Target Dems Rubber-Stamp Healthcare Takeover, Where Do Dem Candidates Stand?
FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Trent Van Haaften (IN-08); Denny Heck (WA-03); Bryan Lentz (PA-07); and Robbie Wills (AR-02).
Baird Rubber-Stamps Healthcare Takeover, Where Does Denny Heck Stand?
Dismissing Public Opinion, Retiree Puts Pelosi First, Voters Second. Will Denny Heck Follow Suit?
Washington – Despite a myriad of polls showing that a vote in favor of a government takeover of healthcare would be directly at odds with the interests and values of his constituents, Brian Baird, instead chose to stand with President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Baird’s decision to back a bill that fails to lower the cost of healthcare will likely come at a steep political cost in November for his hand-picked successor, Denny Heck. Tonight Baird rubber-stamped hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes, Medicare cuts, runaway spending and unprecedented government control. Does Denny Heck endorse Baird’s support for this toxic bill that will negatively impact small businesses that are struggling to hire in the midst of a tough economic climate?
Over the past several weeks, the American people have witnessed first-hand a process fraught with corruption and backroom deal-cutting that enticed members of Congress into voting for this bill who would have otherwise voted in the interests of their constituents. By voting for this bill, Baird signed off on every shady backroom deal that the White House and Democrat leaders offered in exchange for votes, including the Cornhusker Kickback, Louisiana Purchase, and Florida Gator-aid. As an aspiring candidate to represent Southwest Washington, the least Heck can do is tell his potential voters how he would have voted tonight. Would he also support shady backroom deals, higher taxes and cuts to Medicare?
Despite the millions of Americans who have repeatedly rejected the Democrats’ unpopular healthcare agenda, Baird and his Democrat colleagues rammed their bill through Congress anyway.
“As Americans wait for Congress to act on health care, a Fox News poll released Thursday finds 55 percent oppose the reforms being considered, while 35 percent favor them.” (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: 55% Oppose Health Care Reform,” FOXNews, 3/19/10)
“Despite repeated and intense sales efforts by the president and his allies in Congress, most Americans consistently oppose the plan that has become the centerpiece of this legislative season.
“In 15 consecutive Rasmussen Reports polls conducted over the past four months, the percentage of Americans that oppose the plan has stayed between 52% and 58%.” (Scott Rasmussen and Doug Schoen, “Why Obama Can’t Move the Health-Care Numbers,” Wall Street Journal, 3/09/2010)
“Tonight, the Democrats rammed through Congress a government takeover of healthcare that slashes Medicare and leaves a crippling debt for our grandchildren to repay,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “This is a plan that cuts benefits for seniors and includes the secretive deals such as the Cornhusker Kickback. The fact that Denny Heck, Pelosi’s Democrat candidate for Congress, refuses to take a position on any of these raw deals or dishonest tactics is tragic and should speak volumes to the majority of voters who oppose this legislation.”
If Denny Heck follows Brian Baird’s footsteps and supports this bill, his changes of being elected don’t look too good:
“…60 percent say that they are more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes this bill and wants to start over, while just 32 percent are more likely to vote against a candidate who takes this position. This suggests clearly that a “yes” vote is problematic. A detailed look at the research shows that representatives who change their vote from opposing it last November to supporting it now will probably be committing political hara-kiri.” (Douglas E. Schoen, “The handwriting on the wall,” Politico, 3/16/2010)
Judging from the numbers, Brian Baird wasn’t listening to his constituents. Would Denny Heck make the same mistake? If he can’t hear the message voters are sending him now, then he would be less likely to hear it if elected to Congress.
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