Tonight on Hardball with Chuck Todd, had Chris VanHollen, and Thaddeus McCotter disucssed health care reform. McCotter admitted that he would campaign on repealing health care reform.
Natalie Mosher is running against McCotter. If you'd like to help her campaign, click here.
Thaddeus McCotter, Mike Rogers, Candace Miller, Dave Camp and Fred Upton voted no yesterday on H.R. 4247, a bill titled "Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools." The bill is straight forward.
Sec. 5. Directs the Secretary of Education (Secretary) to establish minimum standards that: (1) prohibit elementary and secondary school personnel from managing any student by using any mechanical or chemical restraint, physical restraint or escort that restricts breathing, or aversive behavioral intervention that compromises student health and safety; (2) prohibit such personnel from using physical restraint or seclusion, unless such measures are required to eliminate an imminent danger of physical injury to the student or others and certain precautions are taken; (3) require states to ensure that a sufficient number of school personnel receive state-approved crisis intervention training and certification in first aid and certain safe and effective student management techniques; (4) prohibit physical restraint or seclusion from being written into a student's education plan, individual safety plan, behavioral plan, or individual education program as a planned intervention; and (5) require schools to establish procedures to notify parents in a timely manner if physical restraint or seclusion is imposed on their child.
These Members of Congress are determined to say NO to everything Democrats introduce. SO determined that they can't even vote for the physical and mental safety of our children and grandchildren.
Everyone should be outraged.
Stupak
D-1
Yes
Hoekstra
R-2
Didn't Vote
Ehlers
R-3
Yes
Camp
R-4
No
Kildee
D-5
Yes
Upton
R-6
No
Schauer
D-7
Yes
Rogers
R-8
No
Peters
D-9
Yes
Miller
R-10
No
McCotter
R-11
No
Levin
D-12
Yes
Kilpatrick
D-13
Yes
Conyers
D-14
Yes
Dingell
D-15
Yes
It doesn't matter what constituents want, or need. The party of NO continues to thumb their noses at us figuring we can't do anything to unseat them. Go give their opponents a few bucks, or volunteer a few hours of your time. Let's make their arrogance an issue.
And Mr. McCotter, we haven't forgotten your outlandish comments about kids on the floor of the House during the S-CHIP debate. It wasn't cute then, and it isn't cute now.
Thaddeus McCotter says Republicans can no longer pretend the issue doesn't exist - Republicans have a "hip gap."
Of all the problems confronting our state and country, I'm pretty sure being "hip" is the least likely concern voters focus on at election time. And McCotter is hardly a role model when it comes to hipness. Note his words of advice via Andrew Breitbart's Big Government blog.
But, let's be honest: a large gaggle of GOPers have yet to put a toenail into the Twenty-First Century's cultural crosscurrents - or, for that matter, the Nineteenth's.
Still, let us not curse the darkness. Let us light a cultural candle to illume our whereabouts upon the path to hipness. Thus, the following is a True or False pop culture test. Anything less than 100% - or if you ask the cat next to you for help - scientifically proves you are part of the hopelessly unhip GOPast and should stay holed up in your internet-less study a-rhythmically tapping your white wing tips to that "risqué" Scott Joplin 78 rpm blaring from your Victrola.
Cat? Illume? Come on, McCotter. I'm a baby boomer and not up on the latest slang myself, but words like "cat" went out with Maynard G. Krebs and the beat generation. And why all the emphasis on whether Republicans are hip or not? You should be focused on your constituents, like the ones that show up at your office in Livonia that you refuse to meet with.
McCotter has always struck me as a bit eccentric, especially since his lame idea to give dogs a more favorable tax break than people, but I have to admit he has a point when he says Republicans aren't hip, if by hip he means popular, because Republicans aren't popular. However, it's not because they're technologically challenged or old-fashioned, it's because so many of their beliefs and policies are from another era. Our country is maturing. We no longer tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, religious intolerance, inequality and all the other hateful beliefs Republicans try to cram down our throats. We want a better country for all people. Republicans only want a better country for people who think, live, and act like them, and that's so uncool.
Even as his party blocks Democratic attempts to expand health insurance for humans, a Republican congressman is trying to round up support for a bill that would provide a $3,500 annual tax deduction for Americans to pay for the medical care of their pets.
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter on Tuesday asking fellow members to co-sponsor his Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, despite the upsurge in concern over the rising cost of health care coverage for actual humans.
"Dear Colleague," the letter reads.
"According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63% of United States households own a pet. Indeed, the human-animal bond has been shown to have a positive effect upon people's emotional and physical well being. In families with children, pets help to create a nurturing environment and provide ample educational opportunities. For people in later stages of life, pets offer important companionship. No matter the age of the owner, pets have been shown to reduce stress, safeguard against depression, improve social skills, and even ease loss.
"In light of this, please join me in becoming a cosponsor to H.R. 3501, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act. If enacted, H.R. 3501 would amend the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow an annual tax deduction of up to $3500 for qualified pet care expenses. Specifically, "qualified pet care expenses" would be defined as funds spent in connection with providing care (including veterinary care) for a legally owned, domesticated animal.
Natalie Mosher is running against McCotter and is close to making the Red to Blue Program with the DCCC. Your contributions would be appreciated. Click here to contribute.
We've heard plenty of outrageous political rhetoric this week - both locally and nationally. So I say we vent. Share a quote (or close approximation) that made your blood boil this past week.
Here's mine:
From Thaddeus McCotter, the thin-skinned mama's boy who chairs the Republican House Policy Committee and was elected to represent the citizens of MI-11. Despite signing constituent letters "I work for you," he doesn't.
"Today, on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland, President Obama announced that he will abandon the country's missile defense program, effectively abandoning our strategic relationship with Poland and the Czech Republic.
Once again Thaddeus demonstrates that he's stuck in the cold war era and out of touch with reality. And he needs to be reminded that he can't make stuff up. The Center for Defense Information, whose Military Fellows includes General Anthony Zinni, has this to say about the Administration's decision:
President Obama and Defense Secretary Gates recently announced the new U.S. approach to missile defense. The four-stage plan incorporates flexible options to contain the increasing Iranian short-range missile threat. Although abandoning the previous plan to install interceptors in Poland and radar surveillance in the Czech Republic, the revised plan still aims to maintain security for U.S. interests both domestically and abroad, and to protect allies in Europe and the Middle East.
To view this fact sheet on the official White House page, please click here.
It continues:
President Obama has approved the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe. This approach is based on an assessment of the Iranian missile threat, and a commitment to deploy technology that is proven, cost-effective, and adaptable to an evolving security environment.
Robert Gates was appointed Secretary of Defense by President George W. Bush. It was good Robert Gates when Bush was President. Now it's bad Robert Gates when Obama is President.
Stop making stuff up and fear mongering Thaddeus. It really doesn't become a Member of Congress - let alone someone in a "leadership and policy" position.
What leapt off the screen, or page, when you read it this week?
When the House of Representatives passed a resolution of disapproval against Rep. Joe Wilson for his outburst during President Obama's address last week, some Republicans were quick to label it a time-wasting distraction from more important issues.
"At least Republicans weren't wasting time demanding meaningless apologies," Stewart noted with seeming approval.
Stewart then played a clip from last July of Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) introducing a resolution "calling on President Obama to retract and apologize for his remarks regarding the conduct of Cambridge, Massachusetts police sergeant James M. Crowley, Jr."
Labor Day has come and gone, Congress is back in session, and McCotter --- who as head of the Republican House Policy Committee has the fourth highest leadership position in the GOP House minority --- held a grand total of zero town halls over the summer. This is par for the course for Thin-Skinned Thad, who seems to be allergic to unscripted events and unscreened audiences.
On the other hand, McCotter has done a lot of talking to people who aren't his constituents. His official website contains the following podcasts for July and August:
July 2: On the Dennis Miller Show discussing foreign affairs.
July 10: With Inga Barks Kern on the future of the "new GM."
July 13: On RTT News discussing the "new GM" and Michigan's economy.
July 13: With Steve Gill, WLAC on CIA, the economy, and taxes.
July 13: On Dateline Washington discussing the "new GM" and the possibility of 20-percent unemployment in Michigan.
July 15: With the House Republican leadership on "Proposed Health Care Bureaucratic Mess."
July 16: On WWJ Newsradio 950 explaining his "yes" vote on the auto dealer "Reset" amendment.
July 16: WDET on the "Stimulus That Has Not Worked" and Michigan's economy.
July 20: On Frank Beckmann,. WJR, discussing health care and jobs.
July 24: On the Steve Gill Show criticizing the current health care plan and its end-of-life provisions.
July 27: With Howie Carr WRKO, Boston, discussing his resolution demanding that President Obama apologize to Cambridge police officer James Crowley.
