Current Article

A comment from a Massachusetts Democrat

By Bronwyn's Harbor on January 15, 2010 at 10:45 PM in Current Affairs

NoQuarter author Ani spotted this comment in a thread following a report at Politico. Ben, who commented, makes a compelling case for giving us all pause about Obamacare since his experience with mandated health insurance in Massachusetts has been so poor:

I am a lifelong Democrat who will vote for Brown on Tuesday. My main reason is the universal health care plan that is said to be similar to the Massachusetts plan.

Under Massachusetts universal health care, I have seen my care and that of my adult children decline during the past year. My daugher has a serious chronic condition and must wait 6 months to see a specialist – she never had to wait more than 4 weeks before the universal health care plan.

I have seen my own insurance premiums go up nearly 50%. My son has been assigned a primary care physician who is located three towns away from where he lives and who has a backlog of several weeks.

I don’t like the plan working through the Congress because there are too many mandates and I believe the cost will be prohibitive. I also believe it analogous to the Mass plan that has given my family poor and deteriorating service.

I believe that the federal plan should go back to the drawing board. There should be no denial of coverage because of pre-existing conditions, but there should be fewer other mandates and no one should be mandated to have health insurance.

I also think that there is much too much new spending by the federal government. New initiatives used to cost millions, then billions, and now trillions. I don’t believe these initiatives are well planned nor efficient.
I voted for President Obama — I thought he was more centrist than he seems to be now. I will be voting for Brown precisely for the reasons that the President outlines as the reasons to vote for Coakley.

I am not alone among Democrats in Massachusetts who will vote for Brown — that is why the polls are so close in this election.
- Ben Posted By: Ben from Boston | January 14, 2010 at 02:33 PM 

There’s no link to the comment, but I’m glad that Ani spotted this. It says a lot about how Massachusetts Democrats are feeling about this special election and why they’re having serious doubts about Coakley.

Binky

So glad to hear a MA Citizen discussing this issue and expressing why you will be voting for Scott Brown. We outside your state want Brown to win for the reason you want him to win. As a former Democrat, I cannot buy into the progressive agenda Obama wants us to have shoved down our throats, I sent a contribution, but live too far way to be much help. I hope you have friends that will carry the signs and knock on doors for Mr. Brown. It’s such an important election for our whole country,
SoCalDem

I too notice that a lot of Democrats are waking up to the not very centrist Obama. I didn’t vote for him. It was my first vote for a Republican, I’m sure it won’t be my last as I plan on voting for the opposition in every race in California.
I’m a Linda too

Good on you Ben and thank you for posting BH

And….as I posted on RRRA article, man are our rates going to go up.

“EDITORIAL: Obamacare’s marriage penalty

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THE WASHINGTON TIMES
So much is so wrong with Capitol Hill’s two versions of government health care that it’s hard to focus on yet another poison pill in the bills. Hard, but important. It turns out that in addition to unconstitutional measures, unfair individual mandates, higher taxes, penalties for lifesaving medical devices and a potentially devastating rationing of care, Obamacare also contains several penalties on couples for getting married. Those penalties make government the enemy of both good romance and good finance.

The first sort of marriage penalties affects low- and middle-income couples who would get their insurance without employer assistance but with government subsidies. The penalties accrue through the “caps” on premiums. In the House plan, an unmarried couple living together with each earning $25,000 would pay no more than $3,076 in combined premiums each year. If the same couple got married, their annual cap would skyrocket to $5,160 – a 68 percent punishment just for saying “I do.” (The penalty in the Senate bill is slightly lower, at 48 percent.)

What is even worse is that the subsidies are suddenly and completely cut off once somebody reaches 400 percent of the official poverty-level income ($63,360 in 2016). The arithmetic is complicated, but what it means is that two unmarried persons earning $32,000 each ($64,000 total) would pay a maximum combined $5,684 in premiums, but if they got married, they would pay about $15,000. That is an astonishing penalty of 164 percent. It is almost impossible to imagine a policy that could be any more anti-family than that.

Again, that was for middle-income earners receiving government subsidies in lieu of employer tax breaks for insurance. Now consider a high-earning couple. The Senate bill imposes a payroll tax increase on individuals who make more than $200,000. For married couples, though, the tax increase kicks in at $250,000. So, if you live together without matrimony, you can earn up to $400,000 combined without the higher tax – $150,000 more than you can earn together if you are married. At a maximum of $1,350, this marriage penalty through taxation isn’t anywhere near as damaging as the $9,316 knockout punch via lost subsidies for the $64,000 couple described above, but it’s still nothing to take lightly.”

And, they didn’t take out their Anti trust ban to stop these Insurance companies from gouging because of Monoplies in each state, or open up cross state Insurance.

With a mandate, Insurance companies are guaranteed tens of millions more, and can further over charge and gouge, because no one will have a choice. As a matter of fact, they should not mandate it so the insurance companies work to get more insured. But Democrats just keep showing their real intentions. No competition, no price caps, no negotiating, tax tax and tax and we aren’t getting a thing but worse service and higher costs.
I’m a Linda too

Good on you Ben and thank you for posting BH

And….as I posted on RRRA article, man are our rates going to go up.

“EDITORIAL: Obamacare’s marriage penalty

THE WASHINGTON TIMES
So much is so wrong with Capitol Hill’s two versions of government health care that it’s hard to focus on yet another poison pill in the bills. Hard, but important. It turns out that in addition to unconstitutional measures, unfair individual mandates, higher taxes, penalties for lifesaving medical devices and a potentially devastating rationing of care, Obamacare also contains several penalties on couples for getting married. Those penalties make government the enemy of both good romance and good finance.

The first sort of marriage penalties affects low- and middle-income couples who would get their insurance without employer assistance but with government subsidies. The penalties accrue through the “caps” on premiums. In the House plan, an unmarried couple living together with each earning $25,000 would pay no more than $3,076 in combined premiums each year. If the same couple got married, their annual cap would skyrocket to $5,160 – a 68 percent punishment just for saying “I do.” (The penalty in the Senate bill is slightly lower, at 48 percent.)

What is even worse is that the subsidies are suddenly and completely cut off once somebody reaches 400 percent of the official poverty-level income ($63,360 in 2016). The arithmetic is complicated, but what it means is that two unmarried persons earning $32,000 each ($64,000 total) would pay a maximum combined $5,684 in premiums, but if they got married, they would pay about $15,000. That is an astonishing penalty of 164 percent. It is almost impossible to imagine a policy that could be any more anti-family than that.

Again, that was for middle-income earners receiving government subsidies in lieu of employer tax breaks for insurance. Now consider a high-earning couple. The Senate bill imposes a payroll tax increase on individuals who make more than $200,000. For married couples, though, the tax increase kicks in at $250,000. So, if you live together without matrimony, you can earn up to $400,000 combined without the higher tax – $150,000 more than you can earn together if you are married. At a maximum of $1,350, this marriage penalty through taxation isn’t anywhere near as damaging as the $9,316 knockout punch via lost subsidies for the $64,000 couple described above, but it’s still nothing to take lightly.”

And, they didn’t take out their Anti trust ban to stop these Insurance companies from gouging because of Monoplies in each state, or open up cross state Insurance.

With a mandate, Insurance companies are guaranteed tens of millions more, and can further over charge and gouge, because no one will have a choice. As a matter of fact, they should not mandate it so the insurance companies work to get more insured. But Democrats just keep showing their real intentions. No competition, no price caps, no negotiating, tax tax and tax and we aren’t getting a thing but worse service and higher costs.
EllenD

I have no idea why Democrats would follow the corporation-loving healthcare model of Massachusetts – a health plan drafted by Republicans.
I’m a Linda too

OK, well this pretty much says it all. Big Pharma confirming their secret meetings with the WH and the WH ASSURANCES that they will extend their name brand lock for 12 years.

Now that House is negotiating and rumors are they might reduce the years previous agreed for name brand drugs.

This is THEIVERY and down right corruption. Think of those promises Obama and Democrats made. ”just get us the majority…elect me”

January 15, 2010
Drug industry lobby threatens to pull health care bill support
Posted: January 15th, 2010 06:59 PM ET

From CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash
A powerful interest group is threatening to drop its support for health care reform legislation.

Washington (CNN) – The lead lobbying arm of the drug industry is threatening to pull its support for health care legislation if Democrats reduce protections for brand name biologic drugs.

In an e-mail obtained by CNN, Billy Tauzin, the top executive of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), told board members that “we could not support the bill” if Democrats reduce the number of years that brand name biologic drugs can keep their patents. Tauzin’s email was also a call to action, saying “please activate immediately all of your contacts.”

