DISQUS

leliorisen · 4 months ago

So, what motivates Mike Ross?

Here is the list of his major donors from his 2008 campaign:

Alltel Corp $ 12,600
National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn $ 10,693
Air Line Pilots Assn $ 10,000
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn $ 10,000
American Academy of Audiology $ 10,000
American Assn for Justice $ 10,000
American Bankers Assn $ 10,000
American College of Radiology $ 10,000
American Crystal Sugar $ 10,000
American Dental Assn $ 10,000
American Health Care Assn $ 10,000
American Optometric Assn $ 10,000
American Physical Therapy Assn $ 10,000
Beverly Enterprises $ 10,000
Blue Dog PAC $ 10,000
Indep Insurance Agents & Brokers/America $ 10,000
International Assn of Fire Fighters $ 10,000
Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $ 10,000
Ironworkers Union $ 10,000
Laborers Union $ 10,000
McKesson Corp $ 10,000
National Auto Dealers Assn $ 10,000
National Beer Wholesalers Assn $ 10,000
National Cable & Telecommunications Assn $ 10,000
National Restaurant Assn $ 10,000
Operating Engineers Union $ 10,000
Plumbers/Pipefitters Union $ 10,000
Raytheon Co $ 10,000
Service Employees International Union $ 10,000
Teamsters Union $ 10,000
United Steelworkers $ 10,000
Weyerhaeuser Co $ 10,000

An awful lot of health care industry money in there, eh?

I think some of these people need to be shamed into doing the right thing. Let everyone in his district know that his vote was bought by health insurance companies and the health care lobby.

Outside of the clearly identifiable names you also have, Beverly Enterprises and McKesson.

This man has been paid for.

For more on this 'dog,' I don't want to say 'blue' dog, as dogs are colorblind, check out:

http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Mike_Ross

Personally, I plan on checking out what online papers represent his district and posting about his ties to the health care industry in their letters and forums section.

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

Thanks for posting this link. It's a great resource for a lot of important info in one place. I was not aware of this one!

leliorisen · 4 months ago

Thanks Helen.

Among other things that this site tells us about Rep. Ross is that he is in favor of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. Hmmm...a top priority for a Democrat???

Yeah, he's a real piece of work.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

Marriage is between a man and a women. Go Mike Ross

leliorisen · 4 months ago

Great, exactly what this forum needs....

A commenter, posing as a Christian fortune cookie.

Had you posted this when somebody actually read the posts, instead of 2 days later, you would have been inundated.

How does it feel to know that hardly anybody will read that brilliant piece of personal philosophy?

The fact that you went through so many posts to get here suggests that you probably did a Google search on Mike Ross.

Happy trolling.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

So, is your point that Congressman Ross is equal-handed & open-minded when he accepts donations? Or that he listens to all types of workers/companies, like electrical & steel workers, fire fighters, teamsters, restaurant workers, pilots, dentists, or people like you & me who use healthcare?
Think before you speak/type!

leliorisen · 4 months ago

I think before I speak and type. You obviously don't.

I listed all his big donations, because I do not pick and choose. It does not mean he does not get influence in other venues, as well. That's what lobbying money buys...influence.

But there is nothing on his donor list to counter the money from the health care industry.

So, which health care firm do you work for? Or are you Congressman Ross incognito?

shell · 4 months ago

You know -- I am sick to damn death of this shit. I have seen it for WAY too many years (decades). I realize that, living in a large progressive state, most states are smaller and less progressive. But when a Congressman from a teeny, tiny, backwards, backwoods state can stop what more progressive states do, it truly sickens me.

And again -- let them all leave the union. I realize there are SOME good people in these states, but get real. Stop being babies. Just because your mammy and pappy live/d there, YOU don't have to. The time has come -- stay in a state because you really like it. And if you like most of the country not having adequate healthcare, I don't want to be in your country.

I have had enough. American ignorance is sickening.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

Shell you should leave ...go to canada and wait in line. Get what ever dr they give you and have no say in your treatment...Yea thats an improvement!!! Most americans are fine why not help the ones that are not instead of ruining it for everyone. After awhile you will relize socialism suxs and it has yet to work anywhere. Please go elsewhere. Go mike Ross

shell · 4 months ago

Hey, moron. First of all -- get OFF the computer and LEARN ENGLISH! I take it you are from Arkansas, since you say "Go mike Ross". Learn 3rd grade English and writing skills.

No, actually YOU should leave. But Canada is WAY too good for you. You belong in Iran. Or Iraq. Or Syria. You have NO IDEA of what Canada is like. None. All those lies right-wing talk radio and Faux News tells you are vomited out of your mouth.

Know why I won't leave? I am on MEDICARE now. You know -- SOCIALIZED MEDICINE! And it is twice as good as any private insurance this country can offer.

So -- as you sit in your redneck trailer -- just shut your mouth, study English, and let those with IQs over 50 handle this.

P.S. I will not read any other posts from you, so it is a waste of your time to write any. Besides, any spare time should be spent learning English.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

Dont believe me...ask someone that lives in canada or england. By the way why are you so disrespectful? I believe our military is in the places you wish me to go..you must hate them too. Dont forget they peotect your right to speak like the fool you are

BlowMeImIrish · 4 months ago

Okay, I get it that this guy's a DINO, but what's with the "Democrat Congressman" headline?

Haven't we been calling Fox "news" and the rest of the GOPigs out on this for some time now?

1st Republic 14th Star · 4 months ago

Democrat Congressman Mike Ross (AR) vows to kill health care reform if he doesn't get his way.

I'm with BMII -- "Democrat" for "Democratic" is a Republican tactic they employ because it enables them to emphasize the "rat" syllable. It's not just two missing letters, it's an intentional effort to marginalize liberals and progressives.

papazita · 4 months ago

DINO or not, we shouldn't fall into wingnut framing mechanisms describing them.

mtiffany · 4 months ago

He forgets two f*cking letters at the end of word and you're comparing him to Fox News? Nitpick much?

leliorisen · 4 months ago

I think his point was valid.

Because we did not nitpick...even progressives have allowed GOP-introduced terms like 'pro-life' to become the accepted norm...as if those who support choice are somehow 'anti-life.'

Language means something. Eliminating the 'ic' makes the party affiliation rhyme with rat. In this case, however.....it fits.

But, back to the larger point, Republicans know that repetition makes the terms acceptable. It is perfectly fine for somebody to point this out to somebody at a Progressive site.

mtiffany · 4 months ago

Because we did not nitpick...even progressives have allowed GOP-introduced terms like 'pro-life' to become the accepted norm...

You mean like the way Democrats can't use the word "liberal" anymore, so they use "progressive" instead?

leliorisen · 4 months ago

Interesting comment...but I think we did allow 'liberal' to become a dirty word and 'conservative' seem to be a sought-after goal.

Having said that, I actually prefer the term 'progressive' because the word itself has positive connotations, in its own rite. It means forward-moving. 'liberal' is not as descriptive of my politics.

BlowMeImIrish · 4 months ago

Of fer cryin' out loud, I'm not comparing any writer on this blog to Fox "news"....I'm just pointing out what has been a point of contention - that Bushtards have been using the incomplete adjective "Democrat" (instead of Democratic) as a pejorative for years, pretending not to recognize the slight.

They've done the same thing with their "unintentional" mispronunciations of Obama vs Osama. Publications making errors like these on HEADLINES gives those GOPigs cover for their dismissive, under-handed insults.

GoBlue · 4 months ago

Exactly. I was going to post the same complaint, but you said it better than I would have.

mtiffany · 4 months ago

And my point was (which I apparently have to repeat): did it even occur to you that his misspelling was precisely that - an innocent mistake and not some ominous symptom of GOP Newspeak corrupting a liberal mind?

Moncusa · 4 months ago

((But....dude....PLEASE change that vulgar anti-Irish handle of yours)).

BlowMeImIrish · 4 months ago

Vulgar? Moi? Perhaps so.
But Anti-Irish? Never!

It's just a joke - a play on the 'kiss me, I'm Irish' thing....I first signed on one St. Patrick's Day years ago, so I'm kinda attached to it....

halhowell · 4 months ago

Profanity is NOT welcome or necessary. It shows a limited vocabulary and low intelligence.

threadmonitor · 4 months ago

I'll decide what is welcome or necessary, thank you.

BlowMeImIrish · 4 months ago

George Carlin would disagree....

mtiffany · 4 months ago

One does wish the progressive Democrats would play hard ball like the Blue Dogs do.

Actually one wishes that the Democrats would tell these Blue Dog a**holes that if they want to act like Republicans ("compromise is me getting my way and screw what you want") they ought to go join the Republican party. And good riddance.

halhowell · 4 months ago

You are so right! The conservatives in the Democratic Party should go to the Republicans and the liberals in the Republican party should do what Specter did and go over to the Dems. That way it would be easy to vote conservative and know who we are getting. The libs would be easier to note and vote out. Thanks, what a great idea!

tyree · 4 months ago

whats the difference? bluedogs yellow dogs , no single payer , just more of the same, insurance companys get richer you get the shaft, palosi says stfu and take what we offer you, an insurance bill that wont even start untill nixon er sorry obamas second term, some time in 2013, if he even gets a second term, wow the wheels of change move slowly in dc unless your a bank!

bjohnson · 4 months ago

Tyree -you are all over it!

Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas · 4 months ago

Memo from Blue Cross and Aetna:

Be sure Mike Ross gets his check for half a mil this week. And send his wife flowers, too!

jo2011 · 4 months ago

dont worry they will limit spending on AIDS and let you suffer

scottinsf · 4 months ago

"This supposed health care fix is a health care failure and a disaster for the American people....We still have time to turn this process around instead of steamrolling our country into a sub-par government-run plan" --Some guy Obama chose to be in his cabinet

jo2011 · 4 months ago

right on

Sudbay Buy A Clue · 4 months ago

You don't actually know what you're talking about Sudbay. It's going to be Pelosi and uninformed loudmouths like Sudbay on our side that are going to be responsible for us Democrats loosing this if you don't actually pay a little bit of attention: The Blue Dogs have accepted the public option.

The Blue Dogs big complaint right now is the regional inequities in Medicare that Democrats from states with high reimbursement rates have refused to take the lead on equalizing for 30 years. And --- surprise, surprise --- the low reimbursement regions just happen to be those regions of the nation that are more rural and have lower incomes. That's because they have less political clout, than the smug, navel-gazing, limousine-liberal Democrats we tend to find in the more urbanized areas. As someone whose participated in progressive Democratic politics in both regions, it's the latter that are the most odious, and the facts show have turned our party into the party of corporate America it became starting with Clinton.

I don't have much time for Blue Dogs, but I also don't have much time for self-centered "New" Democrats or just plain corporate Democrats who Sudbay clearly doesn't have a clue about. It's the latter who are playing an evil, passive-aggressive game of pitting the uninformed like Sudbay and incompetent, arrogant, limousine liberals like Pelosi against Blue Dogs by intentionally not addressing the Medicare inequity issue. History will ultimately show it is they who will be responsible for the failure of the public option and our missed opportunity to finally disempower the health insurance industry, if we miss this opportunity.

Doctors won't even accept Medicare patients who just have Part A and Part B in states in low reimbursement regions right now. It's in those regions patients have been switching to the private Medicare Advantage (Part D) plans the Republicans and corporate Democrats created to undermined Medicare and as welfare to the health insurance industry because those are the only plans they even have a chance of getting doctors to accept them.

Fixing that inequity problem is key to the financial viability of any public option (or a singe-payer plan) and in fact is key to saving Medicare. Those of us who really understand what is going on and want a public option (or better yet, single-payer) know that. Many of us live in states with unfairly low Medicare reimbursement rates and have friends and family on Medicare who can't get doctors. We see the right public plan is one which is the path to fixing that inequity, not one which further reinforces it because of the greed of the "liberal" representatives from states in high-reimbursement regions. And have been calling our representatives from those low-reimbursement regions to tell them that.

Sudbay: Inform yourself about the truth and start telling your readers to pay attention to the facts in this debate. They need to be telling Pelosi to get behind just the Blue Dogs one demand to reform unequal Medicare reimbursement rates. Doing that will sway more than enough votes in committee and on the House floor to pass this, and to provide enough momentum to propel it through the Senate. And it will give us an inequitable, sustainable, and popular result across the country that insures right-wing wingnuts like most of the commenters here end up talking to themselves without any political power. Even Rep. Ross will find himself telling his corporate donors: "I dare you to try to find another craven candidate to give your money to who can win against me now that people have health care and doctors who will see them."

Butch1 · 4 months ago

I wonder who this person is . . .

Dateline_Molly · 4 months ago

Isn't that Patrick Murphy guy part of this "Blue Dog Coalition?" What's he doing to pressure these other folks?

Until you start voting third party, for Socialists or Greens or Communists, or ANY party that puts the welfare of working people and the poor FIRST, we aren't going to see significant change in this country.

Stop supporting the Democratic party! Obama never supported single payer, and he made that clear during the primary and the general. He made it clear he was a warmonger during the campaign. He made it clear in November that he supported bailing out financial corporations.

And people still voted for this clown? It's unreal.

triple7s · 4 months ago

I agree. We dems keep voting the same party over and over expecting different results, (crazy). I am 63, have been voting since Carter, and it's always the same with this party. Talk a great game, and then backtrack. Enough.

Dateline_Molly · 4 months ago

Definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over.

People vote for Democrats time and again thinking they are going to get legislation and change that benefits working people. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

I don't vote for Democrats and never have but I don't understand why anybody would vote for them after the 2006 landslide where they were voted in to stop the Iraq war crimes and instead ESCALATED the spending on it.

How much more evidence did people need that Democrats are a craven corporate group that doesn't give a rat's ass about common people? Wasn't it OBVIOUS that they didn't care about the people voting for them when they did that?

You like to think that people who are "liberal" or "progressive" are grounded in reality and use evidence-based information to make decisions. But there are many many "liberals" who support imperialism and empire building. Witness the comments in this blog about how folks "support" the Afghan "war."

By and large, though, the magical thinking that has gone on with these voters is simply mind-boggling. What evidence other than Obama's voting record did they need that he was a warmongering corporate shill? What else did he have to do to prove that to anybody?

Magical thinking used to be the purview of these right-wing evangelical conservative voters who NEVER use evidence and facts to make decisions, since conservative candidates don't have facts on their side when they run for office! And yet over and over people vote for Democrats while they delude themselves into believing the Democratic party is wholly different from the Republican party.

I just don't get it. Either these "left leaning" voters are engaged in magical thinking, or they do indeed support these corporate anti-working class pro-war policies that Democrats legislate.

LuZenMyMnd · 4 months ago

There needs to be a candidate who stands out and appeals to the majority of the dem base (which includes minorities). So far....there has been none.

It's definitely needed.

halhowell · 4 months ago

Of course, you are laboring under the assumption that liberals/progressives actually THINK before they vote! If they did, we wouldn't have elected a dictator to the White House or idiots in the Congress.

threadmonitor · 4 months ago

halhowell,

Basically, you writing the same nonsense again and again. Either contribute in some meaningful way to the thread conversations or move along to where you feel more kinship.

shell · 4 months ago

I suspect that America will never have a third party that is viable. Unless there is a TRUE revolution. Don't get me wrong, I would love it, but I think certain SANE states need to f-ing leave the union.

Forget that hayseed from Texas (last in literacy, first in air pollution). I say it is time for CA to leave the union. And if you want to believe the talking heads that CA is broke, I will tell you, we have been broke before. But you know what? We STILL don't get the federal handouts hick states (like the south) do. Enough. I am tired of paying their way. We had legal abortion before Roe. We can have gay marriage, too. (Or, better still -- NO MARRIAGE for anyone! haha) We should get fiscally sane without the deadbeat religious wackoes stealing our money. (And kick that ignorant AAAAAAAAnold out. He belongs in the south.)

jo2011 · 4 months ago

please leave with all your fruits..take the speaker. make her your president and get her out of our lives

HeartlandLiberal · 4 months ago

I just called Baron Hill's office. The aide says more calls against than for a public option are coming in from his district here in So Indiana. He let me talk for several minutes emphasizing the need for the public option and covering ALL Americans, and my denunciation of the right wingnut lies. IF YOU ARE IN HILL'S DISTRICT, YOUR CALL IS NEEDED! Make it now:202-225-5315 is the Washington office number. I also pointed out that not only did I vote for him everytime he has run for office, I spent HOURS on the phone two cycles ago as part of the moveon.org phone bank effort that got his )(&(& elected again at that point.

LuZenMyMnd · 4 months ago

I contacted Evan Bayh's office, another major blue dog (in the senate) in Indiana to get his stance on it. Unfortunately, the insurance companies have bought him out as well. The issue of the richest carrying the healthcare bill for the nation is a major issue, even though taxes for them will be raised to where they were in the Clinton presidency. I too, voted for Bayh...but never no more, and I expressed my disappointment in his stance.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

drink more koolaid you have no idea what your asking for ..go evan

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

Do these bozos ever have sound reasons for not supporting health care? Do they specify what their objections are? Do they offer reasonable compromises to work out those issues?

randysmith · 4 months ago

Socialized medicine [is bad!]
Too expensive!
Leave the insurance companies alone [unless they fail, then bail them out] and they'll make it all better.

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

That is snarky, correct?

randysmith · 4 months ago

If you mean "sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner" [Merriam Webster online]... I'll accept that!
But you must admit, that IS what they SAY.. Of course the REAL reason is that their owners don't want it....

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

Randy, believe it or not "snarky" is a "real" word -- I love it, and it does mean basically what you think.

Yes, that is what they say but it's a ship load of crap.

halhowell · 4 months ago

Yes, they do have sound reasons. Its called NOT bankrupting the country anymore than it already is. Really, what planet are you guys living on? Don't know or care that we are already in debt up to our eyeballs??? What makes you think another government run healthcare system is going to be any better than the one we already have that's government run. They are called Medicaid and Medicare! They are both worse than AMTRAC or the Post Office!!! Remember ( and I know this is hard for Libs/Progs) these two programs were supposed to keep costs down and under control. Well, that one worked out didn't it... Welfare was supposed to be a help for tough times until people got back on their feet. There are more people on welfare than when the program began. Another fine example of well intended but futile programs by the government.
maybe we should ALL just give ALL our money to the government and let it take care of us, decide what clothes we can wear, food to eat and how much, what job we work at and how much education we can have. Wouldn't that be wonderful??? We could let the government decide if we can have children or how many, how many showers we can take in a week. Maybe we could even let the government tell us what to think or maybe we should have to ask if or when we can think. Wouldn't that be great???

