Tag Archives: Health Care

Brendan Steinhauser and I speaking from the Capitol

Posted on March 22, 2010 by | 1 Comment

My colleague Brendan Steinhauser and I had the opportunity to address the 30+ thousand people that showed up at the Capitol on Saturday to fight against Obamacare 2.0.

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Unloading after this weekend

Posted on November 10, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Yes, you all know that the monstrosity of a health care bill made it through the house late Saturday night. It was bi-partisan… in that ONE Republican – Anh Joseph Cao – decided to become a One Term Representative by voting for it.

Meanwhile, 39 Democrats voted AGAINST it, bringing the final vote to 220 – 215. Aren’t you glad a full 1/6 of our economy passed with such a decisive victory? I know that’s at least a comfort. The true bi-partisanship was in the opposition.

In my opinion, the Stupak Amendment put it over the top. It was the amendment that placed limitations on abortions. Which sounds like a good thing, right? In this case it so wasn’t. All it did was give the fence-sitters cover. They could vote for it with a clean conscience, and a lot of them did. Obviously. Joke’s on them though, because the amendment will probably be done away with in committee.

Well done, GOP.

I’m not going to lie, the defeat stung. We busted our tails – all of us. I was amazed at how many people turned. And a vote that close renders it that much harder to force through in the Senate. I hate to say it’ll never go through, because honestly, things stopped surprising me a long time ago. They forced this victory. They postponed until enough votes could be hustled… and make no mistake, that’s how all the last minute votes were pulled together. If it were a slam dunk they would certainly not have postponed the vote, brought Obama in for a pep rally, or anything of the sort.

One thing I can say is that it was the first thing to bring Republicans together in a long time. Who knew that many had a back bone? I won’t give them too much credit – they’re realizing how much power we have. A lot of it is a political move. But regardless, they’ve decided to listen. Too bad the Democrats don’t care.

After Thursday, I was totally wiped out, but Rep. King called for another rally at the Capitol on Saturday. A ton of GOP Representatives were there, and there was a great crowd for less than a day’s notice. Here are some of the photos:

Two of my favorite women. Clearly a serious moment.

Two of my favorite women. Clearly a serious moment.

Pretty shot of Michele Bachmann

Pretty shot of Michele Bachmann

They unraveled the bill - pages stuck end to end - and it ran along the entire lawn all the way up the stairs into the building.

They unraveled the bill - pages stuck end to end - and it ran along the entire lawn all the way up the stairs into the building.

Three copies of the monstrosity.

Three copies of the monstrosity.

Rep. Shaddegg got riled up and chucked it from the podium. I had my Flip. :)

Tabitha and Michele Bachmann

Tabitha and Michele Bachmann

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Posted in Democrats, GOP, Politics, Tea Parties

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Michele Bachmann's House Call. And My Job Shouldn't Exist.

Posted on November 5, 2009 by | 4 Comments

I have some seriously mixed emotions right now. Today was amazing. I was blown away by the shift in the GOP Representatives. There were so many who were FINALLY getting it. It was like they realized we weren’t going away, and they’d better get on board. It’s about time. I have been busting my tail all week to help anyone I could help with logistics. This was an odd event in that no one was really in charge. Rep. Bachmann (who I have openly admitted to having a girl crush on) announced it, a few talk show hosts and Fox News supported it, and we came. Oh, we came.

Wide_Crowd_Shot

Amazingly, most people were on message today. Which is always impressive, because a lot of the time people choose their pet issues and make a sign about it. And then I’m like, um. This is about taxes, why are we talking about marriage again? Anyway, with the exception of the total whackjobs that were dressed as demons torturing Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in the fires of hell, I was pretty impressed with the focus.

The crowd estimates ranged from 20k to 30k – which was amazing considering there was a five day notice. I spent the first part of the day elated. I was so thrilled that so many people saw the importance of just showing up. But I’ve been thinking about my job lately, and about what people give to be at these things – it’s not cheap, and no, we’re not paying anyone’s way. No one forced these people on to the streets or to wait in line for hours to meet their representatives.

Cannon_Building

My job, in short, should not exist. At all. There should not be organizations that do nothing but babysit the government. We shouldn’t even have to say things like “Spending a trillion dollars is a bad idea”… you’d think that would be common sense. Obviously that is not the case. I’ve heard so many stories of people who have drained savings accounts, taken off work, run up credit cards… anything they could do to get here. And it really makes me sad that we’re at the point where people HAVE to do that. Why should we have to bring thousands and thousands of people to their doorstep and figuratively bang down their doors to get them to listen? It’s a sad state of affairs.