(Read the full e-mail after the jump)

PhRMA fought hard for language that passed both the House and Senate health care bills, stating that patents for brand name biologic drugs are protected for 12 years before generic companies would be permitted to make less expensive versions. Biologics are drugs made from living organisms to prevent and treat diseases like arthritis and diabetes.

full article here
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/15/drug-industry-lobby-threatens-to-pull-health-care-bill-support/
SHV

“protected for 12 years before generic companies would be permitted to make less expensive versions.”
********
The 12 years before generic is not the big deal, that Obama probably negotiated for Pharma support. It’s the so-called “evergreen” provisions. These allow the drug companies to make very minor modifications to the biological drug and the 12 years “clock” resets. The drugs are therefore “evergreen” they never go off patent and no gereric, ever.
Patience

Thanks all for the info about the drug provisions in the legislation. It’s absolutely astounding. W-T-F is happening here, when drug prices are a huge reason why healthcare spending keeps spiraling upward?

This is beyond shameful, it’s criminal.
guest

Maybe the marriage penalty is their way of supporting the gay and lesbian population.
snosandy

I knew big pharma was in bed with the administration when out of the blue several months ago there were television ads sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies praising our two democrat state senators. I thought it was disgusting then and knew what would be following…
Docelder

ANd the new drugs don’t have to be better, or even be as good as the generic one was. The pharmas test their own drugs and the FDA gives them whatever their own tests reveal. Notice how much of the time you wind up getting one of the drugs has it’s name on the paper pads, the pens, or the kleenex boxes.
Kathy in CA

No one will pay those kind of premiums for health care. A family making over 400% of the poverty level cannot afford 15k on health insurance. Heck, they cant even afford to pay for gas. I keep scratching my head as to why anyone thinks this bill should be passed. But then again, probably those that cannot afford those kinds of premiums are not aware of what really is being proposed. Honestly, I hope Brown wins MA, just so the Dems who are at risk to lose their seats this coming Nov. will decide not to vote for it. This sham of a bill has to be stopped, effective immediately.
Peggy Sue

This is the kind back and forth debate that’s been missing in this whole healthcare fiasco. I’ve heard some MA residents who say the state program is something they appreciate [although most admit the costs are a raunway train]. And then other residents, who say what this poster has indicated: less coverage, higher costs and lousy access.

The current HCR bill seems to be a hydra monster that takes all the worst of the MA system and revs up the cost 10 fold. The recent compromise with the unions is an utter outrage: preferential treatment if you’re on the Adminstration’s favored list. Sweetheart deals to get a package passed, any package regardless of how awful.

And for the rest of us: screw you.

I’m a Democrat. But this has to stop and be stopped. As much empathy as I have for Coakley [I really think she's being used as a convenient throw away and no, she hasn't helped her cause one bit], if I were a MA resident?

I’d vote for Brown, who is fairly liberal on the social issues and fiscally conservative. I hope he’s the real deal because if elected and he too pivots on his campaign positions?

He’ll be gone in two years.
I’m a Linda too

And yet these Democrats want to MANDATE to purchase insurance at these kind of rates.
I’m a Linda too

And if you don’t buy it, penalties and jail.
I’m a Linda too

lol what an optimist!
elaine

I’d like to see Pelosi have to get by on 25K a yr & fork out 3K for health insurance & not even get to write it off as an expense. That would be fun to watch
mountainaires

Talk about a disconnect!!! Coakley goes down to DC for a big fundraiser with Big Insurance and Big Pharma, right? So, here’s what Gibbs says about Brown:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/obama-to-campaign-in-massachusetts-on-sunday/?hp

The president, when he speaks in Boston on Sunday, will outline the gravity of the election for Democrats, aides said, and highlight what he believes are significant differences between the candidates.
“I think the president sees a pretty clear distinction between a candidate in Martha Coakley, who’s going to fight for Massachusetts, and a candidate on the other side, who feels comfortable fighting for the insurance industry and big banks,” Mr. Gibbs said, offering a preview of the president’s message on Sunday.

