Obama Put Out the Call, And They Answered - A selection of angry letters that people sent to congres

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Put Out the Call, And They Answered
By David Weigel
Posted Tuesday, Jul. 26, 2011, at 8:11 AM EDT

The only real news in President Obama's speech last night seemed to be his call for Americans to contact their members of Congress and demand that they compromise. On Twitter, I asked if anyone was actually doing this. I got around 75 responses within an hour. Here's a sample.

Pat from Kansas sent this to Rep. Kevin Yoder:

I fully support the president on this. Boehner is out to lunch. He made a business analogy. Not even close. Government is NOT business. Government REQUIRES compromise to be successful. Please do not be an obstructionist. Please do your job and make government work.
Rich from Ohio sent this to Rep. Steven LaTourette:

I'm a political moderate, of decent means, living in Hudson. I think I speak for many like me. I've listened to both sides this evening and President’s Obama's approach is the one I clearly prefer. My reasons:
1) Chance for historic tax rate reduction and elimination of loopholes.
2) Includes reasonable cutbacks in entitlements.
3) Includes reasonable cutbacks in defense.
4) Gives the wealthy tax rates that are still lower than 50 years ago! The vast majority of the American people favor this; after all, it is only fair.
5) Repays a debt that we have already incurred. THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT; we must now pay it back.
6) Prevents this entire standoff from happening again in 6-12 months. I don't want to see precious legislative time used to re-hash this same debate in six months.
This is a chance to do something historic and positive. Let's not miss this opportunity, especially when the alternative sends the USA back into recession. THAT's the real job killer.
While Speaker Boehner wants to compromise with the President, it is clear that he is being handcuffed by a handful of reckless Tea Party members who are willing to take this country into recession just to make a point. If that happens, virtually no one currently in office, Democrat or Republican, gets reelected in 2012. Please help these misinformed Representatives to understand what is a stake.
Please let me know where you stand on this critical issue.
Jayant from Virginia:

I'm TRYING to reach my Congressman, Frank Wolf (R, VA-10), because my President suggested it. And yes I'm a Democrat, supportive of President Obama and Congressional Democrats.

But, alas, the server has been done every time I've tried to send him an e-mail. Wolf is a very conservative Republican and I have no illusions it will make a damn bit of difference that li'l ol' me asks him to compromise with the President and Congressional Democrats in a deficit reduction deal, and reject the teabaggers (I'll call them the tea party in the actual e-mail). But it will make me feel better knowing at least I made myself heard. I lived in D.C. for 15 years before moving with my wife and kids to McLean for good public schools, and the years of disenfranchisement make me appreciate having an array of elected officials...so e-mailing my Congressman is not something I take for granted.

<SNIP>

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/07/26/obama_put_out_the_call_and_they_answered.html

[babylonsister]

1. Excellent! nt

[catbyte]

2. My "rep", Justin Amash, is a POS bagger and worthless. He actually said

that the Clean Water & Air Acts aren't necessary because business can be trusted to do the right thing. If they pollute then their customers will get angry and they'll lose business. EXCUSE ME? The damage will already have been done. So you've got a trashed environment and a bankrupt company that won't clean up the mess. Have you ever heard a bigger crock of shit in your life?

[flamingdem]

3. I'm beginning to think we need to go through default to destroy the republicans

because otherwise the American people just tune this out and humor the republicans.

They need to understand viscerally where they are taking out country, into the toilet.

It will be a civics lesson!

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Excellent responses!

:applause: