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The Crisis of Consent: Republicans Must NOT Abet Obama’s ShamWoW! Summit

By: Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (Diary)  |  February 23rd, 2010 at 02:00 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

In an alarming finding, the Rasmussen Report found only 21% of Americans believe the Democrat-controlled U.S. government has the consent of the governed. Amazingly, this view is held by only 32% of Democrats.

Spurred by the unjust Wall Street Bailout, this crisis of consent is exacerbated by an Obama Administration and its Democratic Congress’ insistence on ramming through a government-run health care scheme in defiance of the sovereign American people’s emphatic opposition.

Now, having already pre-determined its outcome, the Obama Administration will hold a health care summit. The summit’s goal is to persuade the public that the Republican minority is “forcing” the Democrats’ heavy-handed tactics to foist this abominable bill upon Americans.

The truth is otherwise: it is the public and centrist Democrats who have to date stopped this radical proposal, which will raise the cost and lower the quality of Americans’ health care.

Designed to obfuscate this truth and devoid of any attempt to establish a shared, bi-partisan principle for reform, the Obama Administration’s summit constitutes a ShamWoW! infomercial for incrementally socialized medicine that threatens Americans’ health care; imposes double taxation on most Americans who are responsibly trying to save for their future during this painful recession; devolves private health insurance companies into government-dictated utilities; and further erodes the public’s waning faith that their government institutions are truly representative.

Consequently, with due respect for the President and ultimate respect for the American people, the Republican leadership has no choice. It must NOT accept the administration’s disingenuous summit invitation to “negotiate.”

To accept would abet a deceit upon the people; and violate the principle that transparency in government exists to reveal the truth and promote the public’s confidence in their representative institutions, not to foster misperceptions and subvert the public’s confidence in their representative institutions.

Fortunately, a solution exists: an election.

As in other times of great national debate, Democrats must let the competing views of health care – government-run, bureaucrat-centered medicine versus free-market, patient- centered wellness – be submitted to the American people for their sovereign consideration and determination this November.

Nothing could do more to promote Americans’ health care; and restore the public’s confidence they are being governed with their consent.

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COMMENTS

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  • hickorystick

    make it front and center of the 2010 elections. If Dems win on this, fine, they can have there socialized medicine, if they lose, they have to take their own medicine. Just don’t forget to offer the free-market as your own mandate. If Dems lose, R’s have authority to gut Federal regulations (intrusions) of the free-market.

  • dadx3

    How frustrating it is once again for those of us in Tennessee to be “represented” by Lamar Alexander at one of these democrat dog and pony shows. I understand he along with fellow rino McCain have been appointed to Thursdays fiasco. Thanks alot McConnell.

    During the congressional recess of last August, I along with hundreds of his constituents asked Alexander to host a face to face town hall meeting on health care. He absolutely refused as did our Congressman, Jimmy Duncan. These guys just don’t get it. I hope come next election day they will.

  • http://www.havearoach.com Lee Hempfling

    In this case it is simple. Sure, they show up. They await Obama’s arrival and greet him nicely. They listen to him, then they stand up and tell him this won’t work, he has to do all Repub proposals, not the junk he has in there now. When he refuses, they all get up and walk out on him. WALK OUT! Declare him to be doing what he is doing (bamboozling the American People, he loves that word) and take control of the press argument. Without that it won’t matter what happens anyway, Repubs will be the demons to Obama’s crowning.

    • spim

      even though it’s the One’s Conference/Dog-and-Pony Show … have Republicans actually exert control.

      This would be HUGE in the media …. they *couldn’t* ignore it

      • merryj1

        I have to second that!

  • patriotparty1

    Who the heck is the brain that is sending all of these NO NAME RINOS to the summit?

    We should be sending Mike Pence, Michelle Bachmann, Demitt, Scott Brown (just for show) and John Culverson from Texas.

    Send all conservatives (except Brown). Out Alinsky Obama. Separate (Obama will be alone), belittle and make fun of: jump all over the anti-American takeover of the bill, the taxes, the mandates, the death panels.

    Yes call them death panels, show page and verse of the wording. Call him a socialist would be tin pot dictator.

    Then bring out the big guns. You want to finish off the hatred of the people and Obama at the same time. First go over how the online medical records will follow them everywhere. To the job interview, to the mortgage lender. Then read the pages that discuss the implantable devices they are working their way to. The CHIP that would hold all of your medical information (for your own benefit of course) in case you cannot talk, all of your history, and by the way bank and billing info wil right there on the chip.

    That will be it! End of days. 666, Book of revelations moment. The people WILL NEVER be talked into backing any dummycrap bill EVAH!

    • Ann_W
    • BA Cyclone

      McCotter has genuine intelligence and could easily debate the merits (or lack of such) of Obamacare at the summit. Obama’s “intelligence” and smart-looking facial expressions would stand no chance.

  • Ausonius

    MAObama is NOT due any respect! It is an empty phrase in this case.

    He is a socialist trying to wreck America and turn it into a 17th-rate country like Greece: bankrupt, indebted, corrupt, with a slovenly, irresponsible electorate who want, want, want, and who think they can live off the kindness of strangers in other countries.

    Such a saboteur is owed NO respect!

    :) unlike Rodney Dangerfield! :)

  • http://xmmlbchat.blogspot.com katesmith

    For anyone from the House such as Boehner to go to this, said John Batchelor tonight on his radio show.

  • timchgo9

    The Republicans have been reminding me of the German Generals as Hitler came to power. They despised him, but didn’t oppose him, allowed themselves to be absorbed by him, and became his lackeys..

    Same thing is happening here.

    It’s frightening…..

  • GenEarly

    I am going to do the 60′s thing and “drop out” of complying with the government where ever I can. No revolution, but no support of a government this opposed to the Majority and The Constitution. I support The Constitution first before any government bureaucracy.
    Conservatives in Congress should not go to this Obama circus. No participation, Just Say No! We are addicted to federal phony money,pork, bail outs,graft,bribes, etc. Prepare for 2010,2011,2012 I fear no one is telling us the truth.

  • leehazel

    This is not Rocket Science. If the Republicans are serious about not giving in or even looking like they may give in a couple of things are necessary.

    1) Do not let McCain, Graham, Snowe, Collins, et al anywhere near this conference.

    2) If for some reason they have to be there make sure the person sitting next to them is one of ours and has pre-cut mouth size pieces of Duct Tape at hand. At the first mention of Bipartisanship by any of them slap on the Tape!

    3) Be ready at the drop of a Professorial Sneer by Obama to get up and LEAVE.

    I really see this as an absolute no-win for the Repubs. A no-show just isn’t in the cards, huh?

    PC is Thought Control
    LEE

  • eastbaylarry

    As a Californian who has seen many loopy ballot measures actually passed into law, I am leary of this approach.

    How many voters will attempt to read 4500 pages of legalese as opposed to those who will follow the lead of some brainless celeb?

  • http://www.hickpolitics.com Dave Poff (haystack)

    You had me at “ShamWoW”-thank you for that laugh. Now:

    I wish your colleagues had sufficient strength in numbers to take you up on your offer to turn down the invitation. I fear they do not. As far as many of us are concerned, Obama already has his plan and is just looking for ways to blackmail the minority into playing along in the name of political expediency.

    The ultimate solution has been well-articulated by you here:

    “Fortunately, a solution exists: an election”

    I’m afraid that’s what it’s going to take…please hold these guys at bay until we can get to the ballot box?

    Thanks

  • izoneguy
  • JSobieski

    what he is referring to is the upcoming November 2010 elections.

    I am proud to be in McCotter’s district and to benefit from his representation. I am relieved that actual politicians are suggesting that the Republicans not show for the upcoming Obama summit fiasco.

  • http://www.thehayride.com MacAoidh

    …when Boehner and McConnell are hell-bent to get reamed at this thing I think you’re falling on deaf ears with your colleagues.

  • togaman

    Seriously- this is an opportunity to stop letting the media spin everything the R’s propose about health care. The “summit” will be televised, so watchers and voters can make their own judgements about what is proposed at the meeting.

    I really don’t see what Republicans are so terrified about. It’s not like Obama is going to be able to rely on a teleprompter if he is actually challenged to a real debate on live TV. Stop whining about “Sham wow” summits, and simple show up at the meeting and show Obama up for what he is. If you don’t show up, you allow him to control the message entirely.

