-8/3/09 1136 A 50 45 5 -
Rasmussen 7/26-27/09 1000 LV 47 49 3 -
NBC/WSJ 7/24-27/09 1011 A 36 42 5 17
NPR 7/22-26/09 850 LV 42 47 11 -
Pew 7/22-26/09 1506 A 38 44 18 -
FOX 7/21-22/09 900 RV 36 47 16 -
Harris (internet) 7/20-22/09 2029 A 42 38 20 -
Rasmussen 7/20-21/09 1000 LV 44 53 4 -
Rasmussen 7/10-11/09 1000 LV 46 49 5 -
Rasmussen 6/27-28/09 1000 LV 50 45 5 -
CNN 6/26-28/09 1026 A 51 45 4 -
Democracy Corps (D) 6/19-22/09 1000 LV 43 38 19 -
NBC/WSJ 6/12-15/09 1008 A 33 32 5 30
Democracy Corps (D) 5/28-6/1/09 1013 LV 45 36 19 -
NBC/WSJ 4/23-26/09 1005 A 33 26 7 34
HealthDay/Harris (internet) 1/27-29/09 2491 A 50 20 29 -
Question Text:
Democracy Corps As you may have heard, President Obama is preparing a plan to change the health care system. From what you have heard about this plan, do you favor or oppose Obama's health care proposal?
3/15-18/10: As you may have heard, President Obama has proposed a plan to change the health care system that passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate. From what you have heard about this plan, do you favor or oppose Obama's health care proposal?
Pew As of right now, do you generally favor or generally oppose the health care proposals being discussed in Congress?
NBC / WSJ From what you have heard about Barack Obama's health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea? If you do not have an opinion either way, please just say so.
Rasmussen Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?
NPR As you may have heard, President Obama and the Democrats in Congress are preparing a plan to change the health care system. From what you have heard about this plan, do you favor or oppose Obama and the Democrats' health care proposal?
Fox Based on what you know about the health care reform legislation being considered right now, do you favor or oppose the plan?
CNN: 6/26/09 - 11/1/09 From everything you have heard or read so far, do you favor or oppose Barack Obama's plan to reform health care?
CNN: 11/13-15/09 As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have heard or read about that bill, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
CNN: 12/2-3/09 As you may know, the U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have read or heard about that bill, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
3/19-21/10: As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are trying to pass final legislation that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have read or heard about that legislation, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it?
Gallup Would you advise your representative in Congress to vote for or against a healthcare reform bill similar to the one proposed by President Obama?
Before 3/9/10: Thinking about health care legislation now being considered by Congress, would you advise your member of Congress to vote for or against a healthcare bill this year, or do you not have an opinion?
3/22/10: As you may know, yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that restructures the health care system. All in all, do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that Congress passed this bill?
AllState / National Journal And, on the topic of health care, as you understand it, do you support or oppose the current legislation to reform health care in the U.S.
PPP Do you support or oppose President Obama's health care plan, or do you not have an opinion?
ABC/Post Overall, given what you know about them, would you say you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Ipsos/
McClatchy As of right now, do you favor or oppose the healthcare reform proposals presently being discussed?
YouGov Overall, given what you know about them, do you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration?
2/28-3/2: Overall, given what you know about them, do you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being proposed by the Obama Administration?
Public Opinion
Strategies From what you have heard about Barack Obama's health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea? If you do not have an opinion either way, please just say so.
AP-GfK In general, do you support, oppose or neither support nor oppose the health care reform plans being discussed in Congress?
Harris Even if you don't know the details of his plan, how do you feel about President Obama's proposals for health care reform?
OnMessage Do you favor or oppose the current health care legislation being pushed by President Obama and the Democrats in Congress?
3/9-11/10: Do you favor or oppose the health care reform bill currently being considered by Congress?
Bloomberg In general, do you favor or oppose President Obama's plan for health care reform?
3/19-22/10: Do you favor or oppose the health care overhaul plan currently under debate in Congress? (Language changed 3/22 to:) Do you favor or oppose the health care overhaul plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last night?
CBS/Times Do you mostly support or mostly oppose the changes to the health care system proposed by Barack Obama, or don't you know enough about them yet to say?
CBS 3/18-21/10: From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the current health care reform bill?
Kaiser As of right now, do you generally support or generally oppose the health care proposals being discussed in Congress?
http://www.pollster.com/polls/us/healthplan.php
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson: I Love the Tea Party People!
Tea Party — who are they?
Published: Saturday, March 27, 2010
By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The Oakland Press
Republican Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson knows something about movements, and is pretty sure he knows who Tea Party supporters are.
The 71-year-old launched his political career after a stint as the attorney for the locally formed National Action Group in 1971 that opposed court-ordered busing of students in Pontiac to achieve racial integration in schools.
Protests, sit-ins and legal measures failed to block institution of the court order, however.
But Patterson, who has also attended Tea Party rallies in the past year, says they’re the same type of people who opposed court-ordered busing.
“I think in the old days they were called the Silent Majority,” says Patterson. “They’re the people who pay their taxes, they go to work, they support their community, they support the country.
“I love the Tea Party people,” Patterson says. “It’s the guy and gal next door. It’s probably the grandpa and grandma who never got involved in a protest in their lives, standing down there on Big Beaver and Coolidge, or in front of Somerset, holding up a sign saying, ‘Don’t take our health care.’
“All of a sudden, they saw the country changing hard left,” Patterson said. “It was the socialist train running down the track and without any brakes. So they came out of their homes, they protested, and I love ’em.”
The third Tea Party Express gets under way Saturday in Searchlight, Nev.
It’ll travel across the country before ending April 15 with a rally in Washington, D.C.
Along the way, there’ll be stops and rallies in Michigan at Ironwood April 8; Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie April 9; Traverse City, Grand Rapids and Lansing April 10; and Detroit April 11.
At the Tea Party Express Web site, www.teapartyexpress.org, there is no distinction between Democrats and Republicans, but plenty of ire directed at Congress in general.
The Tea Party takes its name from the 1773 Boston Tea Party, when colonists protested unfair taxation by the British by dumping tea off English ships.
On the Tea Party Express Web site, Washington politicians in general are the target.
“You, the politicians in Washington, have failed We The People with your bailouts, out-of-control deficit spending, government takeovers of sectors of the economy, Cap & Trade, government-run health care, and higher taxes!” the Web site says. “If you thought we were just going to quietly go away, or that this tea party movement would be just a passing fad, you were mistaken. We’re taking our country back!
“Join us from March 27th to April 15th, 2010, as we tell Congress and the White House: ‘Enough!’”
As the Tea Party Express kicked off in Nevada, former Alaskan governor and former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was scheduled to highlight the start of it.
Palin has been accused of inciting violence with messages on the social networking site Twitter, such as, “Don’t Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!”
Patterson, the Oakland County executive, says he doesn’t like to see professional politicians jumping out in front of the tea party movement.
“These professional politicians who don’t do a damned thing except get in the way and demagogue a good issue are now starting to show up,” Patterson said. “That makes me nervous. It’s a good movement by good people who don’t need professional politicians trying to take them over.
“Good grassroots movements are tempting for the professional politicians to run around in front and say, ‘Now y’all come join me and I’ll lead you to victory,’ and I’m very, very careful to make sure, as I watch who these people are jumping out front.
“I will obviously point them out to the Tea Party and say, ‘This is not who you want to lead you.’”
Patterson even contends that some of the Tea Party supporters may even be Democrats — an assertion Democrats scoff at.
“Philosophically, we’re joined at the hip,” Patterson says of Tea Party supporters. “I resent what Obama is doing to this country, I resent what he’s doing to health care, what he’s doing to cap and trade, and energy and manufacturing.
“I’m sure half the audience at the tea parties were Democrats,” Patterson said. “But philosophically, we’re kindred spirits. I’ve had Democrats in my home, had them over for dinner. I just don’t want them to marry my sister, that’s all.”
Most Democrats, however, say Tea Party people tend to fall into two groups.
They’re either Republicans who see issues such as health care reform legislation as a chance to erase Democrat gains and control in Congress, or people angry at Congress in general and with no party affiliation.
Contrary to Patterson’s opinion, Democrats say they know of no one in their party who claim to be Tea Party members. And they tend to refer to them as tea-baggers.
“Personally, I don’t think I know a single Democratic tea-bagger,” says Oakland County Commissioner Dave Coulter, a Ferndale Democrat.
“They tend to be Republican or a Libertarian kind of group,” Coulter says. “I can’t say I know a single Democrat who’s a tea-bagger, and I know a lot of Democrats.”
Contact staff writer Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649 or charlie.crumm@oakpress.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/27/news/doc4bad178aa9840724182152.txt
Published: Saturday, March 27, 2010
By CHARLES CRUMM
Of The Oakland Press
Republican Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson knows something about movements, and is pretty sure he knows who Tea Party supporters are.
The 71-year-old launched his political career after a stint as the attorney for the locally formed National Action Group in 1971 that opposed court-ordered busing of students in Pontiac to achieve racial integration in schools.
Protests, sit-ins and legal measures failed to block institution of the court order, however.
But Patterson, who has also attended Tea Party rallies in the past year, says they’re the same type of people who opposed court-ordered busing.
“I think in the old days they were called the Silent Majority,” says Patterson. “They’re the people who pay their taxes, they go to work, they support their community, they support the country.
“I love the Tea Party people,” Patterson says. “It’s the guy and gal next door. It’s probably the grandpa and grandma who never got involved in a protest in their lives, standing down there on Big Beaver and Coolidge, or in front of Somerset, holding up a sign saying, ‘Don’t take our health care.’
“All of a sudden, they saw the country changing hard left,” Patterson said. “It was the socialist train running down the track and without any brakes. So they came out of their homes, they protested, and I love ’em.”
The third Tea Party Express gets under way Saturday in Searchlight, Nev.
It’ll travel across the country before ending April 15 with a rally in Washington, D.C.
Along the way, there’ll be stops and rallies in Michigan at Ironwood April 8; Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie April 9; Traverse City, Grand Rapids and Lansing April 10; and Detroit April 11.
At the Tea Party Express Web site, www.teapartyexpress.org, there is no distinction between Democrats and Republicans, but plenty of ire directed at Congress in general.
The Tea Party takes its name from the 1773 Boston Tea Party, when colonists protested unfair taxation by the British by dumping tea off English ships.
On the Tea Party Express Web site, Washington politicians in general are the target.
“You, the politicians in Washington, have failed We The People with your bailouts, out-of-control deficit spending, government takeovers of sectors of the economy, Cap & Trade, government-run health care, and higher taxes!” the Web site says. “If you thought we were just going to quietly go away, or that this tea party movement would be just a passing fad, you were mistaken. We’re taking our country back!
“Join us from March 27th to April 15th, 2010, as we tell Congress and the White House: ‘Enough!’”
As the Tea Party Express kicked off in Nevada, former Alaskan governor and former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was scheduled to highlight the start of it.
Palin has been accused of inciting violence with messages on the social networking site Twitter, such as, “Don’t Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!”
Patterson, the Oakland County executive, says he doesn’t like to see professional politicians jumping out in front of the tea party movement.
“These professional politicians who don’t do a damned thing except get in the way and demagogue a good issue are now starting to show up,” Patterson said. “That makes me nervous. It’s a good movement by good people who don’t need professional politicians trying to take them over.
“Good grassroots movements are tempting for the professional politicians to run around in front and say, ‘Now y’all come join me and I’ll lead you to victory,’ and I’m very, very careful to make sure, as I watch who these people are jumping out front.
“I will obviously point them out to the Tea Party and say, ‘This is not who you want to lead you.’”
Patterson even contends that some of the Tea Party supporters may even be Democrats — an assertion Democrats scoff at.
“Philosophically, we’re joined at the hip,” Patterson says of Tea Party supporters. “I resent what Obama is doing to this country, I resent what he’s doing to health care, what he’s doing to cap and trade, and energy and manufacturing.
“I’m sure half the audience at the tea parties were Democrats,” Patterson said. “But philosophically, we’re kindred spirits. I’ve had Democrats in my home, had them over for dinner. I just don’t want them to marry my sister, that’s all.”
Most Democrats, however, say Tea Party people tend to fall into two groups.
They’re either Republicans who see issues such as health care reform legislation as a chance to erase Democrat gains and control in Congress, or people angry at Congress in general and with no party affiliation.