July 27: With Mitch Albom, WJR, telling his own story of "police officers doing their job."
July 27: With Dick Purtan, WOMC, about the Crowley resolution.
July 27: On Washington Times America's Morning News discussing the Crowley resolution.
July 27: On Paul W. Smith show discussing the Crowley resolution.
July 27: On Alan Colmes radio criticizing "presidential overstepping" with respect to Officer Crowley.
July 28: With Bob Dutko, WMUZ, disccussing the Crowley resolution.
July 28: Discussing the Crowley resolution on American Family Radio.
July 28: With Mancow WLS, Chicago, on the Crowley resolution.
July 29: With Inga Barks Kern discussing the Crowley resolution and commenting on health care.
July 30: On Finneran's Forum, WRKO, demanding a presidential apology to Crowley and commenting on the health care debate.
August 4: With Greg Corombos discussing clunkers and tax hikes.
August 5: With Dennis Miller on Michigan economy and health care.
August 5: With Greg Corombos discussing "clunkers" and tax hikes.
August 5: With Dennis Miller on the Michigan economy and health care.
August 12: Discussing health care with Fred Thompson.
August 15: Discussing health care on FOX with Brian Wilson.
August 23: On Fox News with Eric Shawn Discussing unsolicited e-mails by the White House.
August 24: On Americas Newsroom with Megyn Kelly, discussing White House "spam e-mail."
Right-Wing Media Outlets 29
Constituents 0
To sum up, McCotter can make time to spout right-wing talking points on television and radio (mainly on right-wing media outlets) and can do the Full Ginsberg on a meaningless-and hypocritical-resolution involving the president's remarks about a police officer in another state but can't find the time to meet with constituents back home.
his spokesperson, Anne Tyrrell, said McCotter has conducted "town hall meetings by phone" on three occasions. Telephone calls go to constituents and, if they choose to do so, the recipient can respond. McCotter received input from 30,000 constituents through these calls, Tyrrell said. Town hall meetings draw about 200-300 people, she said.
I'm cynical. I believe those "telephone hall meetings by phone" never happened, or if they did, the participants and their questions were screened for McCotter-esque sympathy, and philosophy.
So how about it Thad? Prove me wrong. Release those "telephone town halls." And yes, Thaddeus, you will have to provide evidence that they really occurred during this summer's Congressional recess.
Just a reminder, this is the guy who has the unmitigated chutzpah to close his letters to constituents with "I work for you." It's time to help him find a new line of work.
Please. Tell them you support health care form and it must include a public option. And tell them you expect the legislation to be passed this year.
When a Member of Congress advocates that you call him and his colleagues, you have to think it'll make a difference. This morning that's exactly what Russ Feingold, Senator from Wisconsin communicated in an email.
Greetings,
Last night President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to health care reform saying: "I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last." He isn't going to give up on real reform. Neither am I. And I know from you emails and online comments that you aren't either. This is our opportunity to pass meaningful health care reform, including a strong public option, and we can't let it slip through our fingers.
I don't usually do this, but now more than ever, my colleagues and I need to hear from you. Please take a moment to call their offices today.
Call the White House: 202-456-1111
Call Your Representative in Congress: 202-224-3121
Call Your Senators: 202-224-3121
Right now the best thing you can do is keep the pressure on your elected officials, no matter what their stance is. My colleagues and President Obama - need to keep hearing form supporters of real reform. Thanks for all you do.
Sincerely,
Russ Feingold, United States Senator
What's the matter? Oh. You live in McCotter's district and know he'll blow you off. Call his office anyway. If nothing else it'll annoy him.
Thaddeus McCotter's Campaign Committee disbursed $4000 to the Joe Wilson for Congress Committee in October 2008. Thin-skinned Thad gave the guy who so rudely interrupted President Obama twice during his address to Congress last night by yelling "you lie."
And since we're looking, who else did McCotter give money to in 2008? Here's a pared down list.
Michele Bachmann
MN-6
$4000
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
FL-25
$4000
Virgil H. Goode, Jr.
VA-5
$4000
Duncan Hunter
CA-52
$4000
Lynn Jenkins
KS-2
$2000
Daniel Lungren
CA-3
$4000
Marilyn Musgrave
CO-4
$4000
Bill Posey
FL-15
$2000
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
FL-18
$4000
Jeannette Schmidt
OH-2
$2000
Tim Walberg
MI-7
$6000
It reads like a list of the birther caucus, eh?