    Rep. McCotter,Look at this as your time to shine. This is the republican opportunity to make a case about what should be done about health care in this country. If you believe that everything is fine the way it is, then show up and make your point. If you have specific suggestions that have been made and ignored by Obama and the MSM, then say them now. If you have further proposals about steps to take to make health care better in this country, show up and present them.

    I

  • Ann_W

    It sounds like they are going to show up no matter what. So based on my observation of the Repub Q&A you guys need to think through a way to make sure that his answer with the uncorrected partial truths aren’t the only ones making it to the soundbites in the national media.

    I do have a sick feeling that this will be a successful ambush, though. Because all his BFF’s in the media don’t call him on the lies.

    Maybe if just one person, maybe Paul Ryan, quickly laid out the bullet points of what the Republicans would require to support health care reform that could be successful.

    Dana Perino had a good quote for Repub’s the other day, “Yes, the Republicans are the party of ‘No’ to bad ideas.” This deserves repeating.

  • eburke

    I pray that you view prevails among the leadership but I fear that history is not comforting on that prospect occurring.

    If, for PR purposes, we *do* show up, I pray to God that we use it to present proposals which will be de facto evidence that this whole notion of ‘bipartisanship’ on Obama’s part is nothing but a giant sham.

    Please…PLEASE…use you influence w/the leadership to encourage them to not be sucked into the game that Obama is playing her.

  • http://erickbrockway.wordpress.com/ Erick Brockway

    I’m sure that’s how the administration set this up, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
    I agree with the above response.
    If you don’t show up it’s a guaranteed lose, and will be spun as “The GOP has no ideas of their own so they didn’t bother showing up. They are only a party of no.”
    I was with you on this until fairly recently when I realized it wasn’t about any healthcare plan at all; it’s all about November.
    Obviously they control the majority plus the White House. What should they need you for?
    Because their majority is fracturing, and their base is becoming angry that promises aren’t being kept by Obama. With an angry base, they also worry about low morale and voter apathy-lower turnout.
    The whole thing is his own fault, but he’s never been held to account in his life that I’m aware of for any misstep he’s ever made, and in this case, if he owns it his party loses.
    The only way out as you are aware is to blame the GOP, and with the media carrying his water the negative will become a positive for him. Solid Alinsky tactics.
    Knowing this as you go in, you have to control the first impression, that’s what will get the most airplay.
    “Why are we here, Mr. President? You don’t need us and have said as much on this occasion and that occasion.
    “You’ve said we have put forward no plan of our own, when surely we did here and here, and are ready to do so now.
    “This is what we want and what we know will work to save this great nation of ours from catastrophe.”
    That or something similar should be the first things out of the mouth of whoever speaks first, if indeed there’ll even be a chance to speak. I rather suspect it will be Obama controlling the dialogue and making an accusatory speech with little or no chance for the GOP to respond, so there should already be alternative media standing by with a microphone and podium for the GOP to rush to in case of grandstanding by the President.
    He can’t let anyone actually offer alternative ideas or he’s sunk. He can’t allow the GOP to come off sounding either reasonable or articulate, or again he’s sunk.
    But you can’t be a no-show or you’re sunk. He’s hoping you won’t. He’s already fired the first of several salvos to convince you it would be pointless to show.
    Here’s where I disagree with Rush (that’s so rare I can’t remember the last time); you have to show up or lose by default.
    Think like an activist lawyer. You’d hope for a default judgement, thus saving yourself time, resources, and political capital.
    In case the opposition does show, you want to control what the jury is permitted to hear and in this case, Obama is opposition counsel and Judge.
    He doesn’t control the jury though, and you’ve got to get to them any way possible.
    Get out the Alinsky rules and get to work on that jury.

  • Bobcat51

    save me, cries Captain Barry Obama on board the SS Titanic…,, don’t worry Barry, we are on our way to save you answers Captain McConnell and First Office Boehner on the SS Carpathia .

    Why join Obama and rescue him on his ship of fools and lose credibility ?

    No matter how good and clever you think you are Captain Mitch and John , you are going to be sorry you ever entertained meeting with the failure from the White House. AMERICA is desperate for a party of NO, not a party of WETS who fold . Stay the course and make massive gains in November.