Contrary to Patterson’s opinion, Democrats say they know of no one in their party who claim to be Tea Party members. And they tend to refer to them as tea-baggers.
“Personally, I don’t think I know a single Democratic tea-bagger,” says Oakland County Commissioner Dave Coulter, a Ferndale Democrat.
“They tend to be Republican or a Libertarian kind of group,” Coulter says. “I can’t say I know a single Democrat who’s a tea-bagger, and I know a lot of Democrats.”
Contact staff writer Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649 or charlie.crumm@oakpress.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/27/news/doc4bad178aa9840724182152.txt
Friday, March 26, 2010
Obama Continues Silence on Support for Israel in Struggle in their own Capitol, Gary Peters Continues to Hide from Voicing any Support for Israel
Violence clouds efforts on Middle East peace
Douglas Hamilton - Reuters
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israelis and Palestinians fought their worst clash in a year and Israel said it would not stop the building in occupied East Jerusalem that is blocking a relaunch of talks.
Israeli tanks advanced into the Gaza Strip on Friday after the fiercest clash with Palestinian fighters in 14 months killed at least two men on either side, on the borders of the enclave.
Resisting United States pressure in what media reports termed a bruising encounter with President Barack Obama in Washington this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not stop building in East Jerusalem, although he vowed to find a way to relaunch stalled negotiations.
But a Friday meeting of his senior cabinet convened to discuss confidence-building steps ended with no announcement.
"Israeli construction policy in Jerusalem has remained the same for 42 years and isn't changing," said a written statement from Netanyahu's spokesman, Nir Hefez.
The impasse has triggered sporadic rocket attacks this month from the Gaza Strip, which Israel answered with airstrikes. But Friday's close-range firefight was the deadliest since Israel's all-out assault on the Islamist group 14 months ago.
The Israeli army said an officer and a conscript were killed when Palestinian gunmen fired on a military patrol inside the Gaza Stip. Two soldiers were wounded and two Palestinian fighters also died in that clash, it said.
Palestinian officials did not immediately confirm the two deaths but said at least five Palestinians, one a 10-year-old boy, were wounded, and one man of 23 died later of wounds, according to Gaza hospital officials.
"I think it's true to say that this is one of the fiercest days we have had since operation Cast Lead happened," Israeli army spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said.
It was a "tragic and a painful" incident in a zone where there is "an everyday war", she said.
MILITANT GROUPS
Hamas Islamists and supporting militant groups oppose the peace-seeking policy of the dominant Palestinian group Fatah, which holds sway in the occupied West Bank and has played down calls for a new Palestinian uprising of violence against Israel.
Gaza sources said five Israeli tanks and two armored bulldozers advanced from the east firing shells near the town of Khan Younis, in the center of the narrow coastal enclave.
The militant group Popular Resistance Committees confirmed one of its fighters was critically wounded by shelling. Reports spoke of Israeli helicopters and unmanned drones in the skies.
The clash, however, was not overtly linked to the impasse between Israel, the Palestinians and Washington over Israeli settlement of occupied West Bank land and East Jerusalem.
Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
The militant Islamist group Hamas, which has ruled the enclave since 2007, said its men had fired "in defense" on Israeli soldiers who crossed into the Strip.
Hundreds of its supporters took to the streets of Jabalya refugee camp in the north to celebrate, led by senior Hamas lawmaker Mushir Al-Masri, who praised the battle.
"Entering Gaza is not a picnic," he said. "The Zionists cannot come in anytime they wish and leave anytime and however they want," Masri told the crowd. "The Qassam Brigades (Hamas's armed wing) were ready and taught them a lesson and they should not repeat such a foolish act."
Hamas has largely held its fire since the three-week war with Israel in early 2009 in which some 1,400 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and 13 Israelis, mainly soldiers, were killed.
But smaller factions have violated the de facto truce by firing rockets and mortars into neighboring Israeli territory.
Tensions have run high along Gaza's frontier this month, with Israel launching air strikes in response to Palestinian rocket attacks, one of which killed a Thai worker in a farm.
Four Palestinians have died in West Bank clashes with Israeli forces this month. Obama wants Israel to halt settlement in East Jerusalem, an issue that created new friction when a plan to build 1,600 more housing units was published as Vice President Joe Biden visited to urge talks.
But Friday's cabinet meeting adjourned without decisions.
"The prime minister set further discussion in the forum for the coming days, as well as continued contacts with the U.S. administration in order to reach an agreed path for getting the diplomatic process moving," his aide Hefez said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62N1JX20100326
Douglas Hamilton - Reuters
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israelis and Palestinians fought their worst clash in a year and Israel said it would not stop the building in occupied East Jerusalem that is blocking a relaunch of talks.
Israeli tanks advanced into the Gaza Strip on Friday after the fiercest clash with Palestinian fighters in 14 months killed at least two men on either side, on the borders of the enclave.
Resisting United States pressure in what media reports termed a bruising encounter with President Barack Obama in Washington this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not stop building in East Jerusalem, although he vowed to find a way to relaunch stalled negotiations.
But a Friday meeting of his senior cabinet convened to discuss confidence-building steps ended with no announcement.
"Israeli construction policy in Jerusalem has remained the same for 42 years and isn't changing," said a written statement from Netanyahu's spokesman, Nir Hefez.
The impasse has triggered sporadic rocket attacks this month from the Gaza Strip, which Israel answered with airstrikes. But Friday's close-range firefight was the deadliest since Israel's all-out assault on the Islamist group 14 months ago.
The Israeli army said an officer and a conscript were killed when Palestinian gunmen fired on a military patrol inside the Gaza Stip. Two soldiers were wounded and two Palestinian fighters also died in that clash, it said.
Palestinian officials did not immediately confirm the two deaths but said at least five Palestinians, one a 10-year-old boy, were wounded, and one man of 23 died later of wounds, according to Gaza hospital officials.
"I think it's true to say that this is one of the fiercest days we have had since operation Cast Lead happened," Israeli army spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said.
It was a "tragic and a painful" incident in a zone where there is "an everyday war", she said.
MILITANT GROUPS
Hamas Islamists and supporting militant groups oppose the peace-seeking policy of the dominant Palestinian group Fatah, which holds sway in the occupied West Bank and has played down calls for a new Palestinian uprising of violence against Israel.
Gaza sources said five Israeli tanks and two armored bulldozers advanced from the east firing shells near the town of Khan Younis, in the center of the narrow coastal enclave.
The militant group Popular Resistance Committees confirmed one of its fighters was critically wounded by shelling. Reports spoke of Israeli helicopters and unmanned drones in the skies.
The clash, however, was not overtly linked to the impasse between Israel, the Palestinians and Washington over Israeli settlement of occupied West Bank land and East Jerusalem.
Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
The militant Islamist group Hamas, which has ruled the enclave since 2007, said its men had fired "in defense" on Israeli soldiers who crossed into the Strip.
Hundreds of its supporters took to the streets of Jabalya refugee camp in the north to celebrate, led by senior Hamas lawmaker Mushir Al-Masri, who praised the battle.
"Entering Gaza is not a picnic," he said. "The Zionists cannot come in anytime they wish and leave anytime and however they want," Masri told the crowd. "The Qassam Brigades (Hamas's armed wing) were ready and taught them a lesson and they should not repeat such a foolish act."
Hamas has largely held its fire since the three-week war with Israel in early 2009 in which some 1,400 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and 13 Israelis, mainly soldiers, were killed.
But smaller factions have violated the de facto truce by firing rockets and mortars into neighboring Israeli territory.
Tensions have run high along Gaza's frontier this month, with Israel launching air strikes in response to Palestinian rocket attacks, one of which killed a Thai worker in a farm.
Four Palestinians have died in West Bank clashes with Israeli forces this month. Obama wants Israel to halt settlement in East Jerusalem, an issue that created new friction when a plan to build 1,600 more housing units was published as Vice President Joe Biden visited to urge talks.
But Friday's cabinet meeting adjourned without decisions.
"The prime minister set further discussion in the forum for the coming days, as well as continued contacts with the U.S. administration in order to reach an agreed path for getting the diplomatic process moving," his aide Hefez said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62N1JX20100326
A Birthday Poem Commemorating Speaker Pelosi's 70th Birthday
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MADAM SPEAKER
A Poem For House Speaker Nancy Pelosi On Her 70th Birthday
View This Birthday Greeting At GOP.com
Congratulations, you pushed it through,
Gamed the process and the CBO too!
But in response, your approval still wanes,
And now your title, Republicans claim.
Just hope that the voters don't remember
When they vote this upcoming November-
That Rahm, Harry, Barack - and you, Nancy
Passed this bill without transparency!
And covered up ethics scandals and more
From Rangel to Massa, and his tickle wars.
For kickbacks and gimmicks, budgets un-clipped
We give you this special Birthday pink slip.
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
MADAM SPEAKER
A Poem For House Speaker Nancy Pelosi On Her 70th Birthday
View This Birthday Greeting At GOP.com
Congratulations, you pushed it through,
Gamed the process and the CBO too!
But in response, your approval still wanes,
And now your title, Republicans claim.
Just hope that the voters don't remember
When they vote this upcoming November-
That Rahm, Harry, Barack - and you, Nancy
Passed this bill without transparency!
And covered up ethics scandals and more
From Rangel to Massa, and his tickle wars.
For kickbacks and gimmicks, budgets un-clipped
We give you this special Birthday pink slip.
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Democrats Fret Over Job-Killing Obamacare Tax Hikes, Regulations
Buyer’s Remorse, Already? Democrats Fret Over Job-Killing ObamaCare Tax Hikes, Regulations
As Nation’s Employers Prepare to Take a Hit, New Nat’l Survey Shows Most Americans Want Republicans to “Keep Fighting” Gov’t Takeover of Health Care
Washington, Mar 25 - Democratic governors experiencing the first pangs of buyer’s remorse. A major Midwest manufacturer – and President Obama’s economic bellwether – projecting crushing first quarter losses. Small businesses grappling with the prospect of closing their doors. The first new piece of red tape. A phony abortion executive order signed behind closed doors. A growing grassroots revolt in the states.
So goes the first full day of President Obama’s massive government takeover of health care. It’s no wonder, then, that a new national survey shows that nearly 2 in 3 Americans want Republicans to keep challenging this unaffordable, job-killing health care law. In a Des Moines Register op-ed in advance of President Obama’s visit to Iowa City today, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) lays out the case for repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with reforms focused first on lowering costs for families and businesses.
This new CBS News survey shows that nearly 2 in 3 Americans “want Republicans in Congress to continue to challenge parts of the health care reform bill”:
“The poll finds that 62 percent want Congressional Republicans to keep challenging the bill, while 33 percent say they should not do so. Nearly nine in ten Republicans and two in three independents want the GOP to keep challenging. Even 41 percent of Democrats support continued challenges. … They have also held relatively firm in their perceptions of how the bill will affect them. Sixteen percent say the bill will "mostly help," while 35 percent say it will ‘mostly hurt.’ … 57 percent of those surveyed, including most Republicans and independents, say the bill will increase the deficit. Just 18 percent say it will decrease the deficit.”
If its first full day is any indication, there are plenty of good reasons to keep fighting ObamaCare:
• Buyer’s remorse, already? Democratic governors alarmed by ObamaCare tax hikes, regulations: “A dire warning from Bay State medical-device companies that a new sales tax in the federal health-care law could force their plants - and thousands of jobs - out of the country has rattled Gov. Deval Patrick, a staunch backer of the law and pal President Obama. ‘This bill is a jobs killer,’ said Ernie Whiton, chief financial officer of Chelmsford’s Zoll Medical Corp., which employs about 650 people in Massachusetts. … ‘I am obviously concerned about the medical device burden here on the commonwealth, which has a very robust industry around medical devices,’ Patrick said yesterday. … But he added that ‘you better believe I will work to make modifications’ if the bill is found to be an ‘impediment to that industry.’” (Boston Herald, 3/25/10) “At the moment, governors in all 50 states are looking at the prospect of having to set up new health insurance marketplaces for small businesses and individuals who do not get coverage at work. As yet, there are only broad outlines to guide them. Says Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat: ‘I wake up worrying how I'm going to get from 2010 to 2014.’” (TIME, 3/25/10)
• Midwest manufacturer – and President Obama’s economic bellwether – projecting $100 million hit in first quarter: “Heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar says the new health care reform law will create a $100 million drag on its first-quarter earnings because of tax law changes. The Peoria company said Wednesday that the health care overhaul President Barack Obama signed this week will reduce the tax deduction it receives for its retiree health care program. Caterpillar says even though the change won't take effect until 2011, its liabilities for retiree health care are already reflected in its financial statements.” (Associated Press, 3/25/10) [FLASHBACK: “So what's happening at this company tells us a larger story about what's happening with our nation's economy, because, in many ways, you can measure America's bottom line by looking at Caterpillar's bottom line.” – President Obama, 2/12/09]
• Already a need for a new round of federal “regulations” on top of government takeover: “The ink is barely dry on the health care law, but Democrats are already looking to fix at least one piece of it. In an apparent oversight in the drafting process, some Democrats are concerned that children with pre-existing medical conditions might still be denied insurance coverage until 2014… On ABC’s ‘Top Line’ today, Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said such concerns will be addressed, either through administrative actions or further action by Congress. ‘I think with the ability to pass regulations or even to further amend legislation -- that’s something that can be easily handled through regs, or through the ability of us to amend another bill,’ Larson told us.” (ABC News, 3/24/10)
• Small businesses grapple with prospect of compliance costs, closing their doors: “Michele and Jeff Miller have owned Schaumburg-based Divine Signs for about seven years and provide insurance to their six full-time workers. They wondered about increasing government interference and higher fees or taxes. ‘For those businesses with over 50 employees, much will change and for many the change will close their doors,’ Michele Miller predicted. … The phasing in of the bill over the next seven years is confusing, said Lynda Reilly, president of Lynmar Lending Group Inc. in Naperville. ‘Learning what is the responsibility of the employer and keeping records to prove the company is in compliance will demand more paperwork and time, which always means more cost for the business and will effect the bottom line.” (Chicago Daily Herald, 3/25/10)
• Growing grassroots revolt in the states; Washington Post editorial says challenges are “not frivolous”: “A flood of lawsuits from states seeking to block the health care law President Obama signed this week raises sharp questions about the power of the federal government to impose mandates on its citizens, but legal scholars disagree about how the cases will be decided if they are heard by the Supreme Court. … Among the states filing lawsuits against the federal government is Virginia, where the legislature earlier this month approved a bill that exempts Virginians from a federal or state health insurance requirement. Governor Bob McDonnell, the recently elected Republican, held a public signing ceremony yesterday. Similar legislation has been filed in at least 32 states.” (The Boston Globe, 3/25/10) “Just minutes after Tuesday's signing ceremony, the constitutionality of the health insurance reform law came under fire. A coalition of attorneys general from 13 states filed suit in a northern Florida federal court; Virginia lodged a separate complaint, and other states may follow. These challenges are not frivolous.” (The Washington Post editorial, 3/25/10)
• A “basically meaningless” abortion executive order signed behind closed doors: “Both sides in the abortion debate came to a rare agreement on Wednesday: The executive order on abortion signed by President Obama, they said, was basically meaningless.” (USA Today, 3/25/10) “Anything but jubilant, President Barack Obama awkwardly kept a promise Wednesday he made to ensure passage of historic health care legislation, pledging the administration would not allow federal funds to pay for elective abortions covered by private insurance. Unlike Tuesday, when a beaming Obama signed the health care law in a nationally televised ceremony interrupted repeatedly by applause, the White House refused to permit coverage of the event.” (Associated Press, 3/24/10)
• Employers already “feeling angst,” warning employees about impact of higher costs: “Iowa businesses, large and small, feel angst about the possibility that their costs will increase amid a recession still battering the state.” (Des Moines Register, 3/25/10) “Now Verizon joins the roll of businesses staring at adverse consequences. In an email titled ‘President Obama Signs Health Care Legislation’ sent to all employees Tuesday night, the telecom giant warned that ‘we expect that Verizon's costs will increase in the short term.’ While executive vice president for human resources Marc Reed wrote that ‘it is difficult at this point to gauge the precise impact of this legislation,’ and that ObamaCare does reflect some of the company's policy priorities, the message to workers was clear: Expect changes for the worse to your health benefits as the direct result of this bill, and maybe as soon as this year.” (Wall Street Journal editorial, 3/25/10)
http://gopleader.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=178480
As Nation’s Employers Prepare to Take a Hit, New Nat’l Survey Shows Most Americans Want Republicans to “Keep Fighting” Gov’t Takeover of Health Care
Washington, Mar 25 - Democratic governors experiencing the first pangs of buyer’s remorse. A major Midwest manufacturer – and President Obama’s economic bellwether – projecting crushing first quarter losses. Small businesses grappling with the prospect of closing their doors. The first new piece of red tape. A phony abortion executive order signed behind closed doors. A growing grassroots revolt in the states.
So goes the first full day of President Obama’s massive government takeover of health care. It’s no wonder, then, that a new national survey shows that nearly 2 in 3 Americans want Republicans to keep challenging this unaffordable, job-killing health care law. In a Des Moines Register op-ed in advance of President Obama’s visit to Iowa City today, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) lays out the case for repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with reforms focused first on lowering costs for families and businesses.
This new CBS News survey shows that nearly 2 in 3 Americans “want Republicans in Congress to continue to challenge parts of the health care reform bill”:
“The poll finds that 62 percent want Congressional Republicans to keep challenging the bill, while 33 percent say they should not do so. Nearly nine in ten Republicans and two in three independents want the GOP to keep challenging. Even 41 percent of Democrats support continued challenges. … They have also held relatively firm in their perceptions of how the bill will affect them. Sixteen percent say the bill will "mostly help," while 35 percent say it will ‘mostly hurt.’ … 57 percent of those surveyed, including most Republicans and independents, say the bill will increase the deficit. Just 18 percent say it will decrease the deficit.”
If its first full day is any indication, there are plenty of good reasons to keep fighting ObamaCare:
• Buyer’s remorse, already? Democratic governors alarmed by ObamaCare tax hikes, regulations: “A dire warning from Bay State medical-device companies that a new sales tax in the federal health-care law could force their plants - and thousands of jobs - out of the country has rattled Gov. Deval Patrick, a staunch backer of the law and pal President Obama. ‘This bill is a jobs killer,’ said Ernie Whiton, chief financial officer of Chelmsford’s Zoll Medical Corp., which employs about 650 people in Massachusetts. … ‘I am obviously concerned about the medical device burden here on the commonwealth, which has a very robust industry around medical devices,’ Patrick said yesterday. … But he added that ‘you better believe I will work to make modifications’ if the bill is found to be an ‘impediment to that industry.’” (Boston Herald, 3/25/10) “At the moment, governors in all 50 states are looking at the prospect of having to set up new health insurance marketplaces for small businesses and individuals who do not get coverage at work. As yet, there are only broad outlines to guide them. Says Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat: ‘I wake up worrying how I'm going to get from 2010 to 2014.’” (TIME, 3/25/10)
• Midwest manufacturer – and President Obama’s economic bellwether – projecting $100 million hit in first quarter: “Heavy-equipment maker Caterpillar says the new health care reform law will create a $100 million drag on its first-quarter earnings because of tax law changes. The Peoria company said Wednesday that the health care overhaul President Barack Obama signed this week will reduce the tax deduction it receives for its retiree health care program. Caterpillar says even though the change won't take effect until 2011, its liabilities for retiree health care are already reflected in its financial statements.” (Associated Press, 3/25/10) [FLASHBACK: “So what's happening at this company tells us a larger story about what's happening with our nation's economy, because, in many ways, you can measure America's bottom line by looking at Caterpillar's bottom line.” – President Obama, 2/12/09]
• Already a need for a new round of federal “regulations” on top of government takeover: “The ink is barely dry on the health care law, but Democrats are already looking to fix at least one piece of it. In an apparent oversight in the drafting process, some Democrats are concerned that children with pre-existing medical conditions might still be denied insurance coverage until 2014… On ABC’s ‘Top Line’ today, Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said such concerns will be addressed, either through administrative actions or further action by Congress. ‘I think with the ability to pass regulations or even to further amend legislation -- that’s something that can be easily handled through regs, or through the ability of us to amend another bill,’ Larson told us.” (ABC News, 3/24/10)
• Small businesses grapple with prospect of compliance costs, closing their doors: “Michele and Jeff Miller have owned Schaumburg-based Divine Signs for about seven years and provide insurance to their six full-time workers. They wondered about increasing government interference and higher fees or taxes. ‘For those businesses with over 50 employees, much will change and for many the change will close their doors,’ Michele Miller predicted. … The phasing in of the bill over the next seven years is confusing, said Lynda Reilly, president of Lynmar Lending Group Inc. in Naperville. ‘Learning what is the responsibility of the employer and keeping records to prove the company is in compliance will demand more paperwork and time, which always means more cost for the business and will effect the bottom line.” (Chicago Daily Herald, 3/25/10)
• Growing grassroots revolt in the states; Washington Post editorial says challenges are “not frivolous”: “A flood of lawsuits from states seeking to block the health care law President Obama signed this week raises sharp questions about the power of the federal government to impose mandates on its citizens, but legal scholars disagree about how the cases will be decided if they are heard by the Supreme Court. … Among the states filing lawsuits against the federal government is Virginia, where the legislature earlier this month approved a bill that exempts Virginians from a federal or state health insurance requirement. Governor Bob McDonnell, the recently elected Republican, held a public signing ceremony yesterday. Similar legislation has been filed in at least 32 states.” (The Boston Globe, 3/25/10) “Just minutes after Tuesday's signing ceremony, the constitutionality of the health insurance reform law came under fire. A coalition of attorneys general from 13 states filed suit in a northern Florida federal court; Virginia lodged a separate complaint, and other states may follow. These challenges are not frivolous.” (The Washington Post editorial, 3/25/10)
• A “basically meaningless” abortion executive order signed behind closed doors: “Both sides in the abortion debate came to a rare agreement on Wednesday: The executive order on abortion signed by President Obama, they said, was basically meaningless.” (USA Today, 3/25/10) “Anything but jubilant, President Barack Obama awkwardly kept a promise Wednesday he made to ensure passage of historic health care legislation, pledging the administration would not allow federal funds to pay for elective abortions covered by private insurance. Unlike Tuesday, when a beaming Obama signed the health care law in a nationally televised ceremony interrupted repeatedly by applause, the White House refused to permit coverage of the event.” (Associated Press, 3/24/10)
• Employers already “feeling angst,” warning employees about impact of higher costs: “Iowa businesses, large and small, feel angst about the possibility that their costs will increase amid a recession still battering the state.” (Des Moines Register, 3/25/10) “Now Verizon joins the roll of businesses staring at adverse consequences. In an email titled ‘President Obama Signs Health Care Legislation’ sent to all employees Tuesday night, the telecom giant warned that ‘we expect that Verizon's costs will increase in the short term.’ While executive vice president for human resources Marc Reed wrote that ‘it is difficult at this point to gauge the precise impact of this legislation,’ and that ObamaCare does reflect some of the company's policy priorities, the message to workers was clear: Expect changes for the worse to your health benefits as the direct result of this bill, and maybe as soon as this year.” (Wall Street Journal editorial, 3/25/10)
http://gopleader.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=178480
Shame On Obama for His Shameful Treatment of Our Israeli Ally - In other News Gary Peters in Hiding Over Obama's Slap to Israel
From Times Online March 25, 2010
Binyamin Netanyahu humiliated after Barack Obama 'dumped him for dinner'
The President was said to have walked out of the meeting, saying to Mr Netanyahu: 'Let me know if there is anything new'
Giles Whittell, Washington, and James Hider, Jerusalem 2 Comments
Recommend? (23) For a head of state to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of.
Yet that is how Binyamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night, according to Israeli reports on a trip seen in Jerusalem tonight as a disastrous humiliation.
After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on Jewish settlements, Mr Obama walked out of his meeting with Mr Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisors and “let me know if there is anything new”, a US congressman who spoke to the Prime Minister said today.
“It was awful,” the congressman said. One Israeli newspaper called the meeting “a hazing in stages”, poisoned by such mistrust that the Israeli delegation eventually left rather than risk being eavesdropped on a White House phone line. Another said that the Prime Minister had received “the treatment reserved for the President of Equatorial Guinea”.
Left to talk among themselves, Mr Netanyahu and his aides retreated to the Roosevelt Room. He later spent a further half-hour with Mr Obama and extended his stay for a day of emergency talks aimed at restarting peace negotiations, but left last night with no official statement from either side. He returns to Israel dangerously isolated after what Israeli media have called a White House ambush for which he is largely to blame.
Sources said that Mr Netanyahu failed to impress Mr Obama with a flow chart purporting to show that he was not be responsible for the timing of announcements of new settlement projects in east Jerusalem. Mr Obama was said to be livid when such an announcement derailed Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel this month, and his anger towards Israel does not appear to have cooled.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, cast doubt on minor details in Israeli accounts of the meeting but did not deny claims that it amounted to a dressing down for the Prime Minister, whose refusal to freeze settlements is seen in Washington as the main barrier to resuming peace talks.
The Likud leader now has to try to square the demands of the Obama Administration with his nationalist, ultra-Orthodox coalition partners, who want him to stand up to Washington, even though Israel desperately needs US backing in confronting the looming threat of a nuclear Iran.
“The Prime Minister leaves America disgraced, isolated and altogether weaker than when he came,” the Israeli daily Ha'aretz said.
In their meeting Mr Obama set out a number of expectations that Israel was to satisfy if it wanted to end the crisis, Israeli sources said. These included an extension of the freeze on Jewish settlement growth beyond the 10-month deadline next September, an end to Israeli building projects in east Jerusalem, and even a withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions that they held before the Second Intifada in September 2000, after which they re-occupied most of the West Bank.
Newspaper reports recounted how Mr Netanyahu looked “excessively concerned and upset” as he pulled out a flow chart to show Mr Obama how Jerusalem planning permission worked and how he could not have known of the announcement that hundreds more homes were to be built just as Mr Biden arrived in Jerusalem.
Mr Obama then suggested that Mr Netanyahu and his staff stay on at the White House to consider his proposals, so that if he changed his mind he could inform the President right away. “I’m still around,” the Yediot Ahronot daily quoted Mr Obama saying. “Let me know if there is anything new.”
With the atmosphere so soured by the end of the evening, the Israelis decided that they could not trust the phone line they had been lent. Mr Netanyahu retired with his defence minister, Ehud Barak, to the Israeli Embassy to ensure the Americans were not listening in.
The meeting came barely a day after Mr Obama’s landmark health reform victory. Israel had calculated that he would be too tied up with domestic issues ahead of the mid-term elections to focus seriously on the Middle East.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7076431.ece
Binyamin Netanyahu humiliated after Barack Obama 'dumped him for dinner'
The President was said to have walked out of the meeting, saying to Mr Netanyahu: 'Let me know if there is anything new'
Giles Whittell, Washington, and James Hider, Jerusalem 2 Comments
Recommend? (23) For a head of state to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of.
Yet that is how Binyamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night, according to Israeli reports on a trip seen in Jerusalem tonight as a disastrous humiliation.
After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on Jewish settlements, Mr Obama walked out of his meeting with Mr Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisors and “let me know if there is anything new”, a US congressman who spoke to the Prime Minister said today.
“It was awful,” the congressman said. One Israeli newspaper called the meeting “a hazing in stages”, poisoned by such mistrust that the Israeli delegation eventually left rather than risk being eavesdropped on a White House phone line. Another said that the Prime Minister had received “the treatment reserved for the President of Equatorial Guinea”.
Left to talk among themselves, Mr Netanyahu and his aides retreated to the Roosevelt Room. He later spent a further half-hour with Mr Obama and extended his stay for a day of emergency talks aimed at restarting peace negotiations, but left last night with no official statement from either side. He returns to Israel dangerously isolated after what Israeli media have called a White House ambush for which he is largely to blame.
Sources said that Mr Netanyahu failed to impress Mr Obama with a flow chart purporting to show that he was not be responsible for the timing of announcements of new settlement projects in east Jerusalem. Mr Obama was said to be livid when such an announcement derailed Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel this month, and his anger towards Israel does not appear to have cooled.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, cast doubt on minor details in Israeli accounts of the meeting but did not deny claims that it amounted to a dressing down for the Prime Minister, whose refusal to freeze settlements is seen in Washington as the main barrier to resuming peace talks.
The Likud leader now has to try to square the demands of the Obama Administration with his nationalist, ultra-Orthodox coalition partners, who want him to stand up to Washington, even though Israel desperately needs US backing in confronting the looming threat of a nuclear Iran.
“The Prime Minister leaves America disgraced, isolated and altogether weaker than when he came,” the Israeli daily Ha'aretz said.
In their meeting Mr Obama set out a number of expectations that Israel was to satisfy if it wanted to end the crisis, Israeli sources said. These included an extension of the freeze on Jewish settlement growth beyond the 10-month deadline next September, an end to Israeli building projects in east Jerusalem, and even a withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions that they held before the Second Intifada in September 2000, after which they re-occupied most of the West Bank.
Newspaper reports recounted how Mr Netanyahu looked “excessively concerned and upset” as he pulled out a flow chart to show Mr Obama how Jerusalem planning permission worked and how he could not have known of the announcement that hundreds more homes were to be built just as Mr Biden arrived in Jerusalem.
Mr Obama then suggested that Mr Netanyahu and his staff stay on at the White House to consider his proposals, so that if he changed his mind he could inform the President right away. “I’m still around,” the Yediot Ahronot daily quoted Mr Obama saying. “Let me know if there is anything new.”
With the atmosphere so soured by the end of the evening, the Israelis decided that they could not trust the phone line they had been lent. Mr Netanyahu retired with his defence minister, Ehud Barak, to the Israeli Embassy to ensure the Americans were not listening in.
The meeting came barely a day after Mr Obama’s landmark health reform victory. Israel had calculated that he would be too tied up with domestic issues ahead of the mid-term elections to focus seriously on the Middle East.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7076431.ece
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
American Heritage Series: Free seminar - Next session is Wednesday, March 31st.!
HURRY AND RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW!!!
Reservation activity has been brisk. Reserve your seat now before event fills to capacity. RSVP is required so materials will be available for you. Please email your name(s), address, city, zip code and telephone number to: davidmleo@aol.com
OAKLAND COUNTY CONSERVATIVES
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE SERIES
Attend this Exciting and Complimentary 8 Week Interactive Walk through Our Nation's Founding Principles and History
Discover the forgotten and astounding story of our nation's founding in Historian David Barton's of Wall Builders (wallbuilders.com) The American Heritage Series.
Realize the amazing calling upon citizens to be light and salt in their community and nation.
Along with the DVD presentation and related discussions will be essential study of our Declaration, our Constitution and related subjects.
Many Americans are uninformed or misinformed about the truth of our nation's history. Learn about what the Founders of America believed and how they applied those beliefs to the development of the Declaration, Constitution and Laws...
Understand the Declaration of Independence and U. S. Constitution in a powerful way from a Judeo-Christian perspective.
Complimentary, no cost seminar will be held in the lecture hall at:
ZION CHRISTIAN CHURCH
3668 Livernois Road, Troy, Michigan
Wednesday Evenings, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Located ½ mile north of Big Beaver Road, next to Walsh College
(Maps: Tight View - Wide View)
ALL ARE WELCOME:
Classes start Wednesday, March 24th for 8 weeks. Attend each week or whenever you are able to come.
RSVP REQUIRED:
RSVP is required so materials will be available for you. Please email your name(s), address, city, zip code and telephone number to: davidmleo@aol.com
Reservation activity has been brisk. Reserve your seat now before event fills to capacity. RSVP is required so materials will be available for you. Please email your name(s), address, city, zip code and telephone number to: davidmleo@aol.com
OAKLAND COUNTY CONSERVATIVES
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE SERIES
Attend this Exciting and Complimentary 8 Week Interactive Walk through Our Nation's Founding Principles and History
Discover the forgotten and astounding story of our nation's founding in Historian David Barton's of Wall Builders (wallbuilders.com) The American Heritage Series.
Realize the amazing calling upon citizens to be light and salt in their community and nation.
Along with the DVD presentation and related discussions will be essential study of our Declaration, our Constitution and related subjects.
Many Americans are uninformed or misinformed about the truth of our nation's history. Learn about what the Founders of America believed and how they applied those beliefs to the development of the Declaration, Constitution and Laws...
Understand the Declaration of Independence and U. S. Constitution in a powerful way from a Judeo-Christian perspective.
Complimentary, no cost seminar will be held in the lecture hall at:
ZION CHRISTIAN CHURCH
3668 Livernois Road, Troy, Michigan
Wednesday Evenings, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Located ½ mile north of Big Beaver Road, next to Walsh College
(Maps: Tight View - Wide View)
ALL ARE WELCOME:
Classes start Wednesday, March 24th for 8 weeks. Attend each week or whenever you are able to come.
RSVP REQUIRED:
RSVP is required so materials will be available for you. Please email your name(s), address, city, zip code and telephone number to: davidmleo@aol.com
Obama White House Needs to be Investigated: U.S. Rep. Issa
Issa Calls for Investigation of White House
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) told CBS News that "he will call for a special prosecutor to investigate the White House if it does not address Rep. Joe Sestak's claim that he was offered a federal job in exchange for dropping out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary."
Said Issa: "If the public doesn't receive a satisfactory answer, the next step would be to call for a special prosecutor, which is well within the statute."
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/03/24/issa_calls_for_investigation_of_white_house.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=political-wire
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) told CBS News that "he will call for a special prosecutor to investigate the White House if it does not address Rep. Joe Sestak's claim that he was offered a federal job in exchange for dropping out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary."
Said Issa: "If the public doesn't receive a satisfactory answer, the next step would be to call for a special prosecutor, which is well within the statute."
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/03/24/issa_calls_for_investigation_of_white_house.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=political-wire
Join GOP Doctors Caucus Conference Call Thursday @ 4 PM - Stop Obama-Pelosi-Peters' Efforts to Seize Your Healthcare Rights
CONFERENCE CALL
Please Join
Republican Congressmen Bill Cassidy (LA-06), Member of the GOP Doctors Caucus
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
WhatDemocrats' Recently Passed Health Care Bill: Discussion on the
When: Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Please Join
Republican Congressmen Bill Cassidy (LA-06), Member of the GOP Doctors Caucus
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
WhatDemocrats' Recently Passed Health Care Bill: Discussion on the
When: Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Democrats in Midwest in Serious Trouble: Mr. Gary Peters to be retired soon! Public Policy Polling
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tough Times for Dems in the Midwest
It's really looking like a brutal year for Democrats in the Big Ten states.
Barack Obama's approval numbers in the two places we polled this week- Wisconsin and Ohio- tell the story. He won Wisconsin by 14 points in 2008 but we find his approval there at a net -2 (46/48) for a 16 point drop since the election. It's a similar story in Ohio. He won there by four points in 2008 but our approval numbers there for him tomorrow will show him at -13 (40/53) for a drop of 17 points. If his national approval rating was falling the way it is in these two states he'd be at about 43/53 for the whole country.
If the election was today Democrats would likely lose something they currently hold in every state where they have something to lose- Pennsylvania Governor and perhaps Senate, Michigan Governor, Ohio Governor, Indiana Senate, Iowa Governor, Wisconsin Governor and perhaps Senate, and Illinois Senate and/or Governor. Only Minnesota doesn't join the party because Democrats have nothing to lose there.
What all this really makes me wonder is just how many House seats Democrats are going to lose in the region this year. The smattering of polling we've seen has not been very good for the party, but because it's so limited it's hard to get a handle on just how bad the situation is. Given the Obama numbers and what we're seeing in Senate and Gubernatorial polls though I'm guessing it's not a good picture for Democrats. It's going to be a very difficult year for the party in this region.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/03/tough-times-for-dems-in-midwest.html
Tough Times for Dems in the Midwest
It's really looking like a brutal year for Democrats in the Big Ten states.
Barack Obama's approval numbers in the two places we polled this week- Wisconsin and Ohio- tell the story. He won Wisconsin by 14 points in 2008 but we find his approval there at a net -2 (46/48) for a 16 point drop since the election. It's a similar story in Ohio. He won there by four points in 2008 but our approval numbers there for him tomorrow will show him at -13 (40/53) for a drop of 17 points. If his national approval rating was falling the way it is in these two states he'd be at about 43/53 for the whole country.
