Congress Takes Heat for HealthCare as Constituents Revolt - Obama Joker Posters - A Point of No Return - Enter the Season of Political Discontent

Obama As the Joker - Poster in L.A. image: Fox News

As members of Congress go back to their districts to try and sell Health Care Reform (Universal Health Care) to the general public, they are being met with resistance. From Philadelphia to Texas, town hall meetings and appearances by Representatives are turning into demonstrations against the Democrats and Obama administrations plans for health care, and the tax and spend policies of the 111th Congress. In Nashville Blue Dog Democrat Jim Cooper, is struggling with the phone calls and emails urging him to vote against Universal Health Care. Blue Dog Democrats (moderates recruited by Rham Emanuel in order to win Republican districts and gain the house majority), are finding that they are stuck between a rock and a hard place, either vote like a conservative (or make good on campaign promises) or look for another job in 2011.

The situation has grown to the point where CBS News (You Tube video below) felt the need to report on the situation. The gist of the news report is that “Conservative Groups” are “partly” responsible for the massive email and phone campaigns both Republican and Democrat members of Congress – calling them “anti-reform forces”. The CBS Report fails to report that the crowd responded loudly when Specter mentioned the need to quickly “pass” the bill (original You Tube video below for comparison) Additionally, CBS also reported that it was the intent of Congress and the President to get this bill passed before the August recess, in order to avoid the public outcry that would ensure.

First, there is a problem with that thesis as the groups, The 9-12 project and Freedom Works.org are bi-partisan, attracting Republican, Moderate Democrats, Libertarians and specifically Independent (or unenrolled) voters – the biggest issue driving the general public perceptions against Democrats are the economy (taxes and specifically increased taxes due to the massive spending bills put through by this President and Congress in concert) and Socialism (Universal Health Care, government controlled industries such as banking and the auto industry). Secondly, had that bill passed in haste (see Stimulus), the political ramifications would have been damning. At the very least, those who are taking the “heat” from constituents now have the option of either voting the way the people who hired them want them to vote and keeping their jobs, or voting with their Party – which will result in a loss in 2010.

Apparently, the distaste for the present direction (socialism) that our nation is taking has reached Hollywood. KTLA is reporting that posters of President Obama depicted as the “Joker”, with the word “socialism” included are popping up around Los Angeles. The Posters are also showing up in Atlanta which left-of-center bloggers attribute to conservative groups who are against Universal Health Care.

The problem with that theory is that Cartoonish posters have been assigned to other Presidents, when public perception was shifting. Specifically, President Bush as Joker, during his last term.

It appears that the proverbial “shoe” is now on the “other foot” so to speak. Normally reserved moderates and Republican’s have taken a page from the liberal playbook – the louder you shout, the better the chance you’ll get what you want. A playbook written for Conservatives by Democrat’s on the blog Hill Buzz entitled “Why Persistence Matters When Facing Down Corporate America….” is a virtual outline of tactics employed by liberals - given to those who are otherwise – too Republican or Conservative to speak up and fight for their beliefs or a specific cause. No matter how normally reserved, regardless of party affiliation, a growing number of Americans are standing up for limited government and reminding their representatives in Congress and the Senate, as well as the man sitting in the Oval Office, that they work for the people. Regardless of the outcome, should the bill pass or no, the rift between the public’s perceptions of the Party in Power has dramatically shifted, and given history, change will come to Washington in 2010 and 2012. It was the Independent Vote that put the current administration and Congress in office, and they have clearly lost that segment of the voting public.

Original Video Specter and Sebilius Shoulted down in Philadephoia - on You Tube (a fragment shown on CBS below)

CBS News Video on Protests Against Universal Health Care

Mitt Romney Critical of GM Government Ownership, the Union's Roll – Rasmussen 67% of Nation Agrees with Mitt

On Sunday, Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate, put in his two cents on U.S. Government ownership of GM. Romney’s opinion is that due to the government owing approximately 70 percent of that auto maker, post bankruptcy, shares should be distributed to taxpayers, and the UAW’s piece of the pie, should be given directly to the UAW members, not the UAW “Trust Fund”. Romney, who is a Michigan native, and has a track record of rescuing failing business ventures (including the State of Massachusetts, where, he valiantly tried to bring fiscal stability to a state that is run by a Democrat Legislature that is both corrupt, spendthrift and prone to pork and taxes. In the final analysis, Romney managed, to his credit, to stem the tide of excesses in the State of Massachusetts, offer viable alternatives to both health and education, which unfortunately, became models of insanity, once the Democrats gained complete control of the Commonwealth).

Although, the Obama administration has signaled an intent to sell its shares in the Auto Maker and “recoup taxpayer losses” as soon as possible, one can’t hold their breath waiting for a check in the mail, more than likely, should GM, once again become a privately held enterprise, any monies earned back (assuming the Federal Government can actually run something in the Black, which, to date, has not occurred), will most likely go into one of the many programs being instituted by the Obama administration. Romney would understand this better than anyone, considering he need only to look at how well Deval Patrick has handled the Commonwealth after Romney left office, and that both Patrick and Obama have similar ideologies.

That said, the people (taxpayers), are more aligned with Romney on this issue – Sunday’s Rasumussen Daily Tracking Poll indicates that only 21% of those polled agree with the President’s decision – the balance – 67% - are opposed.
What might be the most interesting component of the entire GM Deal, is the chuck of change give to the U.A.W., in the guise of building (or maintaining) the pension of those GM Autoworkers. According to Open Secrets.org, which tracts campaign contributions, the U.A.W. managed to give a total of $2,108,415 of its members’ dues to political campaigns – with 99% going to Democrats and 1% going to a Republican (Democrat in waiting) - Arlen Specter. It is no wonder then, that the UAW was basically “rewarded” for its loyalty. It is no secret that Unions support, with their workers dues, one political party over the other – out of the top 20 all time donors to political campaigns, , 11 of unions. Those eleven in order of most funds given are: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, National Education Association, Laborers Union, Service Employees International Union, Carpenters and Jointers unions, The Teamsters, Communication Workers of American, American Federation of Teachers (Teachers have two unions, double dipping), United Auto Workers, Machinists and Aerospace Workers and rounding out the top 20, United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

Therefore, it goes without saying that may be the resons the Democrat Party is so enamored of the Card Check Bill. This would allow Unions to force organization of any business, pouring millions more into the Democrat Party’s coffers. Union members do not have control over how their dues are spent; dues are deducted and distributed by Union officials. Just to be fair, unions have endorsed Republican candidates: Mike Huckabee, was the first Republican candidate in over 100 years to be endorsed by the Painter’s union, a move that rankled both sides of the political spectrum.

Suffice it to say, should Mike Huckabee, or a similar moderate candidate with a 10-1/2 year track records of governing with the opposition party, and producing results, end up in Iowa, it would behoove that candidate to embrace these endorsements and the Republican Party to follow suit – it appears as if these members are looking for fiscally minded, sound individuals to run the nation. In the meantime, the nation will sit back and wait to see which private industry will be next, and which union will end up owning a piece of same.