    Perception is everything , Obama is the Master of Perception, sadly we are not.

    PS: Watch out for Greek Columns

  • Marcus_Traianus

    10th December, 2008 sound familiar? Respectfully, it seems when the “bailout” enriched your constituents that was “just”. If I recall correctly, none of the recipients were forced to take that money. They were just gratuitously handed gobs of our tax money to save jobs- by the way as if nobody is employed in the financial services industry. Oh wait, just “fat cat bankers”- which I suppose you and President Obama agree on.

    Nonetheless, when it comes to Wall Street, where many of the recipients were forced to take the “unjust” bailout, because, well, they knew it was unjust and unwarranted- they become your perpetual populist whipping post.

    Frankly, as a Wall Streeter, for myself and my colleagues who have contributed more to this Republics economy in our lifetime than a bunch of overpaid, misguided Washington D.C denizens- I am a little tired of the worn-out populist appeals. It’s insulting and frankly beneath you sir. And please, don’t tell me it’s only directed at the “rich” guys.

  • archer52

    From my website-

    Here is the link to the released summit agenda-

    http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0210/Your_White_House_summit_agenda_.html

    Let me help you out here by posting it outright. Now remember this is planned for SIX hours at most.

    The agenda:

    1. Discussion:

    a. The President will offer opening comments, followed by Republican and Democratic Members chosen by their colleagues.

    b. They’ll then move to discussions around four themes:

    i. Controlling costs – introduced by the President

    ii. Insurance reforms – introduced by Secretary Sebelius

    iii. Reducing the deficit – introduced by the Vice President

    iv. Expanding coverage – introduced by the President

    2. Logistics

    a. Participants will be seated at tables in a hollow square setup. They’ll be identified with name cards.

    b. There will be a leadership staff walk-through on Wednesday afternoon.

    3. Timing

    a. The meeting will begin at 10:00 am and run until about 4:00 pm.

    b. There will be a break for lunch. Buffet lunch will be provided for guests.

    Now, like I said, this is planned for six hours. Six hours to pass information back and forth that will affect the lives and economy of every living person in this nation for the next sixty years. Six hours. Now that does not include the opening statements by (let me count 1, 2, 3, 4, four politicians who are going to set up the issue by promoting their position. At least an hour or more there. Then they are breaking for lunch, another hour to two hours. Then there is set up, Republican responses and of course the time it takes for McCain and Graham to fetch Obama his slippers and smoking jacket.

    Seriously, where do you think they’ll find the time to actually discuss the issue in front of America? This could affect the next sixty years of everyone’s life and the entire economy. Six hours… Somebody called this Kabuki theatre. They were spot on.

  • aesthete
  • peg_c

    Just fyi to the techies here (Neil…), tried to share this on FB and it repeatedly comes up with a diary by Rep. McCotter entitled ”
    Cherilyn Eagar wins URA edorsement, etc.” Can’t share this post.

  • patriotparty1

    If you send a bunch of RINO dummies that will bow and scrape and fall for Obama’s lines to this summit we WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!

    This is our time to finish this thing off. Hell McCain is liable to negotiate a comprimise with him!

    Send true conservatives. Send them loaded with a bad attitude take no bull frame of mind.

    If you guys go in there and look like a bunch of push over, old men dummies we will finish voting you all out!

    Not kidding Rep. McCotter! Take the book of revelations chip idea to them and tell them to use it and watch what happens.

    The Lame stream will have to talk about it because it involves religion so they will not be able to resist trying to lambast it. The American people will take it from there I guarantee you.

  • WarEagle01

    what I’m afraid will happen is the same thing that happened at the GOP House retreat in Baltimore. The camera will be on aBarry all the time. He will take questions from the participants and then will go on 20-30 minute diatribes about why the premise of the question is wrong and how the questioner is just engaging in more of the same old partisanship. Only if the GOP participants have the testicular fortitude to interrupt Barry when he starts getting condescending and dismissive and not let him slam them ad nauseum will it be worthwhile for them to attend. They need to force it into being a real debate. If he doesn’t want to play by those rules then they need to walk out. I predict, however, that this will just be a replay of Baltimore with the GOP sitting there and taking it.