If the election was today Democrats would likely lose something they currently hold in every state where they have something to lose- Pennsylvania Governor and perhaps Senate, Michigan Governor, Ohio Governor, Indiana Senate, Iowa Governor, Wisconsin Governor and perhaps Senate, and Illinois Senate and/or Governor. Only Minnesota doesn't join the party because Democrats have nothing to lose there.
What all this really makes me wonder is just how many House seats Democrats are going to lose in the region this year. The smattering of polling we've seen has not been very good for the party, but because it's so limited it's hard to get a handle on just how bad the situation is. Given the Obama numbers and what we're seeing in Senate and Gubernatorial polls though I'm guessing it's not a good picture for Democrats. It's going to be a very difficult year for the party in this region.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/03/tough-times-for-dems-in-midwest.html
Pelosi-Peters Healthcare Takeover Law Hugely Unpopular: Mr. Peters - your constituents wanted you to vote NO!
Bloomberg, CNN, & CBS Polls This Week All Show Virtually The Same Results; Fewer Than 40% Of Americans Approve Of The Health Care Bill
THREE POLLS SHOW UNDER 40% OF AMERICANS APPROVE OF THE HEALTH BILL
BLOOMBERG POLL APPROVAL OF HEALTH CARE BILL:
Favor: 38%
Oppose: 50% (“Bloomberg National Poll,” 3/19-22/10, P.1)
CBS NEWS POLL APPROVAL OF HEALTH CARE BILL:
Approve: 37%
Disapprove: 48% (“CBS News Poll,” 3/18-21/10, P. 4)
CNN OPINION RESEARCH POLL APPROVAL OF HEALTH CARE BILL:
Favor: 39%
Oppose: 59% (“CNN Opinion Research Poll,” 3/19-21/10, P.2)
###
SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
THREE POLLS SHOW UNDER 40% OF AMERICANS APPROVE OF THE HEALTH BILL
BLOOMBERG POLL APPROVAL OF HEALTH CARE BILL:
Favor: 38%
Oppose: 50% (“Bloomberg National Poll,” 3/19-22/10, P.1)
CBS NEWS POLL APPROVAL OF HEALTH CARE BILL:
Approve: 37%
Disapprove: 48% (“CBS News Poll,” 3/18-21/10, P. 4)
CNN OPINION RESEARCH POLL APPROVAL OF HEALTH CARE BILL:
Favor: 39%
Oppose: 59% (“CNN Opinion Research Poll,” 3/19-21/10, P.2)
###
SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
GOP Doctors Caucus Responds to Pelosi-Peters Healthcare Power Grab Thursday @ 4 PM - Join Conference!
CONFERENCE CALL
Please Join
Republican Congressmen Bill Cassidy (LA-06), Member of the GOP Doctors Caucus
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
WhatDemocrats' Recently Passed Health Care Bill: Discussion on the
When: Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Please Join
Republican Congressmen Bill Cassidy (LA-06), Member of the GOP Doctors Caucus
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
WhatDemocrats' Recently Passed Health Care Bill: Discussion on the
When: Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Monday, March 22, 2010
Voter Outrage at U.S. Rep. Gary Peters - Plans Set to Reject Him in November!
MICHIGAN CAPITOL CONFIDENTIAL
Federalized Health Care Opponents Prepare for November - By Tom Gantert | March 22, 2010
Nationalized health care's rough journey through Congress ended Sunday.
Wendy Day of Common Sense in Government and other allied opponents of the federal plan will help fire Michigan's first counterpunch today when they announce a citizen petition drive that they hope will halt the proposal in its tracks.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved President Barack Obama's health care legislation Sunday night, which among other things will mandate that nearly every American purchase health care.
The response in Michigan will be to try to amend the state constitution so that it prohibits a federal law from compelling any person, employer or health care provider to participate in any health care system, and prevents anyone from being penalized for ignoring the federal law.
Activists in numerous states are preparing similar measures. In Arizona, it has already been cleared to appear on the November general election ballot.
To accomplish this in Michigan, Day and her allies will need to get the valid signatures of 390,000 voters approved by July 5. This will allow their proposed amendment to be submitted to voters at the November 2010 general election.
Day said the ballot language will be similar to what was in a constitutional amendment resolution that was sponsored by Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and was voted on by the Michigan Senate last week. The Legislature, with a two-thirds approval in each chamber, may submit proposed constitutional amendments to the voters.
Kuipers' proposal failed to secure the needed super-majority in the Senate.
"If ever there was a time a thing like this could succeed, it is now," Day said of the decision to turn to the signature gathering option.
TEA party activists from around the state sounded off about Sunday's vote.
"I'm flabbergasted," said Tina Dupont of Rockford, a founder of the TEA Party of West Michigan. "I can't believe our country has come to this. It's a huge call to action. ... I think November will be a huge surprise. Our side will be totally motivated to go out and vote."
"I'm heart-sick over this federal power grab," said Glenn Clark of Troy, a TEA party organizer who is also the chairman of the Republican Party's 9th Congressional District.
Clark said he will target U.S. Congressman Gary Peters, a Democrat from the 9th Congressional District.
"I'm making it my mission to take him down," Clark said. "Gary Peters is going to be gone in November. Period. We are going to organize in every swing precinct, and we are going to go door-knocking. ... We are going to turn those voters into an anti-Peters tidal wave. ... I'm not going to sleep any night between now and November without thinking, 'What am I going to do the next day to take Gary Peters down?'"
Lansing's Joan Fabiano of Grassroots in Michigan called the political process used to pass the president's proposal "an abomination."
"This is the beginning," Fabiano said. "We haven't begun to fight. People will be outraged. The movement for limited government will only grow."
Earlier Sunday, about 240 protesters showed up in front of the state Capitol for a rally against the federal proposal.
GOP State Rep. Paul Opsommer attended and handed out copies of his House Joint Resolution YY. It would create a commission to examine the constitutionality of some federal requirements.
Many protesters in Lansing were looking for a way to turn back Sunday's vote in Washington.
Mary Martin of Union drove two and a half hours to get to the rally.
She said she was hoping there would be some state legislation that could trump the federal health care bill.
"We want Michigan to be the next state to uphold the 10th Amendment," Martin said. The 10th Amendment states that powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution are state issues.
Others couldn't just sit idle.
"I feel the need to participate and do something," said Kathryn Fashoway of Fraser who wore a button that read: "I am a conservative not a mobster." "People are angry. I am angry."
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/12362
Federalized Health Care Opponents Prepare for November - By Tom Gantert | March 22, 2010
Nationalized health care's rough journey through Congress ended Sunday.
Wendy Day of Common Sense in Government and other allied opponents of the federal plan will help fire Michigan's first counterpunch today when they announce a citizen petition drive that they hope will halt the proposal in its tracks.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved President Barack Obama's health care legislation Sunday night, which among other things will mandate that nearly every American purchase health care.
The response in Michigan will be to try to amend the state constitution so that it prohibits a federal law from compelling any person, employer or health care provider to participate in any health care system, and prevents anyone from being penalized for ignoring the federal law.
Activists in numerous states are preparing similar measures. In Arizona, it has already been cleared to appear on the November general election ballot.
To accomplish this in Michigan, Day and her allies will need to get the valid signatures of 390,000 voters approved by July 5. This will allow their proposed amendment to be submitted to voters at the November 2010 general election.
Day said the ballot language will be similar to what was in a constitutional amendment resolution that was sponsored by Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and was voted on by the Michigan Senate last week. The Legislature, with a two-thirds approval in each chamber, may submit proposed constitutional amendments to the voters.
Kuipers' proposal failed to secure the needed super-majority in the Senate.
"If ever there was a time a thing like this could succeed, it is now," Day said of the decision to turn to the signature gathering option.
TEA party activists from around the state sounded off about Sunday's vote.
"I'm flabbergasted," said Tina Dupont of Rockford, a founder of the TEA Party of West Michigan. "I can't believe our country has come to this. It's a huge call to action. ... I think November will be a huge surprise. Our side will be totally motivated to go out and vote."
"I'm heart-sick over this federal power grab," said Glenn Clark of Troy, a TEA party organizer who is also the chairman of the Republican Party's 9th Congressional District.
Clark said he will target U.S. Congressman Gary Peters, a Democrat from the 9th Congressional District.
"I'm making it my mission to take him down," Clark said. "Gary Peters is going to be gone in November. Period. We are going to organize in every swing precinct, and we are going to go door-knocking. ... We are going to turn those voters into an anti-Peters tidal wave. ... I'm not going to sleep any night between now and November without thinking, 'What am I going to do the next day to take Gary Peters down?'"
Lansing's Joan Fabiano of Grassroots in Michigan called the political process used to pass the president's proposal "an abomination."
"This is the beginning," Fabiano said. "We haven't begun to fight. People will be outraged. The movement for limited government will only grow."
Earlier Sunday, about 240 protesters showed up in front of the state Capitol for a rally against the federal proposal.
GOP State Rep. Paul Opsommer attended and handed out copies of his House Joint Resolution YY. It would create a commission to examine the constitutionality of some federal requirements.
Many protesters in Lansing were looking for a way to turn back Sunday's vote in Washington.
Mary Martin of Union drove two and a half hours to get to the rally.
She said she was hoping there would be some state legislation that could trump the federal health care bill.
"We want Michigan to be the next state to uphold the 10th Amendment," Martin said. The 10th Amendment states that powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution are state issues.
Others couldn't just sit idle.
"I feel the need to participate and do something," said Kathryn Fashoway of Fraser who wore a button that read: "I am a conservative not a mobster." "People are angry. I am angry."
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/12362
Fire Pelosi & Peters Now!
Dear Concerned American,
The outpouring of support that the we've received has been extraordinary. Just 12 hours after Nancy Pelosi and her cronies on Capitol Hill forced their government takeover of our country's health care through Congress, you and other concerned Americans have responded by donating more than $402,010 to the Fire Nancy Pelosi project of the Republican National Committee, so that we can continue to fight to make your voice heard!
The Democrats in Washington have abandoned all pretense of representing the will of the American people. They are pursuing their own Leftist agenda in defiance of your will. But this November, you've got the chance to derail that agenda once and for all. If we can defeat 40 Democrat Representatives in this November's elections, we will fire Nancy Pelosi. Only you can make it happen.
The GOP Action Team cannot thank you enough for all of the time, money, and passion that you have put into combating these Beltway Leftists, but in this fight we'll need all the help we can get. We've set a new goal at $842,010! Now we're asking you to call or email your friends, tell them the stakes, and urge them to give to the Republican National Committee today so that we can work to fire Nancy Pelosi. Together we can win the battle against the Left this November, and take this country back for the American people!
Best,
Angela Sailor, RNC Coalitions Director
FIRE PELOSI NOW!
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please email us at coalitions@gop.com and include the subject "Volunteer".
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
The outpouring of support that the we've received has been extraordinary. Just 12 hours after Nancy Pelosi and her cronies on Capitol Hill forced their government takeover of our country's health care through Congress, you and other concerned Americans have responded by donating more than $402,010 to the Fire Nancy Pelosi project of the Republican National Committee, so that we can continue to fight to make your voice heard!
The Democrats in Washington have abandoned all pretense of representing the will of the American people. They are pursuing their own Leftist agenda in defiance of your will. But this November, you've got the chance to derail that agenda once and for all. If we can defeat 40 Democrat Representatives in this November's elections, we will fire Nancy Pelosi. Only you can make it happen.
The GOP Action Team cannot thank you enough for all of the time, money, and passion that you have put into combating these Beltway Leftists, but in this fight we'll need all the help we can get. We've set a new goal at $842,010! Now we're asking you to call or email your friends, tell them the stakes, and urge them to give to the Republican National Committee today so that we can work to fire Nancy Pelosi. Together we can win the battle against the Left this November, and take this country back for the American people!
Best,
Angela Sailor, RNC Coalitions Director
FIRE PELOSI NOW!
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please email us at coalitions@gop.com and include the subject "Volunteer".
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's Reaction to Pelsoi-Peters Healthcare Takeover Bill Victory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 21, 2010
CONTACT: Press Office
202-863-8614
STATEMENT FROM RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL STEELE ON THE
PASSAGE OF GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:
“Today, America witnessed the first vote for the end of representative government. Congressional Democrats said no to the will of the American people and voted yes to President Obama’s $2.5 trillion government run health care system. The President, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are the architects of a system that encourages out of control spending, increased national debt and does nothing to control the cost of health care. Americans across the country made their voices heard and flatly rejected this legislation loaded with special deals and tax increases, but Democrats did not listen and instead chose to force this bill through because they believe they know what’s best for the American people.
The simple truth is this bill will allow taxpayer dollars to pay for elective abortions, as confirmed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and that the Executive Order negotiated by Rep. Bart Stupak does nothing to trump the language in the bill. It is, at best, a ruse. Further, the bill will cause 9 million people to lose the insurance they have now; it will increase the deficit by over a hundred billion dollars when all the components (including the physician fee schedule change) are included; it will increase taxes by $569 Billion; it will cut Medicare by $524 Billion; it will increase premiums by 10 percent for people without employer-based insurance; and, it will create a new marriage penalty with new income and investment taxes. And after all the spending has been done and the bill is fully implemented, 23 million people will still be uninsured in 2019.”
The American people are sick of the blatant arrogance of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and the Senate Majority Leader Reid. Congressional Democrats can be sure that voters in their districts will not forget this vote that will negatively affect Americans for generations to come. It is time to fire Nancy Pelosi and send a message to President Obama that it’s time to stop their partisan liberal agenda of government takeovers and start working for Americans to create jobs and grow our economy.”
###
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
March 21, 2010
CONTACT: Press Office
202-863-8614
STATEMENT FROM RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL STEELE ON THE
PASSAGE OF GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today:
“Today, America witnessed the first vote for the end of representative government. Congressional Democrats said no to the will of the American people and voted yes to President Obama’s $2.5 trillion government run health care system. The President, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are the architects of a system that encourages out of control spending, increased national debt and does nothing to control the cost of health care. Americans across the country made their voices heard and flatly rejected this legislation loaded with special deals and tax increases, but Democrats did not listen and instead chose to force this bill through because they believe they know what’s best for the American people.
The simple truth is this bill will allow taxpayer dollars to pay for elective abortions, as confirmed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and that the Executive Order negotiated by Rep. Bart Stupak does nothing to trump the language in the bill. It is, at best, a ruse. Further, the bill will cause 9 million people to lose the insurance they have now; it will increase the deficit by over a hundred billion dollars when all the components (including the physician fee schedule change) are included; it will increase taxes by $569 Billion; it will cut Medicare by $524 Billion; it will increase premiums by 10 percent for people without employer-based insurance; and, it will create a new marriage penalty with new income and investment taxes. And after all the spending has been done and the bill is fully implemented, 23 million people will still be uninsured in 2019.”
The American people are sick of the blatant arrogance of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and the Senate Majority Leader Reid. Congressional Democrats can be sure that voters in their districts will not forget this vote that will negatively affect Americans for generations to come. It is time to fire Nancy Pelosi and send a message to President Obama that it’s time to stop their partisan liberal agenda of government takeovers and start working for Americans to create jobs and grow our economy.”
###
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Gary Peters Betrays Our Veterans: His Yes Vote on Federal Healthcare Takeover Bill Slaps those Who Served Our Nation
National Healthcare Bill Betrays Veterans
VFW urges ‘no’ vote on H.R. 4872
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2010 — The national commander of the nation’s oldest and largest combat veterans’ organization is furious that Congress is moving ahead with a flawed healthcare bill that does not protect the health programs provided to veterans, servicemembers or their families.
“The president and the Democratic leadership are betraying America's veterans,” said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., who leads the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries.
“And what makes matters worse is the leadership and the president knows the bill is flawed, yet they are pushing for passage today like it’s a do-or-die situation. This nation deserves the best from their elected officials, and the rush to pass legislation of this magnitude is not it.”
At issue is H.R. 4872 does not fully protect the healthcare programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military’s Tricare system. Specifically, the bill covers Tricare For Life but not the other Tricare programs that serve millions of beneficiaries; it does not cover children suffering from spina bifida as a result of a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange; and it does not cover dependents, widows and orphans who are served by CHAMPVA, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The president was very clear at our VFW national convention last year when he said he was going to protect these programs, as did the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate repeatedly throughout the year. Now we have this flawed package that everyone is trying to rush through that blatantly omits any protections of the healthcare programs our nation provides to millions of veterans, military personnel, military retirees, and their families or survivors.
“This is Washington doubletalk at its very worse, and the uproar is going to be huge in America’s military and veterans’ communities,” said Tradewell, who wants Congress to vote against H.R. 4872 today.
The issue surfaced publicly Friday when House Armed Service Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) introduced legislation to explicitly protect Tricare and other Defense Department nonappropriated fund health plans from any health reforms currently under consideration by Congress.
Yesterday, Reps. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) tried to introduce an amendment to H.R. 4872 to protect the integrity and independence of the VA and Defense Department healthcare systems. Buyer is the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and McKeon is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“The VFW salutes the congressmen and their supporters,” said Tradewell, “and I hope their messages were heard loudly and clearly throughout Congress. Healthcare is important, but so is protecting the programs that were promised to our nation’s veterans, military and their families,” he said.
“Those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should not have to worry about their dependents’ healthcare programs, but they are today, and so are millions of military retirees, veterans, survivors and children.
“Military service is based on the fundamental principle of trust, and once lost, it is virtually impossible to regain,” said Tradewell. “That is why I am urging the House to vote ‘no’ today, then go back and fix the bill with the language proposed by Skelton, Buyer and McKeon, and then come back and vote your conscience. Let’s not rush to pass flawed legislation that could tremendously impact our nation’s true heroes.”
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5415
VFW urges ‘no’ vote on H.R. 4872
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2010 — The national commander of the nation’s oldest and largest combat veterans’ organization is furious that Congress is moving ahead with a flawed healthcare bill that does not protect the health programs provided to veterans, servicemembers or their families.
“The president and the Democratic leadership are betraying America's veterans,” said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran from Sussex, Wis., who leads the 2.1 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries.
“And what makes matters worse is the leadership and the president knows the bill is flawed, yet they are pushing for passage today like it’s a do-or-die situation. This nation deserves the best from their elected officials, and the rush to pass legislation of this magnitude is not it.”
At issue is H.R. 4872 does not fully protect the healthcare programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military’s Tricare system. Specifically, the bill covers Tricare For Life but not the other Tricare programs that serve millions of beneficiaries; it does not cover children suffering from spina bifida as a result of a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange; and it does not cover dependents, widows and orphans who are served by CHAMPVA, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The president was very clear at our VFW national convention last year when he said he was going to protect these programs, as did the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate repeatedly throughout the year. Now we have this flawed package that everyone is trying to rush through that blatantly omits any protections of the healthcare programs our nation provides to millions of veterans, military personnel, military retirees, and their families or survivors.
“This is Washington doubletalk at its very worse, and the uproar is going to be huge in America’s military and veterans’ communities,” said Tradewell, who wants Congress to vote against H.R. 4872 today.
The issue surfaced publicly Friday when House Armed Service Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) introduced legislation to explicitly protect Tricare and other Defense Department nonappropriated fund health plans from any health reforms currently under consideration by Congress.
Yesterday, Reps. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) and Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) tried to introduce an amendment to H.R. 4872 to protect the integrity and independence of the VA and Defense Department healthcare systems. Buyer is the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and McKeon is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“The VFW salutes the congressmen and their supporters,” said Tradewell, “and I hope their messages were heard loudly and clearly throughout Congress. Healthcare is important, but so is protecting the programs that were promised to our nation’s veterans, military and their families,” he said.
“Those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should not have to worry about their dependents’ healthcare programs, but they are today, and so are millions of military retirees, veterans, survivors and children.
“Military service is based on the fundamental principle of trust, and once lost, it is virtually impossible to regain,” said Tradewell. “That is why I am urging the House to vote ‘no’ today, then go back and fix the bill with the language proposed by Skelton, Buyer and McKeon, and then come back and vote your conscience. Let’s not rush to pass flawed legislation that could tremendously impact our nation’s true heroes.”
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5415
Gary Peters: 'Yes' on Obamacare, 16,500 New IRS Agents Created, No Doctors or Nurses
16,500 more IRS agents needed to enforce Obamacare
By: J.P. Freire
Associate Commentary Editor
03/18/10 4:32 PM EDT
New tax mandates and penalties included in Obamacare will cause the greatest expansion of the Internal Revenue Service since World War II, according to a release from Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
A new analysis by the Joint Economic Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee minority staff estimates up to 16,500 new IRS personnel will be needed to collect, examine and audit new tax information mandated on families and small businesses in the ‘reconciliation’ bill being taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives this weekend. ...
Scores of new federal mandates and fifteen different tax increases totaling $400 billion are imposed under the Democratic House bill. In addition to more complicated tax returns, families and small businesses will be forced to reveal further tax information to the IRS, provide proof of ‘government approved’ health care and submit detailed sales information to comply with new excise taxes.
Americans for Tax Reform has a good breakdown of the bill by the numbers.
Isn't it reassuring that at a time of recession, government will do what's necessary to ensure its growth?
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/16500-more-IRS-agents-needed-to-enforce-Obamacare-88458137.html#ixzz0ioOxnvl4
By: J.P. Freire
Associate Commentary Editor
03/18/10 4:32 PM EDT
New tax mandates and penalties included in Obamacare will cause the greatest expansion of the Internal Revenue Service since World War II, according to a release from Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
A new analysis by the Joint Economic Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee minority staff estimates up to 16,500 new IRS personnel will be needed to collect, examine and audit new tax information mandated on families and small businesses in the ‘reconciliation’ bill being taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives this weekend. ...
Scores of new federal mandates and fifteen different tax increases totaling $400 billion are imposed under the Democratic House bill. In addition to more complicated tax returns, families and small businesses will be forced to reveal further tax information to the IRS, provide proof of ‘government approved’ health care and submit detailed sales information to comply with new excise taxes.
Americans for Tax Reform has a good breakdown of the bill by the numbers.
Isn't it reassuring that at a time of recession, government will do what's necessary to ensure its growth?
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/16500-more-IRS-agents-needed-to-enforce-Obamacare-88458137.html#ixzz0ioOxnvl4
Saturday, March 20, 2010
IRS Hiring Binge: Gary Peters Wants 16,000 New Agents Since He is Voting in Favor of Obamacare & Against Taxpayers
U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) notes that 16,000 new IRS agents must be hired to oversee new tax hikes proposed in the democrat healthcare legislation.
Simple Truths of Obamacare - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele
Simple Truths of Obamacare
From Politico
RNC Chairman Michael Steele
Saturday, March 20, 2010
“President Obama recently arm-twisted reluctant Democrats to vote for the government takeover of health care with a direct personal appeal, saying, “the fate of his presidency is on the line.”
“That this failed to incite revolt reveals how dangerous this Congress is for America. What they should have answered is: The fate of our country and future generations of Americans is on the line, Mr. President, and that’s more important.
“The force and duration of the grassroots pushback against the government takeover of health care reveals that this debate has stumbled on something unusually unifying for the normally fractious American citizenry.
“Pollsters of every political persuasion have been saying since last August: We know what we know. Despite all the “experts” trotted out to convince us that spending trillions will reduce the deficit, and growing government will somehow grow the job-creating sector, we’re just not buying it.
“As Congressional Democrats shuttle between the Capitol and the White House, concocting sweetheart deals to entice votes from their nervous caucus members, they’ve lost sight of what Americans outside Washington already know:
“The simple truth is that you can’t add a trillion dollars to the budget and claim it’s “revenue neutral” unless you are raising taxes or cutting benefits somewhere else. The simple truth is you can’t cut a half-trillion dollars from Medicare and claim it won’t affect seniors. The simple truth is you can’t procure votes with special deals for certain states and not others, then claim that all Americans are treated equally. The simple truth is you can’t claim transparency when every meeting, conversation and deal is behind closed doors. The simple truth is you can’t claim to be accountable when you’re willing to ignore the Constitution, on a technicality, to avoid having to answer for a shameful vote.
“The simple truth is the President and the Congressional Democrats will have to face the verdict of history for what they’re doing. We, too, will have to answer to future generations for letting it happen. There will be no hiding from our grandchildren when they ask why a nation founded on the fear of government overreach and control allowed Big Government into our exam rooms, our medicine cabinets and our hospital beds. ..."