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

First of all, I do not appreciate your condescending and patronizing comments such as "What planet are you guys living on? and (and I know this is hard for Libs/Progs). How many planets in our solar system are occupied by other humans? You are also assuming that I am a Lib/Prog. For your information, I am neither Democrat nor Republican. Have never belonged to any political party because I don't believe in belonging to ANYTHING that is highly organized.

Nor do I support the continued intrusion into the lives of Americans. The fact of the matter is that most of our federal budget is spent on the military-industrial complex. Prior to Bush taking office our country actually had a surplus. That surplus was very quickly blown out of the water by the Bush Administration profligate spending on invading two countries in the Middle East -- both under questionable circumstances and based on a series of lies and deception. Were you opposed to that spending? In 2004 the Bush Administration had plans to spend more than $950 million for universal health care -- in Iraq. Does that make sense to you?

The overall point here is our government needs to rein in all of this unnecessary spending on other countries, particularly to kill innocents and instead focus that money on making things better in THIS country.

Does it seem unwise to add a lot more to our federal debt? Yes, it does. However, I would rather see our money spent on making THIS country better than wasting it on other countries -- particularly for purposes of perpetuating wars and destruction based on a bunch of lies and deception forced on We, the People by the corrupt administration that recently left power.

Oh yes, let's not forget that while the Bushies were busy spending us into the crapper they rolled back the tax rates for businesses, such as Wall Street who needed OUR money to bail them out just a few months ago, but now miraculously have all of these UNEXPECTED BILLION DOLLAR profits.

Wouldn't it be great if our legislators acted in the best interest of the country and We, the People as they took an oath to do? They didn't do that for the last eight years and I don't hold out any real hope that they will do it in the near future. We are continuing down a path that will make things worse and worse if our government doesn't take an honest look and evaluate where their priorities currently are and where they need to be.

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

A couple other points: What is your specific complaint regarding the Postal Service? For your information, the US Postal Service receives NO taxpayer money. They are a quasi-federal agency (when the Department of the Post Office was removed as a federal agency) and is now self-supporting by selling goods and services. They are having problems now, like most other businesses because the price of fuel has gone up.

You state that we have more people on welfare now than when the program began. I'm sure we do. The population of the United States has increased exponentially since that time so it only follows that there will be more people who are on it.

The administrative overhead for running programs such as Medicaid and Medicare is much less than that for the for-profit health care insurance industry. Perhaps if health care insurance was NOT a monoply and was truly competitive health care costs wouldn't be so exorbitant. A lot of medical treatment is not now determined between the doctor and the patient, but rather what is allowable by the insurance company. We could save more money with preventive care: in other words, put the band-aid on the wound before the wound becomes infected and thus more difficult to treat.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

please move to canada I live in the home of the FREE and the brave

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

Oh my -- guess I really touched a raw nerve you coward. I happen to have served my country honorably as a veteran in the US Army and did so with pride. If you can't deal with honest criticism about this country then I suggest you take your own suggestion. You may LIVE in the home of the FREE and the BRAVE but I served the Home of the FREE and the BRAVE,

jo2011 · 4 months ago

sure you did...i am a former jarhead. I earned my right to speak. You are correct insurance companys need to be in competition with each other to give us the best deal. Its called the free market..we cannot improve with state run healthcare

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

Sure I did -- WHAT?

jo2011 · 4 months ago

if the private insurance companies are dictating patent treatment (and you are correct) how will government run monoply improve that? At least now you will get treated even if your chances are slim.
When Obama care happens they will decide you are too old for a proceedure that you will wait along time for even if it is "granted". They will pull the plug on you...are you ready to give up that freedom if not for you but your loved ones?
Lets not forget how lawsuits play into the high cost, DRs perform extra tests to cover theire asses from lawyers tring to profit from the suffering of others.

also do not under eastimate the fact that brilliant minds will chose other professions and we will get 2nd rate doctors. Research and developement of new drugs and cures will come to a stand still. How will this improve your life?

and that is besides the fact that government cannot pay for it unless you want to keep 40% of what you earn

HelenRainier · 4 months ago

You didn't answer my question from above in response to your earlier comment.

"sure you did...i am a former jarhead. I earned my right to speak. You are correct insurance companys need to be in competition with each other to give us the best deal. Its called the free market..we cannot improve with state run healthcare"

I asked what you meant by "sure you did" WHAT? What are you talking about?

RyansTake · 4 months ago

The sad thing is, this is an area where their constituents just *do not* agree with them. A lot of "Blue Dogs" come from relatively conservative districts, but this is far from a conservative/liberal issue when literally more than 70% of America supports a strong and robust public option. Many "Blue Dogs" have districts where their constituents have no health insurance or bad health insurance. Those Congresspeople should expect challenges come election time if they fuck with health reform - including primaries. It's the #1 issue to the Democratic Party; people are paying attention and we're not going to sit down and take this bowing to the truly evil HMO industry that kills who knows how many thousands of people a year through their purely evil ways.

mtiffany · 4 months ago

But that's because the Blue Dogs' real constituents are the insurance companies and Big Pharma, not the people that actually live in their districts.

RyansTake · 4 months ago

Oh, absolutely, but it's always been under the guise of "well, I have conservative constituents" which on many issues, far beyond just health care, is usually bullshit.

That said, their argument is not going to fly this time. Their resistance to the public option is transparent -- and if they continue to try to screw up health care reform, at least a few of them *will* pay the price a year from now. I'll relish it, too. Congresscriters need to realize there's huge risk when they doom tens of thousands of their constituents to bad insurance with no choice of at least one decent, affordable option (the public one).

bjohnson · 4 months ago

Face it - Obamacare is never gonna fly. You're going to see more and more Dems break ranks and kill this hairbrain idea of providing care for everyone. They actually think that they can mandate employers pay for their workers healthcare. Well they can mandate it but employers will just let people go to pay for the healthcare or the 8% tax. This administration seems to think that employers have caves full of money that they can use to pay for this - they don't. Look at GM, they bankrupted themselves providing all these healthcare benefits. The fact is that the world economy is squeezing the bejesus out of US companies and most of them are fighting to stay afloat. This plan they have hatched clearly illustrates an administration and congress that is completely out of touch with their constituency. Watch how many jobs go to China and Mexico if this passes. When will Obama come up with real ideas that represent grassroots change instead of the same old spend money, create a beauracracy, raise taxes, etc. Why not have the government pay for people to go to college to be doctors and in return they owe 5 years worth of service at a reduced salary. Flood the marketplace with qualified doctors and get some competition going. Offer a 5 billion dollar reward to any US company that can come up with a cure for cancer. Heck they would be better off spending 1.5 trillion on funding a team of the best minds in the world to work on a cure for cancer as that is one of the biggest healthcare costs that we have. You will never hear any of these types of ideas coming out of this administration. They will spend all their time figuring out where to get money to keep the same old same old in place

Mike_H · 4 months ago

Except its not really the lack of doctors that is making health care costs so insane in this country, it's the insurance industry.