Are they insane? Do they really think no one will NOTICE?
And Chuck Schumer has now called Brown a “tea-bagger.” Thus earning my complete contempt for Democrats!
Jim S

Massachusetts health plan was written by the Democrats but signed into law by Romney. The problem with the Mass law is that it became a dumping ground for every crazy mandate they could think of. The cost has almost tripled over the original estimations which is what the federal plan will do to. $800 billion over 10 years, more likely $2.5-$3 Trillion. Totally unsustainable. Go back to the drawing board, start with uniform coverage between states (portability)and the removal of the existing conditions clause and then wait to see what happens.
Jim S

The new negotiations with the unions have cost Pharma 5 years off their exemption. Obama tossed them under the bus to kiss the asses of the union. Pharma will be going back to rethink their agreement and may pull their endorsement of the health plan.
Proud Military Mom

Having spent the better part of last year in my old home state of Taxachusetts I can tell you that the commenter is absolutely correct.
Folks who manage to jump through all the hoops and get state coverage then find that doctors are not accepting new patients with the state insurance. If they find a doc- wait times for an initial appt can be up to 18 months!

I think many many MA voters (my niece being one example) are going Brown as they see the damage the filibuster prooof majority is causing. No debate, everything done behind closed doors and screw the voters.

Guess that “Hope and Change” is not working out so well.
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Clara

That ad is still running in my state.
Texas Playwright

There is usually an example of what NOT to do–and our neighbors in MA have healthcare that is clearly not working. We must stop this outrageous abuse of our civil liberties and theft of our economy election by election.

Go, Scott, go!
Betty

I’m with you Jim S. Why couldn’t they do that? If they were going to ram something through why not that?

And maybe mandate that triple the number of doctors and other health care workers are trained each year instead of planning to use death panels and care rationing. I am sure the American people wouldn’t mind subsidizing even more then they already are the training of health care professionals.
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lightacandle

(excerpt from http://tinyurl.com/yjmuvkr)

- – - – -
One month after the September 11th attacks, Scott Brown was one of only three Massachusetts State Representatives to vote against a bill to provide financial assistance to Red Cross workers who had volunteered with 9/11 recovery efforts, we’ve learned.
The Brown campaign acknowledged the vote to us, claiming the measure would have taxed already-strained state finances. [...]
On October 17th, 2001, Brown voted against a bill that would authorize “leaves of absence for certain Red Cross employees participating in Red Cross emergencies.” The bill gave 15 days of paid leave each year to state workers called up by the Red Cross to respond to disasters. At the time, state workers called for such emergencies were required to use sick and vacation days.
This suggests an almost-stunning callousness. It’s all the more galling that Brown knew it was going to pass — 148 to 3 — but opposed it anyway, just to make a point.

I shudder to think what Republicans would say about a Democratic lawmaker who cast a vote like this just a month after the 9/11 attacks

The Brown campaign has said the vote was about fiscal responsibility — Massachusetts couldn’t afford assistance for Red Cross workers who had volunteered with 9/11 recovery efforts.
Sassy

Thank you Ani. I know you have been very involved with Ms. Coakley’s run.
Ben, your comment is very timely, and your experiences are believable.
TennCare, of my state, is also an example of failure in government run healthcare.
Costs sky-rocketed almost immediately and nearly destroyed the state’s budget.
The stories of people who had to be removed from the rolls were heartbreaking, and most of their appeals failed.
We are all going to face rising costs, fewer services and choices if the democratic plan succeeds.
creeper

I dug a little deeper into this after seeing your comment. Found this:

“On October 17th, 2001, Brown voted against a bill that would authorize “leaves of absence for certain Red Cross employees participating in Red Cross emergencies.” The bill gave 15 days of paid leave each year to state workers called up by the Red Cross to respond to disasters. At the time, state workers called for such emergencies were required to use sick and vacation days.”

here: http://www.alan.com/2010/01/15/ma-senate-hopeful-scott-brown-voted-against-relief-for-911-recovery-workers/

That left me wondering…if a state is going to pay people for working for the Red Cross, are they actually volunteers? I mean, doesn’t the term “volunteer” imply some sacrifice?

The bill Brown voted against was introduced before 9/11 and doesn’t appear to have been going anywhere until the twin towers fell. Massachusetts was bleeding money at the time. Suddenly politicians had a chance to score points by spending even more money.