To View The Entire Article, Please Visit:
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=78100AA3-18FE-70B2-A8C86D9C1BB109AD
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
From Politico
RNC Chairman Michael Steele
Saturday, March 20, 2010
“President Obama recently arm-twisted reluctant Democrats to vote for the government takeover of health care with a direct personal appeal, saying, “the fate of his presidency is on the line.”
“That this failed to incite revolt reveals how dangerous this Congress is for America. What they should have answered is: The fate of our country and future generations of Americans is on the line, Mr. President, and that’s more important.
“The force and duration of the grassroots pushback against the government takeover of health care reveals that this debate has stumbled on something unusually unifying for the normally fractious American citizenry.
“Pollsters of every political persuasion have been saying since last August: We know what we know. Despite all the “experts” trotted out to convince us that spending trillions will reduce the deficit, and growing government will somehow grow the job-creating sector, we’re just not buying it.
“As Congressional Democrats shuttle between the Capitol and the White House, concocting sweetheart deals to entice votes from their nervous caucus members, they’ve lost sight of what Americans outside Washington already know:
“The simple truth is that you can’t add a trillion dollars to the budget and claim it’s “revenue neutral” unless you are raising taxes or cutting benefits somewhere else. The simple truth is you can’t cut a half-trillion dollars from Medicare and claim it won’t affect seniors. The simple truth is you can’t procure votes with special deals for certain states and not others, then claim that all Americans are treated equally. The simple truth is you can’t claim transparency when every meeting, conversation and deal is behind closed doors. The simple truth is you can’t claim to be accountable when you’re willing to ignore the Constitution, on a technicality, to avoid having to answer for a shameful vote.
“The simple truth is the President and the Congressional Democrats will have to face the verdict of history for what they’re doing. We, too, will have to answer to future generations for letting it happen. There will be no hiding from our grandchildren when they ask why a nation founded on the fear of government overreach and control allowed Big Government into our exam rooms, our medicine cabinets and our hospital beds. ..."
To View The Entire Article, Please Visit:
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=78100AA3-18FE-70B2-A8C86D9C1BB109AD
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C. 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Peters Sells Out Oakland County Families: Pledges to Vote in Favor of Obama-Pelosi Healthcare Takeover, Massive Middle Class Tax Hike, Abortions
Peters to vote for health care bill
Deb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington -- Rep. Gary Peters said Friday he will vote in favor of the sweeping $940billion Democratic health care bill.
"The vast majority of Americans believe that health care reform is needed. I agree, and after thoroughly reviewing the details of the proposal, I believe it will be far better than the status quo that allows skyrocketing costs to cripple families and small businesses and causes even people with serious illness to lose their care," said Peters, D-Bloomfield Township.
Peters was the last of Michigan's 15 House members to reveal how he'll vote Sunday.
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, won't support it unless he's able to add more restrictive language on abortion, his office said.
All other Michigan Democrats -- including Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, the state's other freshman congressman -- have indicated they will support it, although Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, gave herself a bit of wiggle room by telling The Detroit News she's "90 percent yes."
All of Michigan's Republicans have indicated they will vote against the bill.
"What's been most important to me and the thousands of Oakland County residents I've spoken to is that health care reform lower costs for small businesses, seniors and middle class families, protects working people from losing their coverage and reduces the deficit," Peters said.
"The final bill now provides tax cuts for small businesses to help them afford employee coverage, will provide Americans with access to affordably purchase the same health coverage as Members of Congress, and will ensure that insurance companies cannot deny care for people with preexisting conditions.
"AARP supports this proposal because Medicare would be strengthened, closing the prescription drug donut hole and providing new preventative care at no cost for seniors. And the fact that these reforms will reduce the deficit $138 billion in the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the next 10 years was a major selling point for me."
Schauer got a blast Friday from another of his Republican rivals over his decision to vote for the health care bill, hinting at the central role the issue likely will play in high-stakes November elections nationally and in Michigan.
Republican candidate Brian Rooney of Dexter said: "As a parent of a special needs child that is alive today because of the extraordinary care provided by the University of Michigan's Mott Children's Hospital, I shudder to think what other families will face if Congress passes Mark Schauer's health care takeover. ... The Schauer experiment of the last 14 months was clearly a mistake and there is no doubt that the voters will replace him in November with a representative who reflects the values and priorities of the 7th District."
Schauer said he believes the legislation will help families and small businesses in his district get affordable health care.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100319/POLITICS03/3190441/Peters-to-vote-for-health-care-bill
Deb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington -- Rep. Gary Peters said Friday he will vote in favor of the sweeping $940billion Democratic health care bill.
"The vast majority of Americans believe that health care reform is needed. I agree, and after thoroughly reviewing the details of the proposal, I believe it will be far better than the status quo that allows skyrocketing costs to cripple families and small businesses and causes even people with serious illness to lose their care," said Peters, D-Bloomfield Township.
Peters was the last of Michigan's 15 House members to reveal how he'll vote Sunday.
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, won't support it unless he's able to add more restrictive language on abortion, his office said.
All other Michigan Democrats -- including Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, the state's other freshman congressman -- have indicated they will support it, although Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit, gave herself a bit of wiggle room by telling The Detroit News she's "90 percent yes."
All of Michigan's Republicans have indicated they will vote against the bill.
"What's been most important to me and the thousands of Oakland County residents I've spoken to is that health care reform lower costs for small businesses, seniors and middle class families, protects working people from losing their coverage and reduces the deficit," Peters said.
"The final bill now provides tax cuts for small businesses to help them afford employee coverage, will provide Americans with access to affordably purchase the same health coverage as Members of Congress, and will ensure that insurance companies cannot deny care for people with preexisting conditions.
"AARP supports this proposal because Medicare would be strengthened, closing the prescription drug donut hole and providing new preventative care at no cost for seniors. And the fact that these reforms will reduce the deficit $138 billion in the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the next 10 years was a major selling point for me."
Schauer got a blast Friday from another of his Republican rivals over his decision to vote for the health care bill, hinting at the central role the issue likely will play in high-stakes November elections nationally and in Michigan.
Republican candidate Brian Rooney of Dexter said: "As a parent of a special needs child that is alive today because of the extraordinary care provided by the University of Michigan's Mott Children's Hospital, I shudder to think what other families will face if Congress passes Mark Schauer's health care takeover. ... The Schauer experiment of the last 14 months was clearly a mistake and there is no doubt that the voters will replace him in November with a representative who reflects the values and priorities of the 7th District."
Schauer said he believes the legislation will help families and small businesses in his district get affordable health care.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100319/POLITICS03/3190441/Peters-to-vote-for-health-care-bill
Friday, March 19, 2010
68% of Voters Want to Dump Gary Peters, All Incumbents - Fox News Poll
Fox News Poll: 68% Say Vote Out All Incumbents
AP
Fox News poll shows 68 percent of voters would oust all incumbents, while 20 percent would keep all lawmakers in office.
Incumbents Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland; Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska
If American voters only had the following two choices on the Congressional ballot -- keep all current lawmakers in office, or get rid of all incumbents in Congress -- what would they do?
A new Fox News poll asked that question, and the answer could be bad news for incumbents this fall.
Sixty-eight percent of voters would oust all incumbents, while 20 percent would keep all lawmakers in office.
Even 52 percent of Democrats, whose party controls both houses of Congress, would get rid of all incumbents. Thirty-two percent would keep them.
Most Republicans (79 percent) and independents (78 percent) would vote to get rid of all incumbents.
This “throw them out” sentiment reflects what the poll also found about voters’ perception of Congress: just 18 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, while 76 percent disapprove.
Moreover, 17 percent think Congress cares what the American people want, compared to the large 79 percent majority who think Congress does whatever it wants to do.
In response to the traditional generic ballot question, if the election were held today, 42 percent of American voters say they would back the Republican candidate in their district and 38 percent the Democratic candidate.
A higher number of Republicans (89 percent) would back their party’s candidate than Democrats would support theirs (81 percent). By 33 percent to 25 percent, more independents say they would back the Republican candidate, with the remaining 42 percent saying they would vote for another candidate or are unsure.
The national telephone poll was conducted for Fox News by Opinion Dynamics Corp. among 900 registered voters from March 16 to March 17. For the total sample, the poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The Obama Factor
Voters who approve of President Obama’s job performance favor the Democratic House candidate by 69 percent to 13 percent, while those who disapprove back the Republican by 72 percent to 11 percent.
Among those favoring the health care reform bill, 75 percent would back the Democratic candidate. Those opposed to the reforms largely favor the Republican in their district (66 percent).
In addition, by a slim 2 percentage point margin, more voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes President Obama on key issues (31 percent) than for one who supports Obama (29 percent). The largest number -- 39 percent -- says Obama will not be a major factor in their vote for Congress this year.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/19/fox-news-poll-say-vote-incumbents/
AP
Fox News poll shows 68 percent of voters would oust all incumbents, while 20 percent would keep all lawmakers in office.
Incumbents Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland; Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska
If American voters only had the following two choices on the Congressional ballot -- keep all current lawmakers in office, or get rid of all incumbents in Congress -- what would they do?
A new Fox News poll asked that question, and the answer could be bad news for incumbents this fall.
Sixty-eight percent of voters would oust all incumbents, while 20 percent would keep all lawmakers in office.
Even 52 percent of Democrats, whose party controls both houses of Congress, would get rid of all incumbents. Thirty-two percent would keep them.
Most Republicans (79 percent) and independents (78 percent) would vote to get rid of all incumbents.
This “throw them out” sentiment reflects what the poll also found about voters’ perception of Congress: just 18 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, while 76 percent disapprove.
Moreover, 17 percent think Congress cares what the American people want, compared to the large 79 percent majority who think Congress does whatever it wants to do.
In response to the traditional generic ballot question, if the election were held today, 42 percent of American voters say they would back the Republican candidate in their district and 38 percent the Democratic candidate.
A higher number of Republicans (89 percent) would back their party’s candidate than Democrats would support theirs (81 percent). By 33 percent to 25 percent, more independents say they would back the Republican candidate, with the remaining 42 percent saying they would vote for another candidate or are unsure.
The national telephone poll was conducted for Fox News by Opinion Dynamics Corp. among 900 registered voters from March 16 to March 17. For the total sample, the poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The Obama Factor
Voters who approve of President Obama’s job performance favor the Democratic House candidate by 69 percent to 13 percent, while those who disapprove back the Republican by 72 percent to 11 percent.
Among those favoring the health care reform bill, 75 percent would back the Democratic candidate. Those opposed to the reforms largely favor the Republican in their district (66 percent).
In addition, by a slim 2 percentage point margin, more voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes President Obama on key issues (31 percent) than for one who supports Obama (29 percent). The largest number -- 39 percent -- says Obama will not be a major factor in their vote for Congress this year.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/19/fox-news-poll-say-vote-incumbents/
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Republican National Committee's GOP Doctors' Caucus Teleconference RE: Obamacare Going on Now!
Listening 2 Republican National Committee's GOP Doctors' Caucus conference call. 1st. question asked by 9th GOP's own John Mohyi of West Bloomfield
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Help is on the way: GOP has ten point advantage in upcoming Congressional races!
AmSpecBlog
What Democrats Don't Want to Hear
By Doug Bandow on 3.17.10 @ 8:03PM
Rasmussen Reports says GOP ahead by ten points on the generic congressional poll:
Republican candidates have now stretched their lead over Democrats to 10 points in the Generic Congressional Ballot, their biggest lead ever in nearly three years of weekly tracking. The GOP has been leading on the ballot for months.
The new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% would vote for their district's Republican congressional candidate while 35% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. Voter support for GOP congressional candidates increased slightly from last week, while support for Democrats fell two points.
Republicans started 2010 ahead by nine points, while support for Democrats fell to its lowest level over the same period. Towards the end of 2009, GOP candidates enjoyed a more modest lead over Democrats, with the gap between the two down to four points in early December. Since the beginning of the year, however, the Republican lead hasn't dipped below seven points.
Even if Rasmussen's polling overstates Republican support, the GOP advantage appears to be large and stable. Passage of health care "reform," especially through a procedural trick, will not go down well with an electorate already riled against the ruling party.
http://ow.ly/1nBMS
What Democrats Don't Want to Hear
By Doug Bandow on 3.17.10 @ 8:03PM
Rasmussen Reports says GOP ahead by ten points on the generic congressional poll:
Republican candidates have now stretched their lead over Democrats to 10 points in the Generic Congressional Ballot, their biggest lead ever in nearly three years of weekly tracking. The GOP has been leading on the ballot for months.