And many employers obviously DO have caves of money -- look at Wall Street, giving huge bonuses to top managers during years that they've done poorly.

There may be a lot of things wrong, but the real crazy thing is that Americans pay more for, and get less out of, our healthcare system than other nations.

bjohnson · 4 months ago

And those other nations have the same standard of living as the average US citizen enjoys? Those other nations have the same military power as the US? Those other nations have better social programs (i.e welfare, medicare, medicaid, social security, unemployment, etc.. etc.) And those other nations have the same level of hospitals as the US? Check out this link that rates the worlds best hospitals and see what country holds the top 24 positions.

http://hospitals.webometrics.info/top1000.asp

Do these other nations provide the level of humanitarian help to other countries that we do? Are they spending billions in Africa to fight aids? This whole idea that other countries got it all figured out is ludicrous. They don't have it figured out.

As far as Wall St giving out bonuses - that's what happens when government gives money away, they have no control how it is spent. Wait till they try to pay for people's healthcare, they will get reamed and overpay for everything. Wall St. is the banking and investment industry, they represent a small fraction of employers. I am talking about the average business with fewer than 100 employees.

dis1010 · 4 months ago

Ummm...did you check out your own link? That's not a list of the top 1000 hospitals by any relevant quality standard. It's a ranking of the top 1000 hospitals in terms of WORLD WIDE WEB PRESENCE. Unless you would decide on what hospital you should go to based on factors such as how many hyperlinked documents exist on their web page, then the link is entirely irrelevant.

No one thinks that any country has "it all figured out." But when it comes to standard of living, levels of humanitarian aid (per capita), health care spending and health care outcomes, there are things we can learn from what other countries have tried. Certainly many countries have much to learn from us, as well.

It's sad that there are so many people like you, particularly in our government, who are so blinded by jingoism that they cannot see the many ways we can improve this country and what we can learn from the successes and failures of other countries that try to grapple with many of the same issues we do. Such unquestioning love of country is deeply unpatriotic, as counter intuitive as it may seem. Refusing to use all of the collective knowledge from throughout the world available to us to better the lives of the citizens of this country based on a deliberate failure to acknowledge that we have room for improvement makes us worse off as a nation.

lynchie · 4 months ago

A major collapse of the health care system is the fact that Hospitals, surgeons, labs, etc. all bill for the full amount of reimbursement from the insurance company and then additionally bill the patient for more. They all know exactly what their reimbursement will be. If they are unhappy they need to negotiate a higher reimbursement. Instead the bill the patient and most feel honor bound to pay they don't want to be either sued or to have their access cut off. Fix that little tidbit.
As far as cost. No other country that has a Unviersal system is bankrupt, no other country has its citizens clamouring for our system of rejecting patients, denying care and ignoring the fact that 45 million have no coverage.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

listen to bjohnson he is making real sense..Health care by the government will kill us all cold hard fact..deal with it

triple7s · 4 months ago

These politicians from the remaining "red states" are just republican lite, minus the lite. They are never going to support liberal, or progressive causes.

ndtovent · 4 months ago

On the one hand, it pisses me off that we have obstructionists like this a-hole panty waist trying to block a public option, but on the other hand, I can see his point. I'm against cuts in medicare. Reimbursement rates to dr's and hospitals are already too low, so much so, that a lot of dr's won't accept medicare patients anymore. It's already plagued, and they want to cut medicare spending even further?? If the spending cuts are enacted into law, what will happen to our senior citizens already struggling on medicare? Won't they be a lot worse off, or am I missing something?

lynchie · 4 months ago

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center made $860 million profit last year. Dont give that shit about the hospitals not making money. As far as the doctors how much do they need?

bjohnson · 4 months ago

So what? Will you be happier when they close their doors? If they make a lot of profit and it's easy - why aren't other companies starting up a hospital to compete with them? Please move to a socialized country if your not for capitalism. That is what are country is founded on and if these hospitals aren't breaking any laws who are you to say how much they can charge and make? Would you be happier if every American company had the same sad pathetic ending as GM? That is where a non-profitable company ends up -begging the government for scraps like a bunch of little lemmings all scared sh##$less. If you think UPMC is a bunch of greedy pigs, don't go there. There is a number of hospitals who are on the brink of bankruptcy, maybe you should go there for your next major medical procedure. Look at the airline industry. Long gone are the days of profitibility. We can't even go a week without one of them falling out of the sky now. Envy is a terrible thing - it can make you make stupid decisions.

lynchie · 4 months ago

GM went bankrupt because the make horrible cars. Hospitals on the brink of bankruptcy are there because of mismangement. Planes aren't falling out of the sky every day. Capitalism has nothing to do with the extreme costs of health care. Funny I don't hear you or any politicians whinning about the socialized medical care they receive. As far as starting up a hospital large chains like UPMC buy up all the small hospitals.
Go back to your job at the Health Insurance company.

sonofloud · 4 months ago

Maybe one day the democratic party will realize you have to be a democrat to belong in the party.

seriously1 · 4 months ago

Surprise! Ross' #1 industry donor is......wait for it.....TA DAAA - THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY - go figure, huh? He's a Blue Dog Weasel - just like the rest of his pack. Emanuel can't control his own party, which is why a true Healthcare Renaissance is not gonna happen. Obama, Emanuel, et al, can't even achieve "bi-partisanship" within their own party, let alone with the Republicans. BTW - in case you didn't know....Republicans don't give a ***t about bi-partisanship, so why should Progressives?

Butch1 · 4 months ago

Time for a new progressive party.