  • davidroth

    I don’t buy for a second that the liberals think they can pass this. I think it’s all about gaining leverage…

    1) Obama realizes R’s are likley over the health care debate for now.
    2) Introduces Obamacare 2.0 and threatens to go Reconciliation.
    3) Floats a petition to do public option through reconciliation.
    4) “Negotiates” with republicans who are now fearful he’s going all in.
    5) Obama backs off most of his changes and only puts through small “popular” changes.
    6) Obama gets his health care bill, looks bi-partisan, and liberals fume.

  • togaman

    But I would honestly ask -If there are no republicans who are able to stand up and take control of the debate, then why support them? Running and hiding from confrontation does not help their cause. It simply reinforces the whole “Party of No” meme and diminishes their credibility.

  • bballfan

    show is just terrible. How the Republicans could even say yes to this just so frustrating to me. It will not turn out well. The MSM. as usuall will just kiss up to Obama. We need to continue to be the party of NO. Let this deathcare be on the Dems record.

  • Flagstaff

    will send you the bill for all the snake oil they swallow.

  • dsmurf

    bipartisanship- he means he doesn’t give a rats @@@@@ about what the minority party thinks, nor what the taxpaying and those satisfied with their insurance public wants.

    What is in the Democrat billl that is so great and beneficial for the American public since he won’t start over? The abortion language?

    First he takes out Republican oriented auto dealers and now he is aiming to retire Drs who heavily support Republicans- see the IBD article on how half the Drs would consider quitting if this piece of shiznet passes.
    Who will the Democrat oriented lawyers sue if all of these Drs disappear from private practice?

  • Flagstaff

    as long as the President gets to pick the starting point, the agenda, the time allotment, and the participants for both sides.

    It’s time to say, “No!” Thanks, we’ll deliver our own bill to the people. Then do it. Not 2000 pages, either. Tort reform (by another name) and interstate insurance sales. Neither one of those will require more government expenditures, they just need to be enabled.

    Stop there.

  • http://www.laborunionreport.comandhttp://www.laborunionreport.blogspot.com LaborUnionReport

    From Politico:

    “By the looks of it, the White House health reform summit has been designed to preserve President Obama’s home court advantage. The president, Vice President Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will get the first word on every topic during Thursday’s meeting.”

    http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0210/Your_White_House_summit_agenda_.html

    All know in advance that the ‘summit’ is nothing but a trap designed to make the GOP look ineffectual.

    All know in advance that the Dems are going to push a bill that *may* pick up some crumbs of a GOP plan but is, nonetheless, a nationalization of health care.

    However, IF Dems ram it through WITHOUT (a single) GOP support, there will be hell to pay in November IF the GOP uses the opportunity to continually point out how much it is going to cost Americans in Freedom (govenrment control), in Costs (trillion), and in Life (rationing).

  • archer52

    And you all wonder why Beck gets so many followers when he complains about business as usual and the progressive nature of too many Republicans. take a look at who they are sending to the summit.

    http://truthandcommonsense.com/2010/02/23/fox-names-republican-senators-going-to-summit-holy-progressives-batman/

    I’m looking now for the whole list to be posted, but this is disheartening. Like I said in my post, I hope the House Republicans send somebody better qualified than the Senate group because they are going to have to work hard to be heard-

    “Of course they?ll have to shout over the voices of McCain and Graham asking Obama if they can get him something cool to drink or a snack, or maybe some slippers so he would be more comfortable.”

    Steele runs around in private planes and eating Wolfgang Puck food. They send McCain (who hasn’t totally grasped an issue in twenty years) to the summit and they wonder why Beck is so popular.

    Idiots. Total over paid idiots.

  • http://erickbrockway.wordpress.com/ Erick Brockway

    To top it all off, Obama never introduced any plan. Obamacare 2.0 is 15 pages of talking points.
    It might as well be written in crayon.

  • The_Gadfly

    Like Billie Mayes, and unlike most of the people headed off to the “healthcare summit” he at least is making an honest living. A little more ShamWOW ingenuity from Republicans and we might not be in this quagmire.

  • merryj1

    And some very good advice.

  • izoneguy

    Heh, heh, good point….

    Instead of miliking the cow they are taking it to slaughter….

    Eat up & feast while you can….now it really
    won’t last forever!!!!