Sarah Palin’s “Death Panels” Named Political Lie of the Year

On 12.21.09, In Congressional Elections, Friends of Peter Roskam, George Bush, Healthcare, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, Wingnuts, By RSR
Sarah Palin
Image via Wikipedia

The St. Petersburg Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning website, PolitiFact, this past Friday named Sarah Palin “death panel” allegation as the “Lie of the Year“. Palin’s lie was selected by the site’s editors after a poll of 5,000 readers demonstrated overwhelming support for the choice.

PolitiFact here recounts the lie which earned the site’s coveted “Pants on Fire” designation back when it was originally promulgated:

The former governor of Alaska had been out of the headlines since she announced her resignation on July 3; the Facebook message instantly brought her back to the political stage.

“As more Americans delve into the disturbing details of the nationalized health care plan that the current administration is rushing through Congress, our collective jaw is dropping, and we’re saying not just no, but hell no!” Palin wrote.

“The Democrats promise that a government health care system will reduce the cost of health care, but as the economist Thomas Sowell has pointed out, government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.”

The claim that House legislation contained anything resembling a “death panel” is demonstrably false. It did cause much needless anxiety, particularly among senior citizens, including my own parents, and seriously compromised the quality of the national discussion on healthcare reform.

Palin never renounced her lie. Instead she defended it, as in an interview with the National Review in November:

“To me, while reading that section of the bill, it became so evident that there would be a panel of bureaucrats who would decide on levels of health care, decide on those who are worthy or not worthy of receiving some government-controlled coverage,” she said. “Since health care would have to be rationed if it were promised to everyone, it would therefore lead to harm for many individuals not able to receive the government care. That leads, of course, to death.”

“The term I used to describe the panel making these decisions should not be taken literally,” said Palin. The phrase is “a lot like when President Reagan used to refer to the Soviet Union as the ‘evil empire.’ He got his point across. He got people thinking and researching what he was talking about. It was quite effective. Same thing with the ‘death panels.’ I would characterize them like that again, in a heartbeat.”

Whenever the ex-governor of Alaska distinguishes herself in this way, it warms our heart to step back and listen to noted Palinite and 6th District Congressman Peter Roskam’s reflection on Sarah Palin’s “centeredness”:

So much for Congressman Roskam’s judgement.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Tagged with: • • • • •
 
2 Comments
Leave A Response

Peter Roskam Begs Constituents for More Money to Continue Work of Screwing Constituents

On 06.29.09, In Middle Class, Peter Roskam, By RSR

I received a breathless email from Peter Roskam earlier today begging for contributions to his re-election campaign prior to the end of the second quarter  this week.

Roskam writes:

Tomorrow marks the end of the second fundraising quarter, and the Democrats are waiting to see how much money I have raised. Potential challengers are weighing their options even as I write this, and if I show strength, they’ll think twice about running against me.

I am a constant target of the national Democrats and I anticipate they will redouble their efforts this year with Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel in the White House. Rahm tried to take me out in 2006 and 2008, and now he has the power of the White House behind him to pour money from the far left into my opponent’s campaign.

One can dream anyway.

Because of this, we’ve set an aggressive fundraising goal for the second quarter and we’re just $10,000 away from meeting it. Can I count on you to help me reach my fundraising goal by tomorrow at midnight. With your support, I can continue to serve as a voice for you in Congress.

Don’t kid yourself. Unless you are a bank, or a loan company, or a big drug or insurance company,  or a bloated defense contractor,  or a millionaire, Peter Roskam is not your voice in Congress. In fact, Peter Roskam has used his office and his vote consistently to do the opposite of what is in the best interests of you and your family. He has voted against a fair minimum wage for workers, against protections of consumers against predatory lenders, against equal pay for women, against paid parental leave, against  services for Illinois veterans, against efforts to address catastrophic global climate change. And Roskam is currently campaigning against Democratic efforts to provide all Americans with access to healthcare. And Roskam used his position withthe House Financial Servics Committee to fight against the kind of common sense regulation that could have prevented our current economic crisis. When it comes to a choice of doing what is best for big corporations or what is best for working people, Roskam always sides with big corporations. You can read more about Peter Roskam’s anti-consumer, anti-middle-class record here. Worse still, Roskam was an unfailing supporter of the Bush program of endless war, torture, illegal rendition, and domestic eavesdropping.

