Town halls have become something those opposed to Health Care Reform have recognized as a way to make their voices better heard. But will voices be heard, if Town Hall meetings are not held?

As the U.S. Senate wraps up its work August 7 and goes on break, some U.S. senator’s offices polled yesterday were keeping details of Town hall meetings close to the vest.

Perhaps some of the closed-mouth attitude was due to some U.S. Representatives who have been surprised by upset constituents questioning them on Health Care Reform at town halls. Many have seen the YouTube video of Sen. Arlen Specter’s recent town hall meeting, in which an uproar arose when Sen. Specter said the Health Care Reform bill was so big, but it’s divided up and… “we have to make judgements very fast.” He added after the crowd roared in disapproval that “Every bill is read slowly and understood by me before I vote.” Does that include the stimulus bill, too, Sen. Specter?

Having read most of the Health Care Reform bill, I had big concerns: 1) How are we were going to pay for it? 2) Abortion is included (is that health care?) 3) Health care will be rationed 4) The disabled and elderly seemed to be headed for very rationed care and possibly euthanasia, and 5) The way it is written, most companies will dump their employees into the public health care plan because it will be too costly to keep private health insurance.

After calling one of my senators, Bill Nelson (D-FL), and asking his office when he was holding a Town Hall meeting, I was asked for my name, address, and phone number so that I could possibly attend if he hosts a Town Hall. Shocked that my senator might not be having a Town Hall, considering the biggest change to Health Care is being considered when Congress returns in September, I decided to conduct an unscientific but fair poll.

Senators from Blue States and Red States were called, picked randomly, and asked whether they were having a regular, in-person Town Hall meeting, a phone conference Town Hall meeting, or were unsure because plans had not been finalized in that regard yet.

Perhaps due to the number of people who have shown up recently to Town Halls and vociferously announced their opinions to their Representatives, some senators’ plans had not been finalized, and a few spokespeople did not return calls by press time.

Health care reform has been a very hot topic among constituents in a number of states. Health care listening sessions are going to be held across the state of North Dakota, said Chris Gaddie, spokesperson for Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND). The ‘health care listening sessions’ will be held in person, not via phone, Gaddie said.

A couple states over, in Idaho, Sen. Mike Crapo (R) has gotten an earful on Health Care Reform from his constituents. “He’s certainly heard loud and clear” what most constituents want, and it’s not the public option, said Lindsay Nothern, Sen. Crapo’s spokesperson.   He added that Sen. Crapo would be available for this recess. During last month’s Town Hall conference call, almost the whole call was on health care, Nothern noted.

As the Senate’s break begins and some Town Halls are held (or not held), it will be interesting to see how senators and representatives alike handle hearing from their constituents. And since the White House is handing out advice on the best way to handle Town Halls, I expect that the break — is going to be a hot one.

Video Source: YouTube

Cross-posted at http://race42012.com

These heroes define patriotism. Let us never forget their bravery, their commitment, and their courage.

This Memorial Day, take time to pray for all those who fought and died for America. Let us honor their bravery. They gave their all, willingly and selflessly. These heroes fought hard against the enemy, and though they fell, they died knowing that they played a part in keeping America secure. We are still the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let us never forget our heroes who died to keep us safe on America’s shores.

Tip of the hat to Michelle Malkin for her post on Memorial Day heroes.

David K. Rehbein of The American Legion sums Memorial Day up well.

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called Memorial Day, “our most respected holiday,” and urged that “we not ponder with sad thoughts the passing of our heroes but rather ponder their legacy – the life they made possible for us by their commitment and pain.”

Video Source: YouTube

Do you want to be seen hours later by the doctor or nurse, but then wait weeks to get a lab test done, and then be made to wait months for treatment?  

Visiting a primary care doctor; how long will it take under Health Care Reform?

This could be the future of medicine in America.

Yes, you’ll probably hear Pres. Barack Obama announcing that his health care reform plan will save Americans thousands of dollars a year. Do you believe that? And you may hear Obama announce today that some affiliated with the health care industry have promised to cut costs should health care reform pass.

In the midst of all those pompous announcements, ask yourself, do you want sub-par health care? Will you be happy with rationed health care? After all, the government will be holding the reins should health care reform pass, and let’s not fool ourselves. When it comes to the bottom line, don’t you think the government cares more about numbers and profit than it does about your health and whether you get a (possible) life-saving procedure or treatment?

There are so many countries to look at to see what America’s future could be with socialized medicine. Many who live in countries with socialized medicine and who need to get a major procedure done — and have the resources to do so — come to the U.S. to get their major medical needs taken care of, and who can blame them? Despite the problems our medical system has, it provides the best care in the world.

Our government is not known for running efficient government agencies. Do Americans really think the government is going to streamline the health care industry to the benefit of all? And do you believe that there will be no increase in taxes to pay for this health care reform, which the current administration has already acknowledged will be very expensive?

There’s no question that there’s a need for change in the health care industry, but do you think our government should be the one dictating the terms?

These are all questions to consider now, knowing the U.S. Senate is intent on bringing a health care reform bill to the Senate floor in July.

What are you most concerned about with regards to health care reform?

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Phillip Kent, chairman and CEO of CNN did not reply to my query on what, if any, actions have been taken regarding Ms. Roesgen’s unprofessional behavior in covering the Chicago Tea Party April 15.

CNN

Apparently, Ms. Roesgen is on a “previously scheduled” vacation (tip of the hat to the Berman Post for that tidbit). Very conveniently timed vacation, when Ms. Roesgen’s name is mud to a great many Americans angered by her behavior “interviewing” Tea Party protesters while covering that Chicago Tea Party last Wednesday. And isn’t it ironic that amid the silence from CNN, they have demanded YouTube pull all the video footage of Ms. Roesgen reporting on the Chicago Tea Party from the internet? Don’t you find it hilarious that because Founding Bloggers was there at the scene and has its own video footage of Ms. Roesgen’s reporting skills at the Tea Party in Chicago, that CNN is not, according to at least one lawyer’s opinion, in a strong position to completely obliterate the embarassing behavior of their reporter and anchor at the aforementioned Tea Party?

When Ms. Roesgen comes back from her vacation, wonder if CNN will carry on as if nothing ever happened? Think Americans will have ‘forgotten’ her behavior?

If House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama and others want to believe that the national Tax Tea Party, held April 15, represented only a handful of right-wing extremists, that’s fine. The majority of Americans know our leaders, and the mainstream media, are only deceiving themselves.

The hundreds of thousands of Americans who attended Tax Tea Parties, or wanted to but couldn’t because they had to work, need to make a big statement. We need to show our leaders on Capitol Hill — the ones who’ve been spending trillions of taxpayer dollars — who their bosses are; the American taxpayers! Our leaders on Capitol Hill need to know we don’t approve of their words, actions and votes. We need to give our congressional leaders a warning, that if they continue with their irresponsible spending of taxpayer dollars, we will vote them out of office in 2010.  

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Whether we are Independents, Republicans, or Democrats, we need to write our congressmen and our President, and the message needs to be brutally clear.

We the people are not being represented. We the taxpayers do not like being disregarded by our representatives. We the people do not want trillions of our tax dollars spent on bailouts of people and companies that took huge risks, and are now being rewarded with our money. We patriots know that our government cannot spend our way into prosperity. America’s burgeoning deficit is exploding. It’s hurting us, it’s hurting the future of our children and grandchildren, and it’s weakening America.

Write your letter. Sign it. Mail it.

Do it today.

Then heat the phone lines up. Call your congressmen’s offices on Monday. A phone call interrupts their day. Interrupt your two senators. Interrupt your representative. Interrupt the President.

Our strength is in our numbers.

God bless America!

Photo Source: Wikimedia

“The ‘tea parties’ being held today by groups of right-wing activists, and fueled by FOX News Channel, are an effort to mislead the public about the Obama economic plan that cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans and creates 3.5 million jobs. It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt. Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

Well, well. Ms. Schakowsky is lashing out. If the Tea Parties were promoted by corporations, don’t you think the media would have leapt on that like a hungry dog after a bone?

Democrat and Republican leaders alike have a reason to be on the defensive. They don’t get it. They and others in Washington keep spending trillions of taxpayer dollars and running up the deficit, and expect us to say nothing.

Ever seen a grassroots movement like this? I haven’t. Americans who never attended a peaceful demonstration in their lives, made sacrifices to attend their local Tax Tea Parties yesterday. Even scarier for our spendthrift leaders in Washington, D.C. — those people who attended the tea parties got so jazzed about making sure their leaders hear them — that they’re already planning another tea party!

That’s right, congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. The sleeping giant has awakened. Americans are angry about the wasteful spending in Washington. They don’t believe the tripe from Pres. Obama about 95% of Americans will be unaffected by tax increases. With so much government spending, how can 95% of Americans be unaffected?

Message to Ms. Schakowsky and others who think like her: you can’t shove a “right-wing extremist” label on the Americans who attended the Tea Parties yesterday. Got news for you. The Tea Party was a bi-partisan event. No matter how many in the media (see CNN reporter Susan Roesgen ‘covering’ the tea party in Chicago in video above) try to silence and/or mock demonstrating Americans, the issue of endless government spending remains.

Time to get used to the new America, elected leaders on Capitol Hill. The America where you truly are answerable to your employer: your constituents and the American people. That may make some of those leaders angry, but that’s the brew the American people are demanding.

Got tea, Ms. Schakowsky?

Video Source: YouTube

Does that strike you as wrong? It is. It is unconstitutional. Nowhere in our Constitution does it allow a president to control a private company.

Mr. Obama is dictating the terms of his power, firing and hiring a CEO of a private company, and no one is saying nay. Anyone wondering why Mr. Obama hasn’t asked the United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger to resign?

We should all be very concerned at the direction our country is taking, and motivated to peacefully demonstrate at our local Tax Day Tea Party.