I hate that I have to do what I do. To be completely honest, I would not have chosen to live in Washington at all. This city has never been on my radar. I’d be completely content back home in NC with my friends and family. But I have to be here. And so do so many others. And it sucks.

Days like today give me hope. This is honestly the first time that I’ve ever really felt like they were listening. The GOP representatives couldn’t jump on board fast enough. So many spoke to us and supported what we were doing.

A powerful moment for me was when I went with a New Jersey constituent to meet with his representative – a squishy Republican named Leonard Lance. He voted for TARP. He voted for Cap and Trade. He seemed shaky and almost scared when we entered his office. Everyone there could not have been nicer. He was happy to let us all come in, even though we weren’t in his district. He looked at us and said “Your voices are being heard. I’m going to vote no.” I was blown away.

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All in all, what we’re doing is working. I have no doubt in my mind that the Representatives have heard us, and they’re afraid to ignore us anymore. This is not about this bill or that bill or any particular Representative or Senator. It’s not about Obama. It’s not about Nancy Pelosi. As much as she makes my skin crawl.

It’s about freedom. It’s about liberty. It’s about people who want their kids to be free. That’s why we show up.

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Posted in conservatives, Democrats, Politics

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Those dirty rotten insurance companies…

Posted on October 5, 2009 by | 2 Comments

From Reuters:

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Connecticut attorney general is seeking information about what the state’s five largest health insurers may have sent policyholders over legislation that would reform the Medicare program for the elderly.

The information requests announced on Friday follow a U.S. government probe announced last month into a letter sent from Humana Inc (HUM.N) to its Medicare members that caused a stir on Capitol Hill.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wants information from Aetna Inc (AET.N), UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N), Health Net (HNT.N), WellPoint Inc’s (WLP.N) Anthem Health Plans unit and ConnectiCare Inc.

Let me summarize: The Attorney General of Connecticut was irritated that Humana had the audacity to inform its members of relevant legislative changes, and wants to ensure that the other insurance companies are staying in line.

To quote the President – let’s be clear about this… it’s purely a way for the state to monitor private industry. It’s part of the game. They’re finding ways to demonize the companies and shut them down. It’s a way to limit your options, Connecticut.

Eliminating options seems to be a pattern. There is a HuffPo piece (yes, click at your own risk)  that refers to the battle between public and private insurers “political extortion”.  Seriously?

The fiscal truth of the matter is Medicare cannot afford to continue to give away $169 billion dollars of taxpayer funds to America’s insurance industry. The industry is quick to highlight extra benefits provided to MA beneficiaries (such as eyeglasses, dental coverage, and gym memberships) but why shouldn’t these benefits be provided to all seniors, not just those in private plans?

First of all, this begs the obvious: we can’t afford to subsidize… but we can afford to provide a public option that gives everyone those benefits? Um…

Second – it shouldn’t be provided to all seniors because some people pay more. All health care is not created equal. Medicare Advantage is a higher level of care. If seniors want to pay more and have more benefits, they should have that choice.

Ed Morrissey asks:

Do you recall the many occasions when Barack Obama said, “If you like your current plan, you can keep it”? Why doesn’t that apply to Medicare Advantage consumers?

Because it’s not true, Ed. That’s why. It’s another step in systematically eliminating options. Everyone gets care… the same sub-par care. Even when they’re willing to pay for better.

Awesome.

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Posted in Congress, Health Care, Policy Issues, Politics

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Letters to Sebeilius: Drop the gag order.

Posted on September 25, 2009 by | 2 Comments

Who knew they still had a spine?

Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) — Senate Republicans vowed to block President Barack Obama’s nominee for surgeon general and other health officials unless the government drops what they said is a “gag order” barring insurers from lobbying their Medicare policyholders on the health-insurance overhaul.

The move by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and seven other Republicans would delay confirmation of almost a dozen nominees for Health and Human Services positions, including Dr. Regina Benjamin to become surgeon general.

“Until your department rescinds its gag order and allows seniors to receive information about matters before Congress, we will not consent” to move forward with the confirmations, the eight Republicans said in a letter today to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

How’s that whole transparency thing working out, huh? I’m actually kind of shocked that they called it what it is – a gag order. What else can you really call legally silencing a private company?

Humana has every right in the world to disseminate information to their insured. In fact, they have an OBLIGATION to do so! There are Clintonian rules still in place that allow insurers keep their insured informed about legislative changes.

