Lincoln, Halter Tread Lightly
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) and LG Bill Halter (D) took rhetorical jabs at each other during a debate Friday p.m., but neither tilled new ground that deviated much from their own well-worn talking points.
Halter went on offense first against Lincoln during a question about the Employee Free Choice Act, which is often referred to as "card check." He mentioned that she first sponsored EFCA, then opposed it and then "signaled" to Senate leadership that she would filibuster such a bill. Halter stressed that he would support what he's heard about a compromise unionization bill being worked on by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) and that the original EFCA draft is a non-starter even among union leadership now.
That set up Lincoln for an easy body blow on Halter, saying, that she appreciated he "has seen that compromise because most senators haven't seen that compromise." She later added bluntly, "I don't support card check," saying that it "creates unfortunate divisions" though she did not offer specific details. Instead, Lincoln said more focus should be paid to the economy.
Halter distinguished himself from Lincoln in a different way on the next question about judicial nominees, though only those who have paid significant attention to the campaign to date would have detected what Halter wanted to accomplish.
After Lincoln said she looks at judges in a "holistic way," and that she does not want to support a "judicial activist," she explained her voting philosophy. "... I didn't look (at confirmation) based on a political aspect," said Lincoln.
Halter did not disagree with her Lincoln, but instead took a veiled swipe at Lincoln. "We should make sure they represent the broad diversity of Arkansas and you can count on me to do that.," said Halter.
Repeatedly during the campaign, Halter has hit Lincoln for not recommending blacks for judicial appointments during her tenure in office. He did not mention Lincoln or her record directly, but clearly intended to present himself as someone who would support nominees that are "representative broadly of Arkansas and its people."
Lincoln referenced bipartisanship and fending off attacks from "both extremes" as she painted herself as a pragmatic centrist. Halter said at one point that he has some "conservative" views and some "moderate" ones too, though he omitted any use of the word "liberal", instead opting to say that "it's hard to put one-word labels on folks."
Both Lincoln and Halter played up their good-fiscal-stewards bona fides while tying themselves to Bill Clinton. Halter took credit for working in the WH for the first 6 years of Clinton's term and said he was "proud to be part of a team that worked to balance the budget. ... Since that time, unfortunately, Washington has wrecked our budget."
The incumbent told the audience she created the Blue Dog Dem group and "took the tough vote in 1993" on the budget that Halter referenced.
Perhaps the biggest policy differences between the two came on TARP with Halter saying he would have voted against it and the public option for health care (Halter for, Lincoln against).
The debate also featured businessman DC Morrison (D), who opposed every key piece of the national Dem agenda mentioned at the debate, including climate change ("man made hoax"), health care reform ("jobs killer") and abortion rights ("I would oppose the confirmation (of anyone) that I even suspected of being pro-abortion with every ounce of strength that I have.")
Morrison diverged so far from the Dem mainstream that he was asked why he is even running under the party label. Morrison said his "problem is with the liberal Democrats in Washington" and that he is "not happy with either political party."
I want to commend all of you for working so hard and being so strong at helping the whitehouse and congress begin to address our U.S. and Global healthcare crisis. You have been AWESOME! my fellow Americans and peoples of the World. America and the World is better and safer for it. My greatest pride is the knowledge that I am one of you. And that you really get it. You really understand the importance of it all.
There are some potentially very good things in the healthcare legislation. Especially with the reconciliation fix's. The Democrats, Bernie Sanders and the Whitehouse did a GREAT! job of fighting to produce the best healthcare legislation that they could. They have earned all our strong support. And we should give it to them.
But it was your relentless pressure and hard work that made the difference. Whatever good comes from this healthcare legislation, America and the peoples of the World will have each of you to thank. You were smart, creative, courageous and relentless. You fought together for the best legislation possible. And when you had to, you fought alone. No matter who stumbled and fell you continued to push and forge ahead. Fighting for the lives and health of the American people and the World. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR-SELVES :-)
It may come to pass that future generations will look back on us and say that we were ALL Americas Greatest Generations. And that healthcare reform was our finest hour. You should be proud of our leaders President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and the many other Democratic and independent fighters for the people in congress. They proved them-self worthy of the leadership of a GREAT! PEOPLE.
But we are not done yet. This was just the beginning of healthcare reform, not the end. WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, ARE NOT! divided on healthcare legislation. The vast majority of you have been consistently crystal clear that this legislation does not go far enough. You want a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE!! available to everyone on day one. And you want it NOW! YOU MUST NOT ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE TO STAND WITHOUT A STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
WE THE PEOPLE have been crystal clear that we want an end to dependence on for-profit healthcare and the for-profit proxies called private for non-profit healthcare. The American people want the CHOICE! of a strong Government-run Public Option to replace their need or dependence on healthcare providers whose primary motivation is profit. Rather than providing the highest quality, easiest accessible and most affordable medically necessary healthcare possible. This is what the rest of the developed World has. And the American people want it too. They want healthcare ASSURANCE! Not, for-profit health insurance. And they want it NOW!
Now is the time to continue the push for a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone that wants it on day one. Rationally it's clear what we have to do to get this done. SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATS that supported you with a Public Option, and REMOVE as many republicans as you can. Not one republican in congress was willing to step across the isle to support a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE!! available to everyone on day one. NOT ONE! Let no candidate prevail this November that does not support a Strong Government-run Public Option.
47,000 AMERICANS die each year from lack of healthcare. 120,000 die from treatable illness that don't die in other developed countries. Hundreds of thousands of you are dieing from medical accidents in a rush to profit. And Millions are injured. Millions are driven into bankruptcy. All for the privilege of paying two to three times as much as any other people in the developed world for healthcare. HOGWASH!
Additionally, tens of thousands of you and your children were killed and millions sickened and injured from a terror attack with H1N1 (swine flu). Released on the American people and the World by the for-profit healthcare industry. All in an attempt to panic and frighten you into accepting the oxymoronic criminal enterprise of private for-profit healthcare (The most costly, deadly, dangerous, and disgraceful product sold in America). H1N1 is still sickening people and killing them. Especially children, the young and the middle aged. And there will be a third wave. These are the terrorist you need to worry about the most. Even the so-called international terrorist would not do something so INSANE! But greed driven medical profiteers would and did.
Apparently as far as republicans in GOVERNMENT are concerned, YOU! my fellow Americans - CAN JUST DROP DEAD! Including their own family members. Fools! Hundreds of thousands of you, and possibly millions of you will die from the long-term effects of your infection and poisoning with H1N1.
So my fellow Human Beings. Rest-up, Take good care of the basics (Balanced nutrition, hydration, exercise, rest and POSITIVE emotional supports). Then wade back into the FIGHT! for a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one. Drug re-importation, Abolishment or strong restrictions on patents for biologic and prescription drugs. And government controlled and negotiated drug and medical cost, NOW! You must take back control of your healthcare system from the Medical Industrial Complex. This is a matter of National and Global security. There can be NO MORE EXCUSES.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings. I'm glad to know of you. And proud to be one of you.
See you on the battle field.
Sincerely
jacksmith - WorkingClass :-)
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