Back in 2007 after a veto override of SCHIP failed Paul Hodes had this to say about the actions of those in congress who prevented passage.
1) There is a huge difference between what the President values and what the American people value. To the President and his allies in Congress, $190 billion this year for the war in Iraq is a necessity, but $35 billion to provide health care to uninsured children is an extravagance.
2) President Bush may be dismally unpopular with most Americans, but he is still revered by his supporters in Congress. Today they chose to carry out his will instead of the 81% of Americanswho support SCHIP. They chose to carry out his will instead of helping uninsured children get to the doctor. If there was any question where their loyalties lie, they’ve made it clear today.
(3) The change the American people voted for last November has only partially been carried out. There are still too many in Congress who wait for the President to tell them how to vote instead of listening to their constituents. Today on the floor of the House, partisan members of Congress chose loyalty to the President over loyalty to the people. And that, although not surprising, is a tragedy."
(Emphasis mine.)
Let’s recap with some light editing.
"There is a huge difference between what the President values and what the American people value."
"President Bush Obama may be dismally unpopular with most Americans, but he is still revered by his supporters in Congress. Today they chose to carry out his will instead of the [majority] of Americans [who oppose his health care plan]… If there was any question where their loyalties lie, they’ve made it clear today."
and my favorite..
"There are still too many in Congress who wait for the President to tell them how to vote instead of listening to their constituents. Today on the floor of the House, partisan members of Congress chose loyalty to the President over loyalty to the people. And that, although not surprising, is a tragedy."
Does it get any better than this?
I honestly can’t wait to repost this over and over after P diddy Hodes votes for the very unpopular Health Reform rider, which will then allow to pass a separate wretched piece of legislation which he claims to support in verbal excess, but which he can’t even vote for. But it doesn’t even have to pass. He just has to vote for it again, and he will.
Expanded SCHIP, by the way, passed with Paul Hodes help last year, and was a major stepping stone toward socialized medicine. So the quotes are very relevant. But while Mr. Hodes whines about being bullied, he’s supported the medical industrial complex for years in their mission to get the government to guarantee their business model, and now that he’s on the cusp of succeeding, he’s become a victim of his own rhetoric.
Cross Posted From NH Insider