And Roskam, despite his plea, is not poor. In the 2008 race, Roskam outspent his Democratic opponent, Jill Morgenthaler 3 to 1. You can be sure that in 2010 the same fat cat contributors will make sure Roskam is able to run another nasty campaign of smears and lies. He doesn’t need your $25.

I’d like to be able to suggest that you make a donation to the Democrats instead. But until the Democratic President and Congress step up and do what is right for gay people repeal  DOMA and “Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell”, I won’t be giving them any money – or votes – and do not suggest that you do so. Instead, give your money to two organizations working hard here  to help victims of the Bush-Roskam recession: the Chicago Area Food Depository and DuPage PADS. I split my United Way Contribution between the two organizations and highly endorse their work

Tagged with: • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Peter Roskam Casts Anti-Family Vote to Oppose Paid Parental Leave

On 06.10.09, In Executive Compensation, Healthcare, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, By RSR

If I don’t have much good to say about Peter Roskam these days, I can at least credit him for being consistent. Roskam is quite consistently opposed to anything that might possibly benefit an ordinary working man or woman at the expense of the giant corporations and wealthy individuals whose interests he uses his seat in Congress to represent.

It was no surprise when Peter Roskam voted against the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009 on June 4, 2009. Congressman Roskam has been a fierce advocate of unlimited pay for corporate executives, but God forbid any working mother or father should be given the time and the financial wherewithal to care for a new child. Why that would make us no different than those Commie countries like… like Canada!

H.R. 626 provides for 4 weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees surrounding the birth or adoption of a child. Federal employees currently receive 12 weeks of unpaid leave (as do all employees subject to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993). The bill further provides that the employees can use accumulated sick time and vacation time to convert some or all of the balance of that 12 weeks into paid time. Finally, the Office of Personnel Management would be enabled to extend the paid period to 8 weeks. The measure applies only to federal employees and would be at best a weak immitation of pro-family policies in place in many Western countries. Hell, even Zimbabwe gives mothers 90 days at 100%.

Roskam, of course, in addition to not wanting to spend a dime of our federal tax dollars on a working family, fears that the bill will be a foot in the door for future further enhancements to FMLA, something that Roskam’s corporate overlords at the U.S. Chamber and at the National Association of Manufacturers virulently oppose.

Despite Roskam’s vote, along with those of most of his Republican colleagues, H.R. 626 passed by a vote of  258-154. It will now have to be taken up by the Senate.

Peter Roskam deserves to be shamed for his anti-family vote. Please contact him today.  You can reach him at (202) 225-4561 in Washington or at (630) 893-9670 in Bloomingdale.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
1 Comments
Leave A Response

Peter Roskam Throws Hissy Fit on House Floor Over Taxes on Dead Rich Folks

On 05.22.09, In Economic Justice, Estate Tax, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, Poverty, By RSR

Received a Tweet from Peter Roskam  wanting to know what I thought about his floor speeech regarding the estate tax, which Peter and other wingnuts like to call the “death tax”.

Well. I always want to do my part to help my Congressman so here goes.

First off,  I was  pleased to hear him name publicly one by one the interest groups to which he is beholden: U.S. Chamber, National Association of Manufacturers, etc.

I was also impressed by Peter’s emotion, the passion that this issue arouses in him. Thought his hairpiece was going to fly off at the end ;) .

What troubles me deeply, however, is that it it is only taxes on rich people that can get Peter aroused this way.  Not homeless veterans on the streets of DuPage County, not children in Wood Dale without adequate health care, not torture and illegal detention authorized by the President and Vice President in Washington. Nope. Just taxes on rich white people in Wheaton, or in this case, rich dead white people in Wheaton.

The truth about the estate tax, which Peter Roskam is unwilling to share with you, is that the estate tax will affect only 0.24 percent of all people who die in 2009, individuals who die with an estate valued at $3.5 million or more or married couples (heterosexual) with an estate of $7 million or more. What’s really sad is that Peter Roskam has chosen to use his seat in Congress, OUR seat in Congress, to represent the financial interests of only that tiny fraction of the residents of his district.

Repealing the estate tax, as Roskam, would have us do, would cost billions in reduced revenue, necessitating either increased taxes on the poor and middle class or major reductions in spending. Cuts to the bloated defense budget, of course, are off limits, to Peter and his Republican colleagues, so cuts would have to be made for things like college financial aid, food stamps, Medicare, veterans services, childrens’ health care – all those programs to help poor and middle class families that Peter has fought against so vigorously during his time in office. More than likely, it would be a combination of both increased taxes and reduced services that would be required to give this expensive gift to a few very wealthy dead people.

So, thanks, Peter for letting me know about your speech.  I honestly have to say though that I didn’t care for it much.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Peter Roskam Sides With Credit Card Companies Over Constituents

On 05.20.09, In Economic Justice, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, By RSR

Do you think it is fair for your credit card company to be able to raise your interest on an existing balance without notice and without explanation? Probably not.

But if you live in Illinois’ 6th Congressional district, your Congressman, Peter Roskam, thinks it is just fine, and he said so today with his vote.

The House today sent the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act to President Obama for his signature. The Senate version of the bill, which was stronger than the original House version, passed in the House by a 361-64 vote. Peter Roskam was the only member of the Illinois delegation voting against this important measure designed to protect consumers from the worst predatory practices of the banking and credit card industry.

Provisions of the bill include:

  • Prohibits companies from raising interest rates during the first year after an account is opened
  • Prevents increases in interest rates on an existing balance unless a payment is at least 60 days overdue
  • Requires 45 day written notice for rate increases on new purchases
  • Prevents companies from charging over-limit fees for purchases without prior agreement from the cardholder
  • Requires bills be sent at least 21 days prior to the due date and that they contain a statement of the total interest and time required to pay off the balance if the cardholder makes only minimum payments
  • Requires companies to post clearly explained rates and terms on the internet
  • Prevent companies from opening card accounts for consumers under age 21 without proof of ability to pay
  • Eliminates fees for telephone payments
  • Prevents companies from applying payments only to the portion of a balance bearing the lowest interest rate

President Obama has pushed for this kind of action on abusive credit card practices and is expected to sign the bill. The President and the Democratic leadership did a great job of putting this together fast. It is crystal clear which party is looking after our interests.

Roskam’s opposition to this bill, while disappointing, was not surprising.  During his tenure Roskam has shown little empathy for the plight of consumers, instead voting pretty consistently for the interests of big business, particularly the finance industry.  Roskam also receives substantial campaign contributions from the financial sector.

Roskam’s  constituents should take him to task for once again using his office to oppose their interests. Please call the Congressman today. You can reach him at (202) 225-4561 in Washington or at (630) 893-9670 in Bloomingdale.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
2 Comments
Leave A Response

Peter Roskam Endorses Obama – Does He Know Bill Ayers? How much do we really know about Peter Roskam?

On 10.29.08, In Congressional Elections, Economic Justice, Friends of Peter Roskam, George Bush, Jill Morgenthaler, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, Presidential Race 2008, Wingnuts, By RSR

It appears that Peter Roskam, a member of the McCain-Palin leadership team in Illinois has jumped shipped and that Roskam has hitched his campaign to that of Barack Obama. Roskam’s campaign committee has recently erected a web site entitled Obama Voters for Roskam, an apparent endorsement of Barack Obama’s radical socialist agenda for America.

This, of course, raises all kinds of new troubling questions about the ethically challenged Peter Roskam and his fitness for office:

Does Peter Roskam approve of  Barack Obama’s plan to take your money and redistribute it to poor black people? Is Peter Roskam a Communist? Why does he hate America?

Does Peter Roskam know Bill Ayers and did Ayers help Roskam with his campaign? Does Peter Roskam pal around with terrorists? What is the nature of Roskam’s association with Jeremiah Wright?

Is Peter Roskam a member of ACORN? Is Roskam involved in voter fraud?

Is Peter Roskam an Arab terrorist too? What’s HIS middle name?  Is he friendly with Osama Bin Laden?

How much do we really know about Peter Roskam?

Re-electing Roskam to Congress would be just too dangerous.  That’s why I’m voting for Jill Morgenthaler.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
3 Comments
Leave A Response
Page 1 of 3123
Go To Top »

Meta

Installed by SimpleScripts