The new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% would vote for their district's Republican congressional candidate while 35% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. Voter support for GOP congressional candidates increased slightly from last week, while support for Democrats fell two points.
Republicans started 2010 ahead by nine points, while support for Democrats fell to its lowest level over the same period. Towards the end of 2009, GOP candidates enjoyed a more modest lead over Democrats, with the gap between the two down to four points in early December. Since the beginning of the year, however, the Republican lead hasn't dipped below seven points.
Even if Rasmussen's polling overstates Republican support, the GOP advantage appears to be large and stable. Passage of health care "reform," especially through a procedural trick, will not go down well with an electorate already riled against the ruling party.
http://ow.ly/1nBMS
Join 4 PM Conference Call Thursday w/ GOP Doctors Caucus - Learn the Truth about Upcoming House Vote on Obamacare!
RNC COALITIONS
CONFERENCE CALL
Please Join
Republican Congressmen Phil Roe (TN-01), John Fleming (LA-04), and John Linder (GA-07), Members of the GOP Doctors Caucus with More Than 50 Years of Experience Combined as Medical Physicians,
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
What: Discussion On The Upcoming Health Care Vote
When: Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
CONFERENCE CALL
Please Join
Republican Congressmen Phil Roe (TN-01), John Fleming (LA-04), and John Linder (GA-07), Members of the GOP Doctors Caucus with More Than 50 Years of Experience Combined as Medical Physicians,
And
RNC Coalitions Director Angela Sailor
Who: Open to All
What: Discussion On The Upcoming Health Care Vote
When: Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: Dial-In Number: 800-428-6220 Code: 824668#
Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington, D.C.20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com
Paid for by the Republican National Committee.
310 First Street, SE - Washington, D.C.20003 - (202) 863-8500
www.gop.com
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee
Monday, March 15, 2010
Final Countdown! Stop Obamacare Rally in Royal Oak Tuesday, Tomorrow. Send a Message to Obama-Pelosi-Peters that Enough is Enough!!
STOP OBAMACARE RALLY
Tuesday, March 16, 5:00 PM
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI
In the past year, it has been YOUR voice and action that has prevented the government takeover of healthcare. Despite massive public outcry and poll after poll showing the American people oppose this bill, Nancy Pelosi is planning a vote to ram the government takeover of healthcare through Congress before March 18!
It's time to stand up and STOP the government takeover once and for all! Congress needs to listen to the PEOPLE, and start over. We need common sense reforms to reduce cost, NOT another government takeover!
Join us to defend our world-class hospitals and healthcare system from another government takeover!
RALLY DATE AND TIME:
Tuesday, March 16, 5:00 PM
RALLY LOCATION:
In front of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI
3601 West 13 Mile Road
The Rally meeting will be held along the sidewalk in front of the main entrance marquee which is just west of Woodward Ave on 13 Mile Road.
RALLY INSTRUCTIONS:
Bring your signs and invite friends. This is a family friendly event. Please make sure all signs and placards are appropriate.
***William Beaumont Hospital is NOT affiliated with this rally***
########################################################################
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: twitter.com@MI9thGOP
FRIEND OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: Michigan's 9th Congressional District Republicans
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.MI9thGOP.com
E-MAIL US: MI9thGOP@gmail.com
########################################################################
Paid for by:
9th District Republican Administrative Account
Michigan Ninth Congressional District Republicans
PO Box 4553
Troy Michigan 48099-4553
United States
Tuesday, March 16, 5:00 PM
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI
In the past year, it has been YOUR voice and action that has prevented the government takeover of healthcare. Despite massive public outcry and poll after poll showing the American people oppose this bill, Nancy Pelosi is planning a vote to ram the government takeover of healthcare through Congress before March 18!
It's time to stand up and STOP the government takeover once and for all! Congress needs to listen to the PEOPLE, and start over. We need common sense reforms to reduce cost, NOT another government takeover!
Join us to defend our world-class hospitals and healthcare system from another government takeover!
RALLY DATE AND TIME:
Tuesday, March 16, 5:00 PM
RALLY LOCATION:
In front of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI
3601 West 13 Mile Road
The Rally meeting will be held along the sidewalk in front of the main entrance marquee which is just west of Woodward Ave on 13 Mile Road.
RALLY INSTRUCTIONS:
Bring your signs and invite friends. This is a family friendly event. Please make sure all signs and placards are appropriate.
***William Beaumont Hospital is NOT affiliated with this rally***
########################################################################
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: twitter.com@MI9thGOP
FRIEND OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: Michigan's 9th Congressional District Republicans
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.MI9thGOP.com
E-MAIL US: MI9thGOP@gmail.com
########################################################################
Paid for by:
9th District Republican Administrative Account
Michigan Ninth Congressional District Republicans
PO Box 4553
Troy Michigan 48099-4553
United States
Congressman Peters Take Note: Swing District Voters Oppose Obama-Pelosi Health Bill
Swing Districts Oppose Health Reform
Sobering poll news for 35 key House members..
R. HIGGINS AND KELLYANNE E. CONWAY
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she plans to bring health-care reform to a vote this week. Democratic leaders cite national polls that show support for individual provisions of the bill as a reason to pass this reform. Yet vulnerable politicians should be warned: Responses to questions about individual benefits, particularly when removed from a cost context, are different from those on the whole bill.
Voters in key congressional districts are clear in their opposition to what they have seen, read and heard on health-care reform. That's one of the findings of a survey that will be released today by the Polling Company on behalf of Independent Women's Voice. The survey consisted of 1,200 registered voters in 35 districts represented by members who could determine the outcome of the health-care debate. Twenty of those members voted for the House bill in November but now may be reconsidering. Fifteen voted against the bill but are under tremendous pressure to change their vote.
The survey shows astonishing intensity and sharp opposition to reform, far more than national polls reflect. For 82% of those surveyed, the heath-care bill is either the top or one of the top three issues for deciding whom to support for Congress next November. (That number goes to 88% among independent women.) Sixty percent want Congress to start from scratch on a bipartisan health-care reform proposal or stop working on it this year. Majorities say the legislation will make them and their loved ones (53%), the economy (54%) and the U.S. health-care system (55%) worse off—quite the trifecta.
Seven in 10 would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate health-care bill with its special interest provisions. That includes 45% of self-identified Democrats, 72% of independents and 88% of Republicans. Three in four disagree that the federal government should mandate that everyone buy a government-approved insurance plan (64% strongly so), and 81% say any reform should focus first on reducing costs. Three quarters agree that Americans have the right to choose not to participate in any health-care system or plan without a penalty or fine.
View Full Image
Associated Press
Nancy Pelosi
.That translates into specific concerns with the Senate legislation—and none of these objections would be addressed by the proposed fixes. Over 70%—indeed in several districts over 80%—of respondents, across party lines, said that the following information made them less supportive: the bill mandates that individuals purchase insurance or face penalties; it cuts Medicare Advantage; it will force potentially millions to lose existing coverage; it will cost an estimated $2.3 trillion over its first 10 years; and it will grant unprecedented new powers to the Health and Human Services secretary.
Should members from these districts and those like them be concerned? Yes. Walking the Democratic line now means walking the plank. Sixty percent of the voters surveyed will vote for a candidate who opposes the current legislation and wants to start over.
What about passing the Senate bill and then fixing problems via reconciliation, a process that could allow Congress to pass a second health-care bill with a simple Senate majority? Sixty-three percent (50% strongly) think reconciliation is at best a political promise and their congressman shouldn't vote for the Senate bill if he doesn't agree with it as written.
But the survey does provide a little good news for wavering Democrats. A congressman can buy himself a little grace if he had previously voted for health-care reform but now votes against it. Forty-nine percent of voters will feel more supportive of that member if he does so, 40% less supportive. More dramatically, 58% of voters say they will be more supportive of their congressman's re-election if he votes against the bill a second time. However, for those members who voted against it in November and vote yes this time, 61% of voters say they will be less likely to support their re-election.
Over a third of respondents say they will actively work against a candidate who votes the wrong way or for the candidate who votes the right way. Perhaps that's because dramatic pluralities of both sexes—young people, seniors and independents, regardless of whether John McCain or Barack Obama carried the district in 2008—say that if the legislation doesn't pass they will be relieved.
These are the constituents of the members whose votes will matter most this week. Perhaps, if this republic is still the people's, those members should heed those they claim to represent.
Ms. Higgins runs Independent Women's Voice. Ms. Conway is president and CEO of the Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend. Poll results will be available after 11 a.m. Monday at www.iwvoice.org.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704416904575121541779736742.html
Sobering poll news for 35 key House members..
R. HIGGINS AND KELLYANNE E. CONWAY
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she plans to bring health-care reform to a vote this week. Democratic leaders cite national polls that show support for individual provisions of the bill as a reason to pass this reform. Yet vulnerable politicians should be warned: Responses to questions about individual benefits, particularly when removed from a cost context, are different from those on the whole bill.
Voters in key congressional districts are clear in their opposition to what they have seen, read and heard on health-care reform. That's one of the findings of a survey that will be released today by the Polling Company on behalf of Independent Women's Voice. The survey consisted of 1,200 registered voters in 35 districts represented by members who could determine the outcome of the health-care debate. Twenty of those members voted for the House bill in November but now may be reconsidering. Fifteen voted against the bill but are under tremendous pressure to change their vote.
The survey shows astonishing intensity and sharp opposition to reform, far more than national polls reflect. For 82% of those surveyed, the heath-care bill is either the top or one of the top three issues for deciding whom to support for Congress next November. (That number goes to 88% among independent women.) Sixty percent want Congress to start from scratch on a bipartisan health-care reform proposal or stop working on it this year. Majorities say the legislation will make them and their loved ones (53%), the economy (54%) and the U.S. health-care system (55%) worse off—quite the trifecta.
Seven in 10 would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate health-care bill with its special interest provisions. That includes 45% of self-identified Democrats, 72% of independents and 88% of Republicans. Three in four disagree that the federal government should mandate that everyone buy a government-approved insurance plan (64% strongly so), and 81% say any reform should focus first on reducing costs. Three quarters agree that Americans have the right to choose not to participate in any health-care system or plan without a penalty or fine.
View Full Image
Associated Press
Nancy Pelosi
.That translates into specific concerns with the Senate legislation—and none of these objections would be addressed by the proposed fixes. Over 70%—indeed in several districts over 80%—of respondents, across party lines, said that the following information made them less supportive: the bill mandates that individuals purchase insurance or face penalties; it cuts Medicare Advantage; it will force potentially millions to lose existing coverage; it will cost an estimated $2.3 trillion over its first 10 years; and it will grant unprecedented new powers to the Health and Human Services secretary.
Should members from these districts and those like them be concerned? Yes. Walking the Democratic line now means walking the plank. Sixty percent of the voters surveyed will vote for a candidate who opposes the current legislation and wants to start over.
What about passing the Senate bill and then fixing problems via reconciliation, a process that could allow Congress to pass a second health-care bill with a simple Senate majority? Sixty-three percent (50% strongly) think reconciliation is at best a political promise and their congressman shouldn't vote for the Senate bill if he doesn't agree with it as written.
But the survey does provide a little good news for wavering Democrats. A congressman can buy himself a little grace if he had previously voted for health-care reform but now votes against it. Forty-nine percent of voters will feel more supportive of that member if he does so, 40% less supportive. More dramatically, 58% of voters say they will be more supportive of their congressman's re-election if he votes against the bill a second time. However, for those members who voted against it in November and vote yes this time, 61% of voters say they will be less likely to support their re-election.
Over a third of respondents say they will actively work against a candidate who votes the wrong way or for the candidate who votes the right way. Perhaps that's because dramatic pluralities of both sexes—young people, seniors and independents, regardless of whether John McCain or Barack Obama carried the district in 2008—say that if the legislation doesn't pass they will be relieved.
These are the constituents of the members whose votes will matter most this week. Perhaps, if this republic is still the people's, those members should heed those they claim to represent.
Ms. Higgins runs Independent Women's Voice. Ms. Conway is president and CEO of the Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend. Poll results will be available after 11 a.m. Monday at www.iwvoice.org.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704416904575121541779736742.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