But why on earth would the one calling for dialogue and action work so hard to shut down opposing voices? Easy: the facts are inconvenient. The “solution” driven left seems to ignore the fact that there are ethics involved. That maybe companies have a reponsibility to let the people that rely on them for their health care know that their coverage may be affected.

“Republicans jeopardize their own credibility when they choose to defend big insurance companies trying to make false claims about senior citizens,” Schultz said.

Except… they may not actually be false. No one can seem to prove otherwise. Instead of doing so, they issue nothing short of a gag order to keep the whole thing under wraps, and hope it goes away.

Read the letter to Sebelius here. Yes, that’s Grassley’s signature… I was surprised too.

My bet? They’re hanging on by a thread, desperately trying to sell this false ideological argument, and praying that the short attention span of the general public allows this to slip through.

Don’t let it happen.

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Posted in Congress, Democrats, GOP, Health Care, Obama, Policy Issues, Politics

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But of COURSE conservatives are paranoid!

Posted on September 24, 2009 by | 4 Comments

Remember all the outcry when we raised hell about President Obama’s address to students? Our concerns were “baseless“. We’re clearly nothing but “paranoid right wing nut jobs“. And of course, don’t forget RAAAACIST!! Fine, other Presidents have spoken to students before. THAT is not what we took issue with! How many Presidents issued study guides? And how many treated everything the President said as fact? I wrote about this yesterday:

So much for objectivity, right? As I said yesterday, the things that are being presented as fact are, well, not so much fact. When the experts are still hotly debating the legislation, and there can be no clear answers derived from the bill itself, it is NOT fact. Go read this, from HSLDA.

The most interesting thing about the abortion issue? BOTH sides are protesting! The right is angry because they believe it IS included, and the left is angry for the opposite reason. The wording is SO loose that no one actually knows what’s in it. The fact that a teacher presumes to know the truth and teach it to the class as fact is inexcusable. Of course, abortion is NOT the only issue. The rest of the numbers used are skewed at best, if not flat out wrong. Such as the number of people who are uninsured, which mysteriously changes. This is EXACTLY the issue we were concerned about. Then yesterday, this video was released (which I’m sure most of you have seen by now): So this is all after the fact. Are we just looking for things to justify our accusations after the fact? No. My first cue that there would be indoctrination of children involved was this: THIS IS NOT NORMAL. And parents are right to object. When there are teachers like Diantha Harris around, there is a justifiable concern for parents who are sending their children to public school every day. So lefties, keep your head in the sand. Pretend your children are independent thinkers. But if you think your 5 year old has the intellect and wit to out-think an authority figure and come to their own conclusions regarding the President of the United States, I feel for your child.

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Posted in Abortion, Education, General Controversy, Health Care, Obama, Policy Issues, Politics

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Killing private insurers… it begins.

Posted on September 22, 2009 by | 2 Comments

From the Wall Street Journal:

Earlier this month, Humana sent a one-page letter to its customers enrolled in its Medicare Advantage plans, which offer private options to Medicare beneficiaries. Humana noted that, because of spending cuts proposed by Democrats, “millions of seniors and disabled individuals could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage health plans so valuable.” The Kentucky-based company also urged its customers to contact their Representatives. Pretty tame stuff, as these things go.

Tame, yes. Also true.  So there’s that. Humana was audacious enough to call out the Baucus plan for the potential danger to seniors. We wouldn’t want people knowing what the Baucus plan would actually do to private insurers, now would we?! Therefore, Baucus declared war.

“It is wholly inappropriate for insurance companies to mislead seniors regarding any subject—particularly on a subject as important to them, and to the nation, as health-care reform,” Mr. Baucus said in a statement yesterday, playing the role of Congressional censor. “The health-care reform bill we released last week strengthens Medicare and does not cut benefits covered under the Medicare program—and seniors need to know that.”

The truth? As it stands currently, the Baucus plan slashes Medicare Advantage by $123 billion over the next ten years.

Mr Baucus’ solution to avoid the backlash that comes from slashing these programs, the ones that help seniors afford private insurers, is to keep them in the dark. If they don’t know any better, then there won’t be any fall out and he can start killing of private companies. Because that’s what this plan is about. None of the people involved actually want there to be healthy competition between public and private insurers. They want the public option to succeed.

In Humana’s specific case, nearly 50% of their annual revenue comes from – you guessed it – Medicare Advantage. Now, if Medicare Advantage is slashed by, I repeat, $123 billion… how is that encouraging competition? Meanwhile, CMS has decreed that all Advantage insurers stop the flow of information.

I suppose that’s what you get for trying to tell the truth. You get bludgeoned to death by your adversary.

Wait, how is this discourse supposed to fix our health care system again?

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Posted in Democrats, Health Care, Policy Issues, Politics

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Last Night's Live Tweet

Posted on September 10, 2009 by | 1 Comment

5:03 – Once again, watching so you don’t have to… Live tweeting tonight’s event. :)

6:44 – Okay. Sitting in the living room fixin’ to livetweet this overblown event of a speech for all you fine people. You can thank me later.

6:49 – Okay. Sitting in the living room fixin’ to livetweet this overblown event of a speech for all you fine people. You can thank me later.

6:49 – Oh look, it’s my BFF Pelosi in a red suit. And pearls. Sigh… why do I feel liked they’ve been tainted now? (@rightgirl)

6:51 – Wait did they say “He’s got to crack heads” or “He’s got crackheads”? Very different.

6:52 – Wait did they say “He’s got to crack heads” or “He’s got crackheads”? Very different.

6:53 – “Day by day, his leadership quality is dripped away”… from CNN?

6:56 – I do. RT @becs09 @pinkelephantpun better to say u have 2 lunatics with you live tweeting. Btw @mkiessling u & me..This could get loud & ugly

6:58 – “Nobody thinks they’re safe in this crazy election cycle”… AMEN!

6:59 – 62% of Americans still support public option. What polls are you reading CNN??? What the hell.

7:00 – And they pulled the Kennedy widow card. Awesome. $5 there will be tears.

7:00 – What is with the creepy Biden/Pelosi silent exchanges?

7:02 – “The Democrats will give no doubt give him standing ovations. The Republicans, not so much.”

7:03 – @itsonlywords Oh good LORD. Can we imagine a Biden/Pelosi love child?

7:03 – Red power suits amok.

7:04 – DELTOIDS! RT @TeresaKopec: Darn. Michelle wears sleeves this time. What will we all talk about tomorrow? #Obama

7:05 – RT @secupp: OMG, major disaster at health care speech: Hill and Pelosi wearing same outfit. I smell a cat fight…

7:07 – Can Obama wear a red power suit? PLEASE?

7:08 – I smell a teleprompter malfunction.

7:09 – “President really prefers bipartisanship”…. BS. Why isn’t Obama talking yet? Is he lost?

7:09 – So. Much. Red.

7:11 – Thinking the red is symbolic.

7:11 – And…. here he is. Finally.

7:14 – 3 full minutes of clapping?

7:17 – RT @becs09: Please note, Pelosi spoke and @pinkelephantpun didn’t break the TV (but did comment)

7:18 – Omg PLEASE sit down so we can get through this!

7:19 – “I can say with confidence that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.” Yes, Obama. It was ALL you.

7:19 – RT @JoeyBiden: Check me out. Im currently blinking 175 times per minute

7:21 – “We’re the only wealthy nation that allows such hardship for it’s citizens”

7:22 – Now we’re down to 39 million uninsured? I thought it was 46 million.

7:23 – And here we go with the horror stories. Shall we go on with our socialized medicine horror stories?

7:23 – And we’re standing again.

7:23 – This is what @seanhackbarth means when he says the right needs to get better at story telling

7:23 – RT @itsonlywords: @pinkelephantpun Yes, life is hard in America. That’s why no one ever crosses our borders illegally in order to live here.

7:24 – “We’re paying a hidden and growing tax for those who are without it”… and that’s BEFORE HR3200!

7:25 – STOP BLINKING JOE!

7:26 – Standing again. Can we count the standing ovations? We’re at 4 right now.

7:27 – The Senate finance committee announced that it will move forward next week.

7:27 – “Unprecedented coalitions that have opposed reform in the past.” But I can buy them off! This will CHANGE!

7:28 – And Obama channels a black preacher “Now is the TIME TO DELIVER HEALTH CARE!”

7:29 – Wait, this plan is incorporating Republican ideas? Where? Enlighten me please, oh great one.

7:29 – Here is comes: YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PLAN!

7:31 – “As soon as I sign this bill, it will be illegal for insurance companies to drop your coverage”. Because I am Jesus and I MAKE LAWS.

7:31 – 6 standing O’s

7:31 – 7 standing Os

7:32 – Are they clapping to give the teleprompter a chance to cue up? Seriously, let him finish a sentence!