It looks to me like Scott Brown is a guy who refuses to play games with taxpayers’ money. More power to him.
snosandy

If he is elected and his constituents don’t like how he votes, they can vote him back out in two short years. A super majority Senate will over tax our entire country’s already strained finances.
lightacandle

Yes, I do think anyone who went to the destroyed World Trade Towers to try to help pull bodies from the still-burning rubble WAS VOLUNTEERING in the best sense of the word.
lightacandle

I want the current healthcare legislation to die as much as any anti-Coakley person here does, but I have to say a lot of the commentary on the Mass. election sounds an awful like the commentary directed against Hillary on behalf of Obama’s candidacy during the presidential primaries. Hillary, also, wasn’t perfect enough, so a “new broom” was needed, remember?

Forget that an awful lot of people are ignoring what ELSE Scott Brown is for or against; as long as he’s against this legislation, they will support him.

I can only say to be careful what you wish for.

I am absolutely opposed to the current healthcare legislation, BUT I do want the government to do more to regulate healthcare costs and premiums. I wish our government would go the single -payer route to healthcare or, if that is not possible, the government must at least offer its’ own insurance plan, otherwise identified as the public option.

Scott Brown wants no part of any government role in seeing to it that Americans have decent and affordable healthcare.

So, yes, he’ll vote to kill this legislation, but what will he vote to kill next?

Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security?

A woman’s right to an abortion?

Be careful what you wish for; you may get something other than what you hoped for.
oowawa

I keep scratching my head as to why anyone thinks this bill should be passed.

Because it’s Historic! It’s all about Thee One, who, as you might have noticed, is also Way Historic. A Historic Man needs Historic Stuff to proove His Historicness.
QueenOfHearts

I’ve seen this misunderstanding multiple times from multiple posters lately. Senators serve a term of six years (roughly one-third up for reelection in any given election cycle), while Representatives serve a two-year term, and must be reelected each and every election cycle.
Guest

The winner of the special election will serve until the end of Kennedy’s term in January 2013.
getfitnow

Peggy Sue, your last sentence should be brought home to every representative. We put you in and we can take you out!
typical gram cracker

Seems you have the misunderstanding Queenie! Ted Kennedy’s 6 year term would have been over in 2012. Thus the election next week is to elect a Senator to complete Ted’s 6 year term. There will be another election for that Senate seat in 2012.

Think about it, Roland Burris was appointed to complete Obama’s 6 year term which began in 2004. That Senate seat is up for election for a 6 year term in 2010. That is why Burris will not be a Senator for 6 years from the year in which he was appointed.
getfitnow

It is amazing. Coakley is being funded by “big money”. Brown has gotten very little from the RNC and the like . I think he’s glad. I heard him say yesterday, he’s not beholden to anybody. I also saw that his average donation is about $78.
getfitnow

What does Hillary Clinton have to do with this? It’s time for the lock stepping to stop!
lightacandle

My point is that the anger, here, against anyone who tries to say anything positive about Coakley or negative about Brown gets treated and awful lot like we got treated during the primaries when we said anything positive about Hillary or anything negative about Obama.

Are you trying to shut me up?
I’m a Linda too

It it is criminal to pass. DO YOU HEAR FEINGOLD, CRIMINAL!
fsteele

The Dims will pass their HC one way or another: 51 votes, or delaying seating of Brown, or some GOP will conveniently forget to show up for the filibuster.

Coakley supported Hillary in Denver and has worked for years for womens and pro-choice causes. She used her influence to get Stupak’s amendment out of the final HC bill.
Mark

“Be careful what you wish for; you may get something other than what you hoped for.”

You should be telling that to those who voted for Obama.
Mark

“My point is that the anger, here, against anyone who tries to say anything positive about Coakley ”

So? Go to Media Matters and gritch.
bamaLV

now that most folks know the true meaning of the expression “teabagger”, are there any bigger “teabaggers” than the democrats? this from a former democrat.
annienyc

I’m in MASS volunteering right now. About to go door to door. I’ve just written a quick post on why dems should vote for Brown. God i hope he wins. If anyone here lives in or next to MASS. We need more volunteers.

http://annienyc.blogspot.com/2010/01/5-reasons-for-democrats-to-vote-for.html
PortiaElizabeth

Queen — this is a special election to fill the seat held by Teddy Kennedy for the rest of what would have been his term. That ends in 2 years. Whoever gets elected at the end of Kennedy’s term will serve 6 years.
annienyc

I am 100000000% Hillary supporter, and I hate to see hatred directed at Coakley. And if that’s what people do, then it’s no different (well, almost no different) than what was done to Hillary. That being said, I am 100% wanting Scott Brown to win. I don’t think people have to hate Coakley in order to vote for Brown, i hope people realize that. It’s not about COAKLEY, I wish people would realize that. It’s SCOTT BROWN, SCOTT BROWN, SCOTT BROWN. VOTE SCOTT BROWN and burn OBAMA.
bamaLV

i wonder how many people who are for this POS H/C bill, realize that many of them would have to go on medicaid. good luck finding a doctor who will take it.
PortiaElizabeth

Annie — good for you! You have my admiration. I wish I could do that; however, in 2008 I made calls for Hillary. After a very rude man in WV excoriated me for bothering him and swore at me even though I apologized profusely, I realized I’m too thin-skinned to have doors slammed in my face. I did donate to his campaign, but I’m not as brave as you. Good luck!!
lightacandle

I supported Hillary.

But you are acting just like the Obama supporters did.
lightacandle

What the heck is the matter with you?

Only peopole who agree with you and hate Coakley can come to this site now?
stodghie

light a candle, i voted for hillary and i oppose this woman. so what? trying to link it to this and that won’t work. martha is running and not hillary. i don’t see people bashing her for being a woman.
margaret

I like Brown but he is not socially liberal. He sponsored a bill to allow Catholic hospitals to refuse the morning after pill to rape victims, and he’s anti-choice. It is sort of making me sick that in spite of this I will not be able to bring myself to pull the lever for Coakley. I’ve never just stayed home – considering what the suffragists went through to get me the right to vote. But I don’t know what to do this time.
stodghie

stop using feminism as an excuse for your comments. i don’t like martha because she is a bad candidate supporting very bad legislation. i don’t see people on here knocking her as a woman. that is as bad as o’s phony racism charges.
margaret

Annie, I am so with you, I so want to burn Obama by voting Scott Brown. I’m just having trouble because of the bill Brown sponsored to permit Catholic hospitals to deny the morning after pill to rape victims. At the same time, I can’t vote for Coakley and enable the Obama disaster. Do you have disagreements with Scott Brown’s positions, and if so, how are you reconciling yourself to them? I tell myself that with a Democratic majority he can’t pass bills harming women. But what if later down the road he is still in the seat and he’s able to do so then? Not sure how to live with that if I vote him in… Would appreciate any thoughts you have on this…
lightacandle

I was referring to the attacks, here, on anyone who says anything positive about Coakley and negative about Brown.
Sassy

Coakley has supporters here, and many others are interested in her campaign.
As the youngest of six girls, mother of a daughter, and grandmother of two grandaughters I will go to the mat for women.
My vote, though, is for intelligence, competence, and integrity.
Don’t overlook the fact that male candidates have wives and daughters.
Anonymous

Margaret, Where may I find further information on this “morning after” stuff?
lightacandle

And I guess you like Scott Brown’s stances on abortion, gay rights, and gun ownership?

I guess you like his view that government SHOULD regulate a woman’s body for her.

Scott Brown believes marriage is between a woman and a man.

He also believes gun ownership is a Constitutional right that should not be regulated
Animal Control

Margaret, Where may I find further information on this “morning after” stuff?
Animal Control

Are they insane?

This is rhetorical, right mountainaires?
Guest

Obama will be out of office before he can really cement this in. The masses that voted him in will be disenfranchised with the lack of instantaneous change and will not stick to it when in reality this system he’s proposing will take ten to twenty years to set up fully. Yay bureaucracy.

They’ll vote a bunch of republicans in, who will take it back down, and we won’t have to worry about it anymore.

So pass or block, he won’t be able to pull this over, and there’ll likely be a jointly authored moderate bill introduced that will keep the government out of our business…
lightacandle

Good grief, how soon some forget the past.

Rudy Giuliani — who claims there were NO terrorist attacks while George W. Bush was president (I guess Rudy’s forgotten 9/11) — is campaigning in Mass. for Scott Brown.