Butch1 · 4 months ago

These people are not democrats but republicans who ran on a democratic ticket. It makes me wonder if there was a grand plan to infiltrate the democratic party to do just this very thing. These people need to be brought out into the light of day and exposed for the traitors they really are. These are the ones we need to run someone else against and continue to point out they were against the common man and didn't want them to be covered with an affordable insurance. This is also where we need to vote a simple majority, I knew these fools were going to do this no matter how they smiled and said they are into bipartisanship and are not fighting Obama.

RichardS · 4 months ago

Ross may have some issues with reimbursement rates, but is it right to shoot down the whole bill ........ no is isn't. These republican lite types ought to pay a penalty for siding with republicans to obstruct passage of one of the most important pieces of legislation in decades. Democrats ought to come together for a change. The republilcans just love how Democrats are sooooo undisciplined.

NAVDOC3rdMAR · 4 months ago

We have to fight back and call, write e-mails, letters-to-editors and to Congress to let them know how Americans feel about for-profit health care in America.
Here are some Senators and blue dog dems who are wrong on Health Care reform. Give them a call and demand,
"MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE FOR ALL NOW!"
(blue dog Idiots/repug wannabes)
barrow D-ga, boucher D-va, gordon D-tn, hill D-in, kind D-wi,
matheson D-ut, malacon D-la, pomeroy D-nd, space D-oh,
tanner D-tn

Joe Lieberman I-CT, Chuck Grassley R-IA, Lindsey Graham R-SC,
Susan Collins R-ME, Olympia Snowe R-ME, David Vitter R-LA,
Saxby Chambliss R-GA, Tom Coburn R-OK, Jon Kyl R-AZ,
John Thune R-SD, Richard Lugar R-IN, Jim DeMint R-SC
Jeff Sessions R-AL, Richard Shelby R-AL, Mel Martinez R-FL,
John McCain R-AZ, Mitch McConnell R-KY, Jim Inhofe R-OK,
Lamar Alexander R-TN, Dick Burr R-NC, John Cornyn R-TX

Mark Pryor D-AR, Thomas Carper D-DE, Mary Landrieu D-LA,
Max Baucus D-MT, Kent Conrad D-ND, Ben Nelson D-NE,
Maria Cantwell D-WA, Kay Hagan D-NC, Blanche Lincoln D-AR,
Ron Wyden D-OR, Evan Bayh D-IN, Diane Feinstein D-CA,
Arlen Specter D-PA

Here are the toll-free numbers for the Capitol Hill Switchboard:
(House and Senate)
1-800-828-0498
1-866-338-1015
1-866-220-0044.

Also give the President a call or write an e-mail:

White House Comments Line:

1-202-456-1414 M-F 09:00 - 05:00 est. (NOT A TOLL-FREE #)

President Obama's e-mail: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Nothing rattles the Congress more than voters ringing the phones off the hook. Call the House, Senate and the White House and demand,
"MEDICARE/SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE FOR ALL NOW!"

LuZenMyMnd · 4 months ago

EXACTLY! Anything we want passed we're going to have to apply the fire to our elected congressional leaders. They are operating independently of their consituents wishes. We overwhelmingly voted for Obama because of heathcare amongst a few other things. If they don't want to go along w/the program....they need to be nudged out of the way.

halhowell · 4 months ago

I'm not wealthy by a long shot, but for all of you who want the government to take care of you, I am ashamed to call you Americans! Your grandparents lived all their lives without a government handout or the government telling them how to live, what to eat, what kind of horse to ride or car to drive, how to wipe their noses, what to wear. it sounds more and more like we have a bunch of ninnies living in our midst!!! Progressives are nothing more than communists by another name. You would all be happier living in China. They will take care of you from the cradle to the grave! Sissies!

halhowell · 4 months ago

Thanks for the info. Now I know who to call to support!

girlfromeast · 4 months ago

All of you who are for it do not know what socialized medicine is. Never lived under the "priviledge" of having use one. DO NOT vote for it! Do more research before you speak and be smart American, not follower of the Marxist plan.

lynchie · 4 months ago

Girl from the east you are full of shit. What does socialized mean. Medicare is socialized, Medicaid is socialized, the VA hospitals are socialized. The post office which by the way i give a letter to every Tuesday and they deliver it in Montreal to my sister every Thursday. I can take a whole shit load of socialized goverment efficiency. Go back to your Health Insurance company and get ready for the unemployment line.

Butch1 · 4 months ago

Amen!

bjohnson · 4 months ago

The post office which by the way i give a letter to every Tuesday and they deliver it in Montreal to my sister every Thursday

You forgot to mention that the Post Office is insanely unprofitable and would not last a day as normal company. There increases in postage rates has far outstripped the rate of inflation which means they are only getting worse and worse.

lynchie · 4 months ago

That over run of costs is largely due to the low rates charged for junk mail. Corporate America gets welfare again at the expense of the people. a 2 cent raise is not out stripping inflation. I am sure you would just like to privatize it like all right wing baboons.

lynchie · 4 months ago

That over run of costs is largely due to the low rates charged for junk mail. Corporate America gets welfare again at the expense of the people. a 2 cent raise is not out stripping inflation. I am sure you would just like to privatize it like all right wing baboons.

halhowell · 4 months ago

Girl from the East, you go girl!!! Freedom is more valuable than having the government decide if you get care, what kind of care and how much you are going to get if any. All of you progressives should go live in Russia! Leave America to freedom loving people and take Obama with you!

jo2011 · 4 months ago

you are so right

KerrynowCampau · 4 months ago

I may not have lived "under" socialized heath care but I can read. The series of tubes called the internet has a lot of information on it about other countries. Having said that, girl, I don't think you have to worry about socialized heath care coming to the US any time soon. Too many selfish, greedy people here....

halhowell · 4 months ago

If by greedy, you mean people who work hard for their living and want the freedom to enjoy the fruits of their labors and NOT have the government take it and give it to those who don't, then I guess greedy would be appropriate. You talk like one who is a freeloader, parasite! Go out and get a job and earn your keep. Learn to take care of yourself and stop depending on government to wipe your rear end!!!

edgedinblue · 4 months ago

I have, in Sweden. It worked like a charm. I have never gotten in and out so fast to see a gp, never paid less for my meds.

halhowell · 4 months ago

And I'll bet your taxes were through the roof!!!!!! Europeans pay about 60% of their income to the government for the "FREE" healthcare. They also don't get critical things as they age except maybe a cyanide pill! America has the best healthcare in the world. There has to be a better way than this to improve the system which this bill does NOT do. Obama is a Marxist and he should go back to Kenya or Jakarta where he came from!

edgedinblue · 4 months ago

Taxes vary, but under approx $175k they are around 31% with a 1.5% health tax. Just as we do, they also have a property tax and a sales tax (it is called VAT there). Those taxes do pay for health care... and free university... and pension... and day care... as well as the benefits our taxes pay for such as elementary education, police, fire, and public works. I don't know where you got your stats, but my information came from the Encyclopedia of Nations.

Actually, the U.S. ranks about 18th on health care in the world. Swedes are provided a pension when older, never heard of anyone getting a cyanide pill although Switzerland (often confused with Sweden) does allow assisted suicide. As for your birther nonsense, get over it.

The way to improve healthcare is to get rid of insurance companies who are the ones who currently dictate what kind of care you can and can't receive. Single payer is the way to go!

kimbutgar · 4 months ago

Phone call from President Obama to Rep. Ross is needed today. President Obama you need to do some serious arm twisting big time on these blue dogs!

TuxedoCartman · 4 months ago

Oh goodie! We seem to have that three-party political system that people wanted for so long! Yay.

If that's the way it's going to be, the Blue Dog Democrats can leave the name "Democrat" at the door; that belongs to us. Also, why don't they go ahead and leave "Blue" as well; it IS the traditional color for the Democratic party. They can have everything that's left; it suits them.

bill429 · 4 months ago

Come on over, we have a comfortable conservative chair waiting for you and your friends...remeber the country will vote conservative in 2010...so beat the rush, come over now and save the waiting in line!

bill429 · 4 months ago

Hurray Blue-dogs! Keep the faith...we do not need to buy an unknown product when we don't know what each person is going to have to pay for they heath care. The Blue-dogs know the "o" dog will say anything and nothing to get this unknown bill through...ALL WE KNOW IS IT WILL COST EACH OF US AND OUR CHILDREN - BETTER KNOWN AS LESS FOR MORE MONEY!

Name · 4 months ago

The Blue Dogs are doing you and the whole country a favor. Take a step back and look at the big picture. Everybody agrees we need to fix the healthcare system, but not this way. Work with the existing frame work and make it better. Reign in big Pharma, allow for interstate portability, make people accountable for their own health. If you're going to keep eating all those cheese burgers and not exercise and or smoke, you're going to be paying a higher premium. It can be done. But rushing through another bill that nobody read id not an intelligent move. Down with Obamacare!

Ken · 4 months ago

Nice job, Congressman Ross. I'm a conservative that supports you.

halhowell · 4 months ago

Hurray for Mike Ross!!!!!!!!!! I hope he succeeds! The last thing we need is another Government solution to further kill the economy. There has to be a better way than getting the government more in our lives! I already have government healthcare, its called Tri-Care Prime and I can tell you that if you enjoy making an appointment a month out for a problem you have now then welcome to government healthcare. Trust me folks this is NOT the way to go. We can't afford it! Europe has it and that's why people from Canada, Europe and Great Britain come here! If theirs was so great, why do they do that? Socialized medicine sucks!!!!

Daniel · 4 months ago

Yes, it's so bad the senators and federal employees refuse to give it up..........

Canadians and Europeans don't come here for healthcare. That is just what Billo and Hannity tell ya.

I have been to canada and europe. I haven't met one person who has gone to america for healthcare. They laugh at us for profiting of peoples illness.

Most european countries and canada rank better then the U.S. in quality. Why would someone leave a country that has better healthcare and is paid by taxes, for a country that charges for healthcare and provides lower quality.....

Now I know it's hard for you to understand, or to use the brain. But just give it a shot.

Senators and federal employees use a single payer system, and refuse to give it up. I guess they like to be tortured by the horrible system.

U.S. lags behind in every statistic on healthcare. why is that?

conrad strzelecki · 4 months ago

the bill is not a reform bill but a government takeover bill. i am proud of mike ross and his fellow blue dogs for standing up for the real people. how many in congress are going to sign up for this new program? i bet not one.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

Conrad you are so right ...its about power over us..GO Mike Ross

Daniel · 4 months ago

Government takeover? Are you saying that the public option would be run good by the government? So well that it would run them out of business? Do you think before you type? Or you just repeating what you see on Fox News?

I mean under your logic:
United States Postal Service would have killed the shipping/trucking industry. Yet there are still UPS, FedEX, DHL, and the millions of other shipping companies.....

Social Security would have killed the private retirement plan industry. Also known as the pension industry. Yet, to this day I can walk into a bank and get a private retirement plan.

Medicare would have destroyed the retirement home communities....... Yet, there are about 6 just around my house.......

How can all of these industries stay in business with your logic?

I'll let you in on a secret the conservatives don't want you to know. The reason they don't even want public schools is to dumb down the population. The more dumb a nation is, the easier it is to fear/hatemonger those people into a vote.

LOL, you claim that even senators wouldn't sign up for this......... THEY ALREADY HAVE IT. Along with anyone employed by the federal government.... Ever wonder why they wont give it up? Hmmmmmmmm.

Brittanicus · 4 months ago

CHOOSING THE USUAL PROFITING INSURANCE COMPANY, OR CHOOSING GOVERNMENT PLAN SHOULD BE UP TO AMERICANS?
The deciding factor in implementing health care for everybody--LEGALLY--in America, is the Publics voice? Those who want to just follow the same old road, can do so with the profit taking commercial insurance. Those who would be satisfied with a government run health care program, can now start demanding it from the lawmakers. Those who see a Universal health care system, similar to most developed countries in Europe, should start informing every Representative and Senate politician starting today. Rationing in places like England, was caused by the major impact of uncontrolled immigration. I see--THE RATS--are coming out of the woodwork, using propaganda and downright lies about government run medical care?

The Special interest lobby, status quo have very wealthy fingers in the pie and do not want Health care for everybody? It's a trillion dollar business like Cancer treatments. The pharmaceutical companies, AMA and others have very much to lose? Even many corrupt politicians are stockholders in this behemoth money machine. Most American working class can do--without-- high premiums, pre-existing condition clauses. deductibles, co-pays that is representative of the wealthy medical care insurers. Whatever pertains to your family, you should start ruffling the indifferent feathers of the people in Washington at 202-224-3121 Just like illegal immigration , we cannot afford anymore to subsidize the business that hire them or the millions of illegal families.

jo2011 · 4 months ago

Good we dont need socialized medicine in the US. It does not work in any other country why would it work here? I am tired of giving up my freedom to government. Government has no buisness controlling banks , auto companies and now heatlh care. Give me a break..look at social security. If this goes through the whole country will be bankrupt like california.
Obama is ruining this country at an alarming rate. He already has spent more money(debt) than all presidents before him combined. To create or save x amount of jobs...ya right drink some more koolaid!

Tax cuts are the only answer and they dont create debt.

Daniel · 4 months ago

HAHAHAAHAHAHAH. Your to funny. Tax cuts don't create debt? What in the hell are you smoking? Bush had around 200 billion surplus when he took office. Then come the tax cuts for anyone making more then $150,000. We lost the surplus when Bush took over and gave the rich tax cuts.

Thus tax cuts created debt.......... Are you mad? Here is an idea, get your shotgun and shoot some holes in your trailer.....

Mike · 4 months ago

Thank God Almighty for Congressman Ross. Someone has to stop this abomination and I'm praying hard he succeeds.

gmbarnum · 4 months ago

Many of us on the conservative side are very hopeful that this bill can be stopped at the committee level. However, I have seen many congressmen and senators over the years who talk a big game about blocking controversial legislation only to back down once certain "cosmetic changes" have been made, or when promised certain "pork programs" for their districts. Don't get your hopes up that this will be blocked. There is no certainty this will happen. It is going to take a lot of phone calls to these key "blue dogs" and even that may not be enough.

Keep it up and encourage them to stick to their guns and do the right thing. This legislation needs to be killed and never see the light of day again.

mary · 3 months ago

I agree. His call in townhall last night was a JOKE. A screener asked what my question was, it was a question that was clearly against reform that includes a public option. Every caller that "got through" was elderly and singing his praises.
I do not want to lose my private plan!!

jimlilly · 4 months ago

I am a military veteran who has no worries about health care coverage. I am fortunate to have obtained an MBA from a prestigious university thanks to the GI Bill. I have traveled the globe and continually amazed at how our country continues to under perform in the area of health care for its citizens. I am a resident of Little Rock which is not in Mike Ross' district. However, I am almost to the point of being enraged at this stupid, superficial front that he has put up regarding health care.
As a country we have between 45-50 million people without health care. Millions more are under covered and even more are on the brink of losing their coverage. That is far and away the primary issue here. Health care costs for our citizens are approaching a level of bizarre proportion to our other expenditures.
Congressman Ross seems to be bowing to pressure from a group of conservatives who want him to vote against the needs of his district. Ross represents a very poor district in Arkansas where health coverage is both a blessing and a status symbol. If he had the nerve, he would vote for the needs of the many versus the influence of the few.
If he doesn't stop this idiocy now, he will be in the wrong party and clearly a man who can't see further than his pocket book.
P Lilly

jcliving · 4 months ago

I think it is disgraceful that the writer immediately jumps to the conclusion that Rep. Ross has no valid concerns simply because the bill was written by members of the democratic party. Just in case you do not know, we live in a republic. Representative government means a Rep. Ross should look out for his constituency not his political party. If there are issues with the bill, then he should voice his concerns. The writer acts like this is a baseball game where he is his team's number one fan. This debate over health care is about helping people not winning points for the Democratic or Republican party. I entreat you to think of people not parties.

gwing57 · 4 months ago

The core issue is about Capitalism or Socialism. America is built around the concept of free enterprise. Are we to the point where we thnk the sluggish european socialist systems are what we want to emulate? Yes, we have increasing health care expenses but we get the best care.
If you like the efficiency of Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and the US Postal System, then you will be confident in a Federal one payer system. Leaders of countries with a socialist medical system come here when they really get sick.
Oh, and what about the idea of paying health care for all persons in Amercia? The current ten million illegal ailiens will get equal "free care" with the proposed "one payer system". When the word gets out about "free care", our leaky borders will be overwhelmed. Of course, these "immigrants" will bring with them a pre-disposition to socialism and a disregard for the law. If you are a socailist, you can't wait for more government and less private business. For me, I yearn for true business competition without oppressive govenment intervention.

cherryhanz · 4 months ago

Hello, Read Russka by Edgar Rutherford. Everything for the “Good of THE PEOPLE”. My Dad went to Russia 4 times before he died. He thought the idea of universal health care was GREAT-until the last time he went, my dad injured his hand and went in for stitches, the doctor stitched him up, for free – however with no anesthesia, because they did not have any!! Just gave him a wad of paper to bite down on. My Dad died of pancreatic in 2000. He was 64 years old. He had been in the mission field all of his life and had never had any health insurance. He received over $250,000.00 in care, without insurance. My Dad had always lived for Jesus and had never saved any money. This care he received was billed. The miracle is that my Dad had always sent out a newsletter to a group of around 300 people, with reports on his mission efforts. After his death, the last report he had prepared was sent out and a letter detailing his medical bills. Enough money was sent forrm his supporters to completely pay off his medical bills.

My Dad received this state of the art care, including a whipple surgery, without insurance or funds in the bank to cover the medical care he was receiving. The doctors billed him, not knowing that a miracle would happen.

YOU WILL RECEIVE THE BEST MEDICAL CARE IN THE WORLD HERE, WHETHER YOU HAVE INSURANCE OR MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.

The insurance “reform”, actually RATIONING, being proposed will degrade our premier medical system and YOU WHO SUPPORT IT WILL GO DOWN THE HOSPICE SHOOT,

grayskull · 3 months ago

Today's Washington Post stated that Mike Ross has received almost a million dollars in contributions from the health care and insurance industries. Pomeroy leads the pack at 1.5 million and Tanner is close on his heels at 1.2 million. In fact the average "dog" received on average $63,000 more from these sources than other House Democrats. Do you
think that just maybe these donations are shapng their approach towards health care "reform"? Blue dog Democrats? More like a bunch of blue dogs' assholes.

maryhendryx · 3 months ago

I hope the $971,000 you received from health care and insurance companies help to muffle the cries of the millions of people you've thrown under the bus. You're a traitor to the American people and don't deserve the office you presently hold.