Nancy nails it: The Truth Hurts — You Did Vote to End Medicare as We Know It

[TheBigotBasher]

Republicants have written to President Obama asking him to call off Democratic Party attacks on their plan to replace medicare with voucherless vouchers.

Forty-one Republican freshmen, elected with the support of the Tea Party Terrorists begged President Obama to let their plans stay secret.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2011/05/house-gop-freshmen-complain-to-obama-about-dem-medicscare-tactics.php?page=1

Nancy Pelosi replied.

To: GOP Freshman (AGAIN)
Fr: Democratic Leader’s Press Office
Da: May 11, 2011
Re: Your Vote to End Medicare Is Here to Stay

We know it’s hard for you to accept the anger over your vote to end Medicare as we know it, but holding a press conference to ask the American people to ignore your irresponsible vote is, frankly, a bit puzzling. You defended your vote just two weeks ago, but you didn’t like what you got back from your constituents. It’s time to take responsibility for your actions.

Wall Street Journal – GOP Freshmen Appeal to Obama for Calm Discussion on Medicare

TPMDC – GOP Freshmen On Medicare Attacks: Let’s Let Bygones Be Bygones

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_05/house_gop_freshmen_convenientl029501.php">Washington Monthly – House GOP freshmen conveniently forget 2010

In case you missed it, here’s the helpful memo we sent your way yesterday.

To: GOP Freshman
Fr: Democratic Leader’s Press Office
Da: May 10, 2011
Re: The Truth Hurts — You Did Vote to End Medicare as We Know It

Just half a day after Speaker Boehner said he wants to engage in “honest conversations about how best to preserve Medicare” (ie: the GOP’s plan to end Medicare as we know it), you are trying to silence criticism of your vote supporting the plan.

From Politico:

A group of House Republican freshmen, tired of getting hammered on Medicare, is leading a fresh protest against Democrats’ tactics on the senior citizen health care program.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger sent a letter to the White House Tuesday signed by 41 of his classmates “calling on President Obama to end the ‘MediSCARE’ tactics,” according to a release today…

The latest freshman demonstration comes just weeks after some of the new members faced tough questions from constituents in town halls after their vote to alter Medicare by turning it into a program that provides federal subsidies for the purchase of private plans. Some of the freshmen who made headlines for their raucous town halls, including Pennsylvania Reps. Pat Meehan and Lou Barletta, and Florida’s Allen West, signed onto the letter.

Sometimes the truth hurts.

House Republicans voted for a GOP budget that:

Ends Medicare as we know it.

Forces seniors to pay over $6,000 more a year.

Requires a 54-year-old today to save an additional $182,000 in his or her retirement account, or $250 a week, just to pay the costs of the plan.

Democrats have a plan to ensure older Americans have access to affordable, high quality care – it’s called Medicare and it currently serves more than 46 million Americans.

We are committed to preserving Medicare—not ending it. Will the GOP finally join us?

Republicants responded with oh please let us get away with this so we can cut taxes for billionaires. They are so hard pressed.

[SpiralHawk]

1. Free Clue for RepubliBaggers: Shut up and take it

You voted for your own ugly, anti-American idea. You weasly whining now only makes you look all the more shameful.

Now just shut up your hypocritical whining, and finally -- for once in your twisted lives -- accept responsibility for the Turd you have laid on America's carpet.

[calimary]

72. Yes. We will be happy to pull our punches WHEN YOU PULL YOURS FIRST.

You guys LIVE for trash-talking us Dems, trying to tar and feather us and rub our noses in votes or stands we've taken. You guys LIVE for lambasting us and hanging us out to dry on issues we support, that you hate. You guys LIVE to rove us into the No-Man's-Land of electoral defeat. And now you're whining because you're being force-fed a taste of your own medicine? Go get bent!!!

:nopity:

Somebody call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHmbulance.

[Avant Guardian]

2. America rejects your mindlessly radical agenda

You made your own beds, now you can sleep in them.

[rasputin1952]

3. They were elected to find a viable employment program...

not able to do that, the went directly to social issues...and now have the gumption to wonder why people are angry?

Nice to see a bunch of single term congresscritters collectively soiling themselves after the sane constituents showed them their anger.


Bottom line, too bad. You should have worked on jobs, you created this monster, live with it...you'll be unemployed soon anyway.

[Dawson Leery]

4. 41 freshmen GOP thugs = 41 top seats for Democrats to takeover

in 2012.

[AC_Mem]

29. GREAT Comment

And so true!

Annette

[Auntie Bush]

51. How many seats do we need to take over the house?

I don't think 41 will do it but it's a big bite.

[blondeatlast]

56. And really, all that needs to be done is keep reminding the voters.

The bastards wrtote their own obituary.

[Enrique]

5. I love her tone

Nancy schooling the GOP freshmen. :thumbsup:

[Fuddnik]

6. But, but, Nobody told us everyone would get mad at us.

[OwnedByFerrets]

7. K and R

[msongs]

8. Dems are being too kind. From Obama down they should be blasting repubs on this issue 24/7 mt

[Enthusiast]

26. But why doesn't Obama

take advantage of gifts on a silver platter?

Could it be because he is beholden to the same PTB that Republican "fiscal hawks" are? From a previous Obama supporter, and lifelong Democrat, it hardly makes much sense. It makes about as much sense as signing a bill that extends Bush tax cuts and includes a FICA holiday giving ammunition to mouthy TV fiscal warriors.

This is another "set up". Or rather, we are being set up.

[Hutzpa]

52. This is milkytoast

trust me, I believe Obama is going to use this to his advantage. Now, watch this drive.

This from the same group of people who were making all kinds of accusations toward
Obama? and calling him all sort of names? This is a sore thumb.

[deacon]

27. +1 Straight thru to November 2012.

[Plucketeer]

54. I've wondered that too.

After the elections last cycle, I was dismayed like everyone else. But I comforted myself by musing if maybe the Rethugs hadn't won just enough rope to hang themselves with. My suspicions are proving to be warranted with the way things are playing out. But WHY are the Dems mute for the most part? Thinking back BEFORE the '08 cycle, what did silence get us? They couldn't have said anything more stupid than the spew from the Right - not even if they TRIED! Yet we got watered down pablum for results (change) instead of bricks we could build with.

These kiddee congress-dolts will take care of themselves for the most part. :dunce: They'll be discarded like spent tea bags in 2012. But WHAT will WE do with the magic wand next time WE gain control of it??? I don't see very promising prospects.

[phantom power]

9. Every vote on every issue or bill in Congress should be public. Each individual vote.

The very idea that a Senator or Rep can cast a vote for anything that isn't public record is bullshit. If it isn't unconstitutional, it ought to be.

[MadMaddie]

10. Ha..ha..

That vote is set in stone now, they can whine and moan about it all they want but it won't change what they did.

Let us remind their state citizens every chance we get.

[bertman]

11. Did Nancy really write that letter? I don't believe it, but IF she did, well

Bless Her Heart!!

REC.

[handmade34]

22. ...

http://www.democraticleader.gov/blog/?p=3965

[iwishiwas]

12. Thanks Nancy. You nailed it.

[AC_Mem]

30. Nancy Rocks and that's a fact!

She calmly handed them back their turd and schooled their asses.

She is seriously my hero. She has more class in her pinky finger than all 41 of these schoolyard thugs have in their collective teapots.

What happens when you stand up to a bully? THEY BACK DOWN. Underneath every bully hides a coward. This is typical behavior for a bully and I'm so happy that they continue to expose their true selves for all to see.

By the way GOP, Where. Are. The. Jobs.??

Oh thats right, first you have to attack women's health, the poor, the sick, the weak and take away all their rights and benefits. I'm sure that is keeping you too busy to work on that jobs plan you got the gullible to hire you to do. :puke:

Annette - who is 53, so your plan will affect my life and I will be very active in not only getting this message out, but assisting in any way I can to make sure you are not re-elected!

[Overseas]

65. +1

[Canuckistanian]

13. When's that Senate vote on Congress' "Kill Medicare" bill?

Is Reid still planning an up or down vote?

[deacon]

28. He can take his time, smoke a cigar in the meantime and spring that vote anytime he wants to. n/t

[jenmito]

14. I LOVE it! They dish it out but they can't take it! Waaaaaaaah! n/t

[pacalo]

15. So they actually want the Democrats to act as peacemakers between themselves & their constituents?!

It's their plan that's making their constituents angry.

[rufus dog]

16. Everyone must remember this!

Nancy will get no air time. NONE!

Keep this in mind the next time you wonder why Democrats aren't out pushing their ideas.

They are, the media silences them.

If a Repub called out Dems they would be on every station, 24x7, Nancy might get an invite from MSNBC.

[proud patriot]

40. +1

and that's why we must be the ones out there telling everyone we encounter from our childs teacher to the people in line at checkout .

[veganlush]

43. you're right

it's the only way, I talk about this stuff to everyone I encounter. It seems like a small thing, but it's huge. Hard to convince people of the power of "word of mouth"

[proud patriot]

68. I totally agree

:hi:

[blondeatlast]

57. True that. nt

[defendandprotect]

17. Unique idea -- why didn't Dems think of doing this with Bush?

And -- why would Repugs think that Obama would be sympathetic?

[HankyDubs]

20. because they kept comparing Obama to Hitler

that was a clear indicator that they wanted to have a fact-based civil discussion about the problems this great nation faces.

[freshwest]

18. Yes, call them out on their death panels for the poor and the elderly!

[Johnny Morales]

19. That's Why I love Nancy Pelosi and don't get why the Left echews strong female leaders

And am forever confounded by the Left's refusal to reward her tremendous efforts to drag the country, including president Obama leftward with unyielding, enthusiastic support!

Instead we focus on her less than absolute, but still far more progressive stances on the war, and the most leftward POV on that matter of any major office holder.

Oddly it strikes me as a sort of misogyny on the left.

For whatever reason, the Left seems to be far more wary of powerful women than the right wing.

We can come up with all the excuses we want, call the right wing females fronts for a male agenda, anti women women, but the truth is still they are praised and recognized for their leadership position, and that matters. Even if they are a front.

HOWEVER whenever the Left finds a super talented woman we join with the Right in demonizing them.

At best we are silent as we were last election as Pelosi was savaged by the Right, and barely heard in her defense were words from the left.

Of course the irony is rich. None other than Nancy Pelosi offered the same sort of treatment to HRC when she ran for president. She was indifferent.

So clearly I'm NOT INFERRING that some progressives are guilty of this. I'm saying as a group we all are at one time or another.

We have to start supporting our strong female leaders like the Right Wing does theirs, and that is a call to progressive women not just men.

The self-serving excuse that "as progressive women we don't feel bound to support a woman a bit more" is unjustifiable in light of the results from 2008, when Team Pelosi went down to tremendous defeat, in part due to the utter lack of passion on our part.

Double irony is it wasn't due to failures on her part, but the grand disillusionment many supporters of President Obama felt then as he backtracked on dearly held positions.

Which is the final proof anyone should need that the left has problems supporting strong female leaders.

Despite Pelosi being as LEFT as LEFT can be AS the speaker of the House, we dismissed her efforts as if they didn't matter.

People who are disappointed with President Obama have their reasons, but it did NOT justify ignoring her efforts, and yes I think we feel that way, because she's a woman.

Finally anyone who wants to declare her a failure for not adhering to the Code Pink standards of Progressive politics can take a flying leap,

Their standards do not fit within the Democratic party, and it's unfair to condemn Pelosi for refusing to uphold a political agenda the party has rejected as too extreme.

[whathehell]

25. You are correct, sir...and I laud you for your insight and your support of Pelosi

The Left, especially men on the Left, have a decided "problem", IMO, supporting strong females leaders, and strong females in general

To be fair, I think gender bias is deeply ingrained in ALL of us, even women themselves, unfortunately. That being said, some

of us, women and men, seem to be doing better than others in "rooting it out".

You're observation about mysogyny on the left is accurate "Oddly it strikes me as a sort of misogyny on the left"

The only thing I might quibble with, is that it is "odd". Sad, infuriating and self-defeating, I'd say, but not

unusual, as you will doubtless see on this board.

Sexism seems to be the hardest "ism" to defeat....Progressive men will give women's equality lip service, but fail (often flagrantly) to live up

to it time and again..

[avebury]

49. It seems like there are fewer women in politics then men. Therefore

batshit crazy women like Palin, Angle, O'Donnell, Bachmann, and Sally Kern (from Oklahoma) really stand out. As a woman I find it so embarrassing when I see women like that in the political scene. I am not about to vote for a woman candidate just because she is female. Batshit crazy women make is difficult for credible women to succeed in politics.

[whathehell]

50. There are...but I doubt there are fewer

"batshit crazy" mean than batshit crazy women.

I wouldn't vote for a right winger whatever there gender.

The RW women you mention are crazy, but so are the men

I think we're really talking about the Left here.

[efhmc]

36. A very precise and, sorry to say, true analysis.

[Youth Uprising]

63. Oh, for fucks sake!

So let me get this straight, any criticism from the left towards Obama is steeped in racism and any criticism towards Pelosi is the result of misogyny? Jesus Christ. We can't even hold our own leaders accountable anymore.

[justiceischeap]

70. I've seen some not so nice comments here about Nancy that have nothing to do w/ her politics

So, I think criticism of someone's politics is one thing but insults based on looks, a certain phrase, not going "left enough" are more to do with something else, whether it be gender or race.

I think Nancy Pelosi gets a lot of heat on DU because she's not further left but one thing that really upsets me about "progressives" is their inability to see that ALL politicians are supposed to serve THEIR constituency. When a politician that does something that most here would consider "blue dog," I don't think they often stop to think about the fact that Dems and Repubs alike are supposed to represent ALL people, Dems and Repubs. Unless said politician lives in an extremely progressive district, if they are doing their job as they are supposed to, then they most likely aren't going to be as left as most progressives would like them to be. Nancy gets a lot of flack for not being "left" enough. To me that's like saying someone isn't black enough, white enough, straight enough, gay enough... That isn't about politics, that's about personal opinion.

[BzaDem]

21. "Democrats have a plan ... it’s called Medicare and it currently serves more than 46m Americans."

K&R.

[colorado_ufo]

23. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Made my day! Call the wahhhhhbulance!

:nopity:

[mfcorey1]

24. This is the craziest thing I have ever seen in politics! nt

[opihimoimoi]

31. How Embarrassing...they are so naive....not ready for prime time...get Pelosi back in there

[SemperEadem]

32. when you go digging a hole for someone else to fall into

you end up falling in yourself.

Good. THAT is what being in an elected position means. THAT is why we have no monarchy--so you know that you serve at the pleasure of the people. Don't get it twisted.

When we say "leave the middle class alone and start tapping that rich a$$", we mean it. We're done with this.

They made the mistake of believing the hype instead of understanding how things work. Now their tits are in a vice and they're squealing like piglets.




My tag line says it all. It is good policy.

[SemperEadem]

33. Now, conversly, here is the atomic bomb that boehner set

that's about to go off:

http://www.redesign.rumormiller.com/story.php?title=boehner-the-poor-and-lazy-caused-current-crisis-1

[Duck]

47. No

The story is a fake.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/i-did-not-interview-john-boehner-20110407

[SemperEadem]

67. I saw that... booooo! I wonder if the place where I first read it knows that

because it was tweeted about yesterday.

thing is, it's interesting that there's been no renunciation by boehner for his name being
aligned to this ideology. Rather, crickets and lawn sprinklers is all you hear from his camp.

[whathehell]

34. What unbelievable idiocy on their part.."Please save us from our own actions"!!

Pelosi is TERRIFIC!...

I absolutely love the way she doesn't "mince words"...

"Yeah..sorry you screwed up..but wait..You'd

rather we didn't MENTION it"??:rofl:

What an insane request!!...It's like asking us

to "throw the game" for them!


Unreal!!

[russspeakeasy]

35. The GOP is morally crazy.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

37. Boy

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up! In case they didn't notice, President Obama is a DEMOCRAT and most of them have spent the past 1-2 years telling the country how evil he is and how much they hate his guts and want him to fail! :puke: I hope Obama uses their "letter" for toilet paper. OTOH maybe this could be our leverage for a debt ceiling vote? :shrug: Otherwise, I hope Obama and the Dems keep on working the Repubs until they cry "uncle"

[SemperEadem]

45. I'd prefer they not use it for that kind of leveraging

tie the millstone around their necks and let them sink.

they act like this is all a joke.

[Hutzpa]

53. Agreed

let them sink, these are exciting times.

[KansDem]

38. I find this statement apalling...

Forty-one Republican freshmen, elected with the support of the Tea Party Terrorists begged President Obama to let their plans stay secret.

Legislation that affects all Americans must be secret? What the fuck kind of government is that? :grr:

I've never used these terms before but I must in this instance: Republicans are hosers, wankers, and douchebags!!!

[proud patriot]

41. shout it from the rooftops

[PatSeg]

39. ‘MediSCARE’ tactics???

Oh those clever republicans and their cute word play. Did they honestly think the President would respond to that? I can picture him busting up after reading it, "They CAN'T possibly be serious".

[SemperEadem]

46. I know..

I can't wait for them to use this then cut to the thugs talking about "death panels" and "obamacare" and what not... then contrast that with video of their vote on the matter.

They can't get away this time.

[PatSeg]

61. "Oh oops, that was a typo, really it was."

They've gotten away with so much crap for so long, that they've gotten careless. I cease to be amazed at the audacity.

[proud patriot]

42. Republicans scared of their own shadow

tee hee

[ejbr]

44. Nailing it

would have entailed addressing the additional tax cuts for the wealthy that the plan entails. The "shared sacrifice" from cutting Oil subsidies to top earners paying their fair share seems to be missing.

[Safetykitten]

48. Wow...You go Nancy.

[Daphne08]

55. What a bunch of idiots!

There is no redo for cocksure amateurs in politics. :eyes:

[Hutzpa]

58. This reminds me of a person who plays poker

after increasing their stakes in the pot and lost, they then turn around to the dealer asking
for their money back.

Tough luck, can't have this one back folks.

[RoccoR5955]

59. I guess if they don't get their way,

They'll throw a tantrum, like failing to raise the debt ceiling. Then their gooses are cooked for sure, though this Boner with getting rid of Medicare and Social Security should do it.
Let's hope that our side keeps on bringing this up every day until the elections of 2012. Perhaps we can regain what we lost in 2010, and more.

[Raksha]

60. K & R - Republicans are such whiners!

They can never take responsibility for anything...but this goes beyond even their "normal" idiocy.

[Vinca]

62. The "MediScare" letter must have been the best laugh the POTUS has had in a long time.

[Corruption Winz]

64. What a bunch of pansies...

Just accept it.

Something about "making your bed" comes to mind.

[Exilednight]

66. This part scares the hell out of me:

Dear Mr President ... The Republicans have put forward what you called a "serious proposal"...

Why would Obama consider this a serious proposal? We all know he did call it a serious proposal, but why?

[TheBigotBasher]

71. He didn't

There’s nothing serious about a plan that claims to reduce the deficit by spending a trillion dollars on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. And I don’t think there’s anything courageous about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it and don’t have any clout on Capitol Hill.

Republicants are using quotes in the same way Broadway and Hollywood use bad reviews ".....serious......proposal".

[Marnie]

69. Good on Nancy.

Nice to see there are some Democrats who will draw a line in the sand, some Democrats who will stand up for their voters and stand up for their constituents, even those who did not vote for them.