7:32 – RT @AmandaCarpenter: It boggles the mind we are still debating insurance coverage policies and not how to make health care cheaper.

7:33 – Wait did he say we’re a democracy? Aren’t we a Republic?

7:33 – 8 standing Os

7:33 – Joe still blinking like his salary depends on it.

7:34 – Pelosi trying hard to keep up with crazy Joe’s spastic eyelids.

7:34 – McCain getting the warm fuzzies from O’s compliment

7:34 – 9 standing Os

7:35 – Still haven’t heard a word about tort reform.

7:36 – 9.5 standing Os. They’re getting tired.

7:37 – Ooh key controversies. Here we go.

7:37 – “Bogus claims from people who kill reform at any cost” – it’s NOT about being anti reform! How about the RIGHT reform?

7:38 – 11 standing Os.

7:39 – 12 standing Os.

7:41 – Is Biden lost? Did someone hide his toys?

7:41 – 13 standing Os.

7:41 – Obama: I just want to hold them accountable.

7:41 – 14 standing Os.

7:42 – RT @HeyTammyBruce: The man with 30 czars wants to hold other people accountable? Priceless.

7:43 – Not yet darlin’! RT @Rschrim: Is there a Insurance Accountability Czar?

7:43 – I really want to know where this statistical support for a public option is coming from. Can someone send it to me?

7:44 – “The public option is a means to the end.”

7:44 – 15 standing Os.

7:45 – 16 standing Os.

7:45 – 17 standing Os.

7:46 – “I will make sure that no bureaucrat stands between you and the coverage you need” – well, my mind is officially at ease!

7:46 – “I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits”.

7:46 – 18 standing Os.

7:49 – “The only thing this plan would eliminate is waste and fraud.”

7:49 – 19 standing Os. Still taking their cues from Princess.

7:50 – “Don’t pay attention to the scary stories” – or the man behind the curtain!!

7:50 – “That will not happen on my watch! I will protect medicare!”

7:50 – 20 standing Os.

7:52 – 21 standing Os.

7:53 – 22 standing Os.

7:54 – “We are security. Not higher taxes.”

7:55 – 23 standing Os.

7:56 – Tears. You all owe me $5 bitches.

7:57 – Watching Biden try to cry without moving his forehead is completely captivating.

8:00 – RT @AnnaTarkov: America has always been known for its self-reliance & rugged individualism. Now it’s time to put a stop to all that nonsense

8:02 – I feel like I’m going to throw up.

8:02 – “I know some are remaining skeptical that the government is looking out for them.”

8:03 – “I still believe! I still believe!” And we’re a preacher again.

8:04 – Total count: 25 standing Os.

8:06 – I can’t take this. I’m retreating from the television.

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Posted in Congress, Health Care, Nancy Pelosi, Obama, Politics

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I love when Sarah Palin uses her brain.

Posted on September 10, 2009 by | 3 Comments

Just to be up front: I like Palin, but am not a real supporter of her. I’ve been pretty open about the things I view as her flaws. But she’s been out in force this week and I love it. First, there was the op-ed she published in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

Common sense tells us that the government’s attempts to solve large problems more often create new ones. Common sense also tells us that a top-down, one-size-fits-all plan will not improve the workings of a nationwide health-care system that accounts for one-sixth of our economy. And common sense tells us to be skeptical when President Obama promises that the Democrats’ proposals “will provide more stability and security to every American.”

Here’s the thing. I have no desire for the government to provide security for me. They are supposed to keep us from getting blown up and/or nuked, and that’s it. There should be no financial security coming from those who destroy everything they touch. There will be no great efficiency. There will be no paring down and elimination of the status quo, as they try so hard to convince us. That is just not the case. No matter how many times they tell us this, no matter how forcefully they try to ram it down our throats, the American people know better. And they don’t trust the government to make decisions for them. Poll after poll has shown us this.

That response is an innate sense of right and wrong, and the God given right to be free. It has nothing to do with these fictitious Nazi bastards that they’re claiming are out to “kill this reform by any means necessary”. Get that through your skulls, Oh Saviors of All That Is Deficit.

Okay. End rant.

As Palin points out, we hear these promises ALL THE TIME. We’re tired of them.

Sarah, keep writing and fighting. This is where you should be.

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Posted in Health Care, Obama, Policy Issues, Politics, Sarah Palin

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More Astroturfing! Except… it's the Lefties again.

Posted on September 1, 2009 by | 4 Comments

From Hot Air:

A Hot Air reader working at a non-profit received this RFP from the Ohio chapter of UHCAN, the organization behind the Health Care for America Now counter-demonstrations at town-hall forums, where volunteers are trained to disrupt and shut down dissent. With elected officials escaping their constituents and fleeing back to the Beltway, UHCAN Ohio wants to start Astroturfing churches:

Request for Proposals

UHCAN Ohio is looking to engage in a short term contract with a person who has a background in working with faith communities in the Southwest Ohio area, primarily Cincinnati and its suburbs. The purpose of the contract is to engage faith community leaders to communicate with their congregations about the movement for national health care reform. We want to provide them with materials that will assist them to talk about the moral issues involved in the lack of health care for a large portion of our population, and the desire to do it during this great debate on health care in this country.

The health care reform work of UHCAN Ohio, and the coalition it staffs, Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage can be reviewed by going to www.ohioconsumersforhealth.org or www.uhcanohio.org

Deliverables:

1. Prepare a packet of materials with input from the OCHC leadership team that can be used by faith-based leaders and can be easily copied and distributed to faith leaders. Such materials are available from the Faithful Reform in Health Care web site, but may need to be supplemented with other materials and you may need to search further than the FRHC website. The packet should also be able to be posted on-line on the UHCAN Ohio and OCHC websites, with links to the appropriate original sites.

2. Reach out to forty faith congregations in the Cincinnati area and its suburbs, asking their faith leader to communicate to his/her congregation about federal health care reform in a religious/moral context. This will require face to face or at least individual phone conversations with pastors/leaders asking them to preach on the subject, or to carry out a discussion within the congregation, or to sign on to a letter to policymakers. We need a success rate of at least 33 percent. It will also involve providing them with the materials that will fit their situation.

In preparing a proposal keep in mind that because individual congregations respond to the instructions/directions they receive from their denominational leadership, this project will involve becoming familiar with the directives that have already been developed by regional or state offices of the various denominations and the various faith traditions, and probably conversations with key denominational staff to determine what is the most effective way to work within anyone denomination.

Time-Frame: End of August through October, frontloading the project so much of the contact initiation happens in late August, early to mid September.

In preparing a proposal please specify the number of hours and rate/hour required to carry out these deliverables. The contractor will be responsible for all expenses such as phone calls and mileage, so please build that into your rate. Expenses for copying materials will be borne by UHCAN Ohio.

Please submit a proposal to Kathleen Gmeiner, Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage Project Director, UHCAN Ohio, 404 S. Third St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Questions may be directed to [redacted].

The proposal deadline is 5 PM Monday August 24, 2009.

Holy crap. How blatant can you be? ” Reach out to forty faith congregations in the Cincinnati area and its suburbs, asking their faith leader to communicate to his/her congregation about federal health care reform in a religious/moral context. This will require face to face or at least individual phone conversations with pastors/leaders asking them to preach on the subject, or to carry out a discussion within the congregation, or to sign on to a letter to policymakers”. In other words, get pastor’s to preach the wonders of Obamacare to their congregation.

Now, first of all, let’s look at the surface hypocrisy of the situation. How many times have we been called astroturfers for the past six months or so? Ever since the Tea Parties began, accusations from the left have been flying in from every angle regarding the nature of the protests. We’ve been quick to dismiss them, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that the reason they are so quick to assume is that, well, they don’t understand organic protests because the never have them. They are the professionals.

On a more fundamental level, I have a huge problem with churches addressing health care legislation. So does the government, but I suppose that they’d be quick to overlook the violation of non-profit tax status that comes along with endorsing legislation from the pulpit if it worked in their favor.

Any church in their right mind would run screaming from this legislation. We do not need federal support for abortions. You’d also be hard pressed to find a congregation of any denomination, Catholic or Protestant, that would overlook support for euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research.

The language used when addressing congregations is also, erm, troublesome. “In preparing a proposal keep in mind that because individual congregations respond to the instructions/directions they receive from their denominational leadership“… what are we, sheep? It is immediately followed by this: “This project will involve becoming familiar with the directives that have already been developed by regional or state offices of the various denominations and the various faith traditions, and probably conversations with key denominational staff to determine what is the most effective way to work within anyone denomination.” Infiltration. Figure out how to best market to the evangelical demographic.

Leave the churches alone. Just stop. This is not appropriate.

OSU Young Americans for Liberty Host Thomas Woods

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Posted in Abortion, Corruption, General Controversy, Health Care, Liberals, Politics

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