Yeah, that’s just what I want in the U.S. Senate — someone who is endorsed by crazy Rudy Giuliani.
TeakWoodKite

Creeper, great point. Love to see what your Avatar “thinks”.
Babs

I have been reading that Scott Brown is pro-choice, with reservations such as late term abortions. Where did you guys read that he is “anti-choice”?
lightacandle

– from Scott Brown’s official website:

“I believe government has the responsibility to regulate in this area and I support parental consent and notification requirements and I oppose partial birth abortion.”

http://www.brownforussenate.com/issues
Animal Control

Babs, good luck getting an answer to your question.
Babs

In addition to what I posted before, Brown also opposes cap and trade, and is in favor of tightening border security before any talk of amnesty for illegals. So, I’m a Dem, he’s a Republican, but I agree with him on many of the issues. I am done supporting candidates simply because of gender or the letter behind his or her name, and if I lived in Massachusetts my vote would go to Scott Brown.
TeakWoodKite

What gitfitnow said, LightaCandle. Respectfully, I get your point about the level of disdain toward Coakley, but think it is secondary for me in this case.
1) She sold out the great majority of Women voters for sake of winning a primary. Women need to increase their numbers in Congress and the administration to gain better representation. That said, putting side by side AG Coakley and SOS Clinton, is a fruitless effort.
2) The 40th vote.
3) The 40th vote.
See what I mean?
felizarte

For me, it is about not giving one party complete control of policy without benefit of proper debate IN THE OPEN especially when that one party has shown, so many number of times, that they think they know best and refuse to listen to their constituency on how they want to be governed. CHECKS and BALANCES as prescribed in the Constitution is greatly at stake in this special election. It will be the first log to rebuild that dam.
lightacandle

Well, in addition to many here, Wall St. is certainly happy with Scott Brown’s politics:

——————

“Wall Street Investors Lavish Scott Brown’s Campaign With Money, Get Out The Vote Operations”

State Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), the Republican candidate running for the special U.S. Senate election next week, announced yesterday that he would oppose the recently announced financial crisis responsibility fee on large banks.

Brown’s defense of the financial industry has not been ignored by Wall Street. Wall Street’s two largest political enforcers are also out fighting to elect him:

http://tinyurl.com/yayfwo3

——————
Yes, the Wall St. money is pouring in to help Scott Brown.
felizarte

Nobody is trying to shut you up. You still get your posts up, don’t you? If you are intent on stopping the current HC plan, wouldn’t you want to use everything and everyone to accomplish it? As to the other issues, let’s cross those bridges when we get to it. Other people and other things will be there to be availed of.
Steel Magnolia

Oh, Obama’s friends? He must have given them the green light to donate.
lightacandle

They are NO one’s friends; they will donate to anyone they believe will be on THEIR side.

They are vultures.

They are up to no good when they donate to Obama, and they are up to no good when they donate to Scott Brown.

For god’s sake, get a grip.
lightacandle

– from:

——–
“In 2005, Brown pushed to allow doctors and nurses to turn away rape victims from Mass. emergency rooms if they didn’t want to give rape victims emergency contraception.”

http://tinyurl.com/yjzlo9z

————————————–
Brown also sponsored the

“Women’s Right to Know Act, which would require a woman to wait 24 hours before having an abortion and to review pictures and information detailing the developmental progress of her fetus.”

http://tinyurl.com/yzrbmcj
lightacandle

– from: http://tinyurl.com/yzrbmcj

————————————

Brown, a state senator from Wrentham, picked up the support of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life in this race, based on his position on issues including abortion, stem cells, and federal health legislation. He also opposes federal funding for abortion, supports strong parental consent rules for minors, and supports the ban on what opponents call partial-birth abortion.

“We’re behind him,’’ said John Rowe, chairman of the group’s federal political action committee. “The pro-life vote is very important at this point. It can make a big difference.’’
jangles

Maybe those brown wall st. guys can duke it out with coakley’s health and pharma insurance guys
buzzlatte

After reading all of the posts, it’s a Scott Brown world on so many levels.

You may not like some of the pieces, but the total picture is that Brown’s message is more on track with the mood of the nation.

Politico (I think) has a poll about this election really being a national statement. 98% agreed with that premise.

This is no longer a woman’s issues race or about continuing the Kennedy legacy. It’s all about the people being heard and sending a clear message to Obama and his left of left government.

A Scott Brown win will make it clear that Democratic shenanigans are no longer the business as usual. Remember the largest voting block are now the independents in MA and they overwhelmingly support Brown.

If you want to piss off a whole nation, then haul in SEIU and ACORN and steal the election for Coakley. No one is going to pin that on the GOP.
buzzlatte

Note: The poll IS at Politico

http://politico.com/

It’s down the page on the right side.
buzzlatte

The poll is now at 87% agree that the Brown vs Coakley election is a national statement.

http://politico.com/

down the page and on the right hand side.
TeakWoodKite

StAte AG’s Martha Coakley’s warp drive failed her.
Beachnan

I hear you light a candle. I too want Brown to win, because of the health bill, but I do not believe that Martha Coakley is evil incarnate. She has made mistakes, but nobody is perfect. I’m sure that Brown will disappoint us at some point, but unfortunately for Martha, this bill is too important to many of us, and we want it defeated. You don’t need to go to Media Matters. We need to hear your voice too.
buzzlatte

Oh, no! Now Coakley’s campaign has pissed of United Parcel Service.

Seems one of their ads portraying Brown like a UPS guy is an infringement of copywrite laws.

What’s that whistling sound? Coakley’s campaign falling into the depths of hell?

http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/
Guest

A close loss as well as a win for Brown will no doubt spook other Dems into rethinking their vote on heathcare...
PortiaElizabeth

margaret — if you’ll permit me, I want to express my thoughts on this subject. I think the topic of administering the after-pill is rightly a judgment call by Catholic hospitals. The Catholic Church is pro-life, so it would be the height of hypocrisy for them to treat with a drug specifically designed to end a possible life. Certainly there are many hospitals which would not be influenced by the Catholic Church. A private hospital IMHO has the right to refuse to give out this treatment if it goes against their core beliefs.

I have a problem with the death penalty laws, and while I’m not equating the two issues, I try to look at a broader picture of a candidate’s platform than just a single issue. I’m sure everyone has differences about what is or isn’t morally acceptable, but as mentioned elsewhere, we have to choose our battles one at a time. Right now the salient points are healthcare and spending. If we can get those under control, there is a better chance we can make progress in other important areas.
jangles

I think the Catholic church in operating Catholic hospitals has a religious freedom right to practice what it preaches. Why would anyone who wanted the after pill or an abortion go to a Catholic health facility? If on the other hand the hospital takes public funds, it is a different matter. They have to make a choice and stick to it.
CentralMass

Brown voted for Mass HealthCare back in 2006 as one of our State Senators.
CentralMass

Brown voted for it.
Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

Margaret, you may be interested in this information on Brown from the Spectator: By Massachusetts standards, he is a fairly conservative candidate. Although pro-choice, Brown opposes partial-birth abortion and favors other abortion restrictions. He has promised to be a 41st vote against the Democratic health care bill, considered a major part of Kennedy’s legacy. Brown is against same-sex marriage, for Obama’s decision to send additional troops to Afghanistan, and a supporter of the Iraq war — the last two unpopular stances, but ones where Brown has some credibility as a 30-year veteran of the National Guard and lieutenant colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
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SteveW, Ohio

Let me underline this… for two people each earning $32K/yr (about $16/hr, about 2x min wage), the lost subsidy marriage penalty here is $9316 PER YEAR, each and every year that they stay married.

And to the guest ust above – the marriage penalty isn’t their way of supporting GLBT people, instead, their support for GLBT mariage is their way of increasing the numer of people they can rip off!
SteveW, Ohio

Margaret, imagine you’re a teacher of High School history. Now imagine that the Federal Government required you to teach Mein Kampf to your students, to “make that [viewpoint] available..” even though you are strenuously opposed to it.

Catholic hospitals are owned by the Catholic Church. Their decisions about what procedures to offer patients SHOULD be protected by “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” – you know, the “Separation of Church & State”. To the Catholic Chrch, abortion is as evil as Mein Kampf. Forcing Catholic hospitals to offer abortion is as wrong as forcing teachers to READ Mein Kampf o their students.

Liberalism will survive Scott Brown, go ahead and pull the lever for him!
SteveW, Ohio

Hey, twelve whole months after the Obamanauguration, and the Left is STILL blaming this economy on Bush. So, Rudy G’s simply applying the Left’s math to the 9/11 bombing….. just 7-1/2 months into Bush’s term, it must have been Clinton’s fault.

When Brown wins, and the Lib media spins this as “The New Boston Tea Party” with every crude reference to “teabagging” they can toss in… I’ll be proud to say that today I stood on the same side as the original American Heroes of the first Boston Tea Party!

Massachussetts, honor your BTP legacy, Vote BROWN Today!