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John McNamara

John McNamara

Posted: July 28, 2009 08:14 PM

Blue Dogs, Stop It


Just stop.

Because right now, you don't represent the majority of Americans on health care reform or even the majority of constituents in your district.

And you certainly don't represent the majority of Democrats.

You represent yourselves and all the health care corporations who directly or indirectly fund your career.

But this is not about your career or their massive profits.

It's about America -- a rich, powerful, civilized country you were elected to help run.

And a country that up till now has said that the value of human health is best measured in material wealth.

That if you're rich, you get the best treatment; if you're not, you don't.

That's insane.

Cancer doesn't know how much money a patient has; a virus doesn't ask for a credit report.

And public health should never be a business where the profits are counted in quarterly double digits and the profiteers are paid annually in tens of millions.

Health care can be a business, but first and foremost it is a basic human right.

A right that President Obama was elected to recognize and help make law.

A right that you are trying to deny.

So stop. Please.

Think about who you represent, what you were actually elected to do and do it.

Or continue to stall and dilute this bill, in what has be one of the most transparently corrupt actions ever to take place in Washington DC.

Which is a real achievement -- if what you seek is eternal political infamy.

 
 
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01:08 AM on 07/31/2009
Health Care as is practiced has a lot of spin-offs +huge negative effects on the population at large for the long and short term
Health Care and its subsidiaries makes a lot of money for a lot of well connected people
I think if you check the economic portfolios of the senators fighting against health care reform, I bet you will find that they all have heavily investments in the prison systems, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, insurances ,and any industry that they think A Reformed Health care may impact.
Their primary interest is to protect their interests, "the American people be dammed !!!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
CTtransplant
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we gro
10:50 PM on 07/30/2009
Look, I don't know if the rest of you are as fed up as I am with the obstruction and political gameplaying going on with this health care reform...but I DO know this - the Republican obstructionists and the Blue Dog Dems have absolutely NO clue what the rest of us are going through with healthcare. Maybe it's time they did!

If you agree, please sign the petition below, and forward it - any way you can - to anyone and everyone you know! Time to let them know how we feel!!!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
03:11 PM on 07/30/2009
Any one who doesn't realize the importance of supporting a public health care option is either a fool, in somebody's pocket, or both. Without a true alternative to the private insurers, there's no incentive to change their ways. Three years my wife and I paid about $600 a month in premiums. Two years ago that rose to over $700. This year we're paying $922 a month. And come January 1st, as sure as members of Congress get free health care, my premium is jumpin to over a $1000 a month. That's $12, 000 a year. And that is criminal.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
caril
12:05 PM on 07/30/2009
This has what's been occurring to me over and over....

"Or continue to stall and dilute this bill, in what has be one of the most transparently corrupt actions ever to take place in Washington DC."


The actions of the Blue Dogs and Baucus are corruption in action....

Would that we had a MSM that would call a spade a spade... instead we get articles about the "fiscally conservative" BDs and other outright lies.

God we are in dire straits if these two groups can derail true reform of profit-driven healthcare.
11:56 AM on 07/30/2009
BO ran a campaign that touted him as a centrist, not a liberal. The Blue Dawgs are centrists and they are voting according to the wishes of their voters.
03:59 AM on 07/30/2009
In case the health care reform provides the general public with peace of mind, the rising mental stress or illness caused by financial instability may bend the curve surprisingly,
in combination with kicking out the 'keep eating habit' to forget the deep-seated instability and apprehension, I guess.
'Work or Break' health system with no brake or safety system might be one of the biggest hidden causes of mental stress, obesity or overweight threatening the overall economy, I cautiously suppose.
03:59 PM on 07/29/2009
The death toll of US Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is over 5,000. These were our patriots. These were our children. These were the latest in a long column marching back to 1776. It is right that we honor them as patriots regardless of our final judgment about the causes for which they fought. It is fitting that we hold them proudly in a sacred space in our secular lives.
In the current national emergency of health care, some our elected representatives have sold out to the commercial medical interests that fund their political campaigns. Some say 20,000 Americans die each year for lack of health care. They would let us die to maintain their careers. This is the swan song of American democracy: money buys votes, and these politicians believe we are too stupid, preoccupied or disinterested to realize it.
More than the last notes of the American democratic experiment, this is a nail in the coffin of American honor. While we die from lack of health care, and our children die in foreign wars to save us, the obstructionist Democrats and Republicans prevent us from achieving parity, fairness and equity of health care. They sell us out - to avoid losing their sinecures as politicians on the take. This is antithetical to democracy and, please note well, inexcusably disrespectful of all our patriotic dead warriors who gave their lives for ours.
Wake up America, while our patriots are dying, there are traitors among us.
03:27 PM on 07/29/2009
Your right those blue dogs should help approve a bill that costs trillions of dollars and still does not offer the same coverage as congress enjoys. Who cares whether there are the cost savings that Waxman promises? Who cares that the plan was done in haste and there are all kinds of loose ends. Why should we wait for a well thought out and planned program. We should ramrod something through just to get it done. Thats the progressive way.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
StillweRise
12:05 PM on 07/30/2009
how long does it take to read a stinking bill. we see what they REALLY want out of 'waiting'. All that is, is a stall tactic to whip up fear all month in August. Fear of soshullism, and fear of guvurmnt take over.
When the REAL fear out there is the insurance companies fear of not being able to gouge the American citizen while giving crappy care, or denying care altogether.

and the cost, cost, cost 'argument'.... how much are American lives worth to YOU????
06:02 PM on 07/30/2009
You think 60 years since Truman first asked for universal health care is haste? We've waited until the system is crashing to try to fix it and get it running smoothly...what do you expect at 11:59 PM? A leisurely stroll through arguments and policies that have already been examined and found wanting in a huge way? Hesitancy to enact for all what vets, disabled and seniors get? Ask your grandmother if Medicare works for her. If she says yes, will you let the rest of the country get what your grandmama has?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
expired
03:26 PM on 07/29/2009
Check this out!!

A public rally for health care reform in DC

http://citizensforapublicoption.com/
01:36 PM on 07/29/2009
Does anybody really think these guys acted on their own? They are just carrying the weight of the other losers in congress that follow the money. They are all conspiring to lose this health care reform to the corporate insurance companies.
What they should be voting on is a single payer plan if cost was really at he heart of their concern.
Our countries defeat will come from within. It will come from our congress and be bought by the highest bidder.
01:10 PM on 07/29/2009
Thank you, Mr. McNamara. What happened to our constitution? A government for the people by the people. Since these greedy bastards don't seem to represent us, why are we paying for their health care. Why as taxpayers do we not get a say in their health care benefits. Why do they have their own social security system. Maybe we should have a general election to determine when they get raises and limit their benefits so that they can be just like us.
12:02 PM on 07/29/2009
Memo to BDs--

OK, fine!

Let Congress buy their own health insurance. No more Socialized Medicine from the government. No coverage for pre-existing conditions. They can research, apply for, and pay for their own insurance!

No $$ from medical industry, no jobs in medical industry.

Then watch how fast Health Care Reform happens!
12:01 PM on 07/29/2009
GO BLUE DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am represented by one of these Blue Dogs. He understands if he votes to destroy my career then he loses my vote. Your opinion does not matter unless you are represented by one of these Blue Dogs. So stick it where the sun doesnt shine!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dzuh
01:36 PM on 07/29/2009
Yeah, the preservation of your career is all that matters. Forget the 45 million people without any health insurance whatsoever. Forget the astronomically rising costs that are driving millions more into bankruptcy. As long as selfish jerks like you can still profit from people's sickness, then everything will be just fine.
11:48 AM on 07/29/2009
Amen!!! - how do we get this to these corrupt politicians or more important... their Constituents!!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
devildog21
"War is a Racket" -Smedley D. Butler MajGen USMC
11:40 AM on 07/29/2009
You really have your nerve Mr. McNamara. I'll have you know that we have the best government money can buy. It's our duty as Americans to elect people to send to congress so they can enrich themselves at the public trough and set themselves up as lobbyists when they leave.

If you don't like it, you can go live in a place where all citizens get quality healthcare and have elected officials who actually represent them. This is America damn it. We don't need no stinking democracy.