And since there is apparently no end to his generosity, he also made substantial contributions to his party.
Michigan Republican Party
$58,300
National Republican Congressional Committee
$356,000
It speaks volumes about McCotter. Simply put, he backs and bankrolls the most extreme right wing nut jobs.
Lucky me. Last week I got a robo-call inviting me to an "energy rally," held on Thursday evening at Burton Manor in Livonia. You might have heard about these rallies. They're a classic example of "astroturfing": phony grassroots activity funded by the special interests. In this case, they're funded by Big Oil.
What do you call it when a Congressman's Chief of Staff misleads a constituent by telling them it is illegal under Michigan law to record a telephone conversation when they're a participant?
Blackmail.
What do you call it when a Congressman's Chief of Staff tells a constituent that the office won't talk to him unless he removes YouTube videos from the web?
Blackmail.
Last month Eric Shelley, who was the 2008 Green Party candidate for Congress in MI-11, recorded several conversations with McCotters's office as he fruitlessly attempted to ask about town halls and set up a meeting with McCotter.
You guessed it.
There's a new video. In it, McCotter's Chief of Staff Andy Anuzis (yes, he's Saul's little brother) told Shelley that recording conversations was illegal and also said McCotter's staff would not talk to him again unless he removed the earlier videos from YouTube.com.
If you assume a value to Shelly's videos - if they have no value, why is the Congressman's office so interested in them - and since Anuzis is the agent of a public official who is using his influence to talk about "a crime" and is withholding access to McCotter until those videos are removed, this starts to smell like extortion.
750.539c Eavesdropping upon private conversation.
Sec. 539c.
Any person who is present or who is not present during a private conversation and who wilfully uses any device to eavesdrop upon the conversation without the consent of all parties thereto, or who knowingly aids, employs or procures another person to do the same in violation of this section, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 2 years or by a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
History: Add. 1966, Act 319, Eff. Mar. 10, 1967
In Michigan it's not illegal to record a conversation in which you are a participant. Mr. Anuzis should read Sullivan v. Gray, 342 N.W. 2d 58, 60-61 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982). The court ruled that a participant in a private conversation may record it without violating the statute because the statutory term "eavesdrop" refers only to overhearing or recording the private conversations of others.
You don't get to make stuff up in order to intimidate constituents Andy.
And about that "requirement" that the YouTube videos be removed in order to be able to talk to a Congressman's office, maybe you ought to think about why they were made in the first place. Thaddeus McCotter refuses to meet with people who whose positions differ from his. And it's painfully obvious that McCotter has no intention of meeting with Shelley even if he removes the videos.
Is a prosecutor going to argue blackmail in front of a grand jury about this? No. However Congressman McCotter, it really is time for you to go. You've crossed another red line here.
The PGA season is winding down, but it appears that we're in the midst of sectional qualifying for the 2009 Wingnut Open.
One of the star qualifiers is Michael S. Rulle, Jr., who wrote an article comparing Thaddeus McCotter to Walt Kowalski, the Polish American Detroiter played by Clint Eastwood in the film Gran Torino. I kid you not.
If the Pro Wingnuttery Tour keeps statistics, Rulle is in line for a trophy for Most Right-Wing Talking Points in What Passes for Film Criticism.
My Congressman is Thaddeus McCotter. He's made it quite clear that he doesn't want to hear from constituents. So, I'm happy to see his opponent, Natalie Mosher, step up and talk to people in the 11th Congressional District.
Ms. Mosher recently visited some local establishments and struck up a few conversations on the subject of health care. Please watch.
McCotter has been out right lying and fear mongering about the topic. Affordable heath care for all is something we can't back down on. I'm glad to see Natalie thinks so too.
You've got to hand it to Thaddeus McCotter. Not only is he a member of the House GOP leadership--head of the Policy Committee, to be exact--but he's firmly established himself as the Walter Mitty of that body.
Last year at this time, you might remember the "speak-in" he organized in the House chamber. That was a make-believe House session--albeit with real, but very right-wing members--he called after the real House adjourned for the summer. McCotter was upset that the House hadn't passed an energy bill: the GOP energy bill, also known as the Drill, Baby, Drill Act of 2008.
Not satisfied with starting a repertory company, McCotter recently tried his hand at writing rock songs.
This provision may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law."
"...With three states having legalized physician-assisted suicide, this provision could create a slippery slope for a more permissive environment for euthanasia, mercy-killing and physician-assisted suicide because it does not clearly exclude counseling about