I will admit that I am a right-wing extremist — as defined by the current administration. I believe in a lot of wacky far-right ideas, like following the Constitution, respect for the flag, and respect for life, God and self-reliance.
I also believe in a lot of things that you might think of as “liberal.” One of those things is health care. I would like to see everyone have access to health care.
The problem is that the Constitution does not provide for the federal government to run a health care system. That power is reserved to the individual states. Several states have state-run health care systems. None of them work very well nor do they provide universal coverage.
Here is my problem. A lot of middle-class folks, many of whom voted for President Obama, are now unhappy with the agenda he is advancing. They took him at his word when he promised to be inclusive and bring an end to “politics as usual.” They don’t like so-called “card check,” they don’t like “cap and trade,” and they especially don’t care for universal government health care. A lot of independent middle-class voters are beginning to think that the Obama they voted for is not the President Obama who is being advised by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, John Holden and other far-leftwing whack jobs.
As a part of pushing his agenda, some members of Congress have been going on the stump for President Obama and have been met by angry crowds. High-ranking Democrats have tried to dismiss those crowds as “mobs.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made a soft claim that they are everything from Nazis to paid thugs from the evil health insurance industry. She has also claimed that these protesters are “un-American” for disrupting some town hall meetings. Strange, we have never heard the Speaker make the same claims about gay activists who disrupt Catholic Masses in her hometown or college students who shout down conservative speakers on campuses. I could give more examples but I think you have made my point.
Of course, the left would never manufacture any show of support for their positions. I received three e-mails from Camp Obama last week, asking me to either call or visit our congressman’s office to support the president. How many of the union folks who show up at events with shop-printed signs are there of their own free will? How many are in some way being paid to attend?
Sen. Sherrod Brown and many other liberal members of Congress are wondering how to engage the voters who are angry about their blind, lockstep support for a far-left agenda. Sen. Brown’s idea is an interesting take. He’s hiding!
Sen. Brown has not visited Butler County since August 2007. Butler County is not some out-of-the-way rural county. It is the seventh largest county in the state. We are arguably the most conservative county in the state. Our congressman is the leader of the minority in the House. I have called Sen. Brown’s offices in Washington, Cleveland and Cincinnati many times and written him several e-mails — all of which have been ignored or answered by a form letter, until I posted a blog pointing out this fact.
On one day, I called all of his offices and he was not in and no one could tell me if he was working or not. The next day, his Web site was filled with glowing press releases of how he had been out at “forums” discussing health care. What they didn’t say is that they were invitation-only, no-public-need-show-up, dog-and-pony shows. I have been told over the phone by his staffers the senator would be publishing his schedule for public appearances on his Web site. As of today, there have been none published or scheduled. The senator is supposed to represent all of the people of Ohio and not just the ones who voted for him or support his out-of-the-mainstream leftist policies.
Sherrod, show some courage and leadership and come to Butler County. We will listen to you and then you can hear what we have to say. If you like your job, you may want to pay us some mind.
Jeffrey Jena is a stand-up comic, actor, writer and former teacher who is from Middletown.
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Logic is the enemy and truth is a menace.
Logic is a menace and truth is the enemy.
10:57 PM, 8/21/2009
article was a huge success for the district!!!)
12:12 AM, 8/21/2009
What restaurant do you work at?
8:07 PM, 8/20/2009
We really don't need any crazy today.
God Bless,
Bill
P.S. - The world is passing you by. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya.
7:59 PM, 8/20/2009
7:09 PM, 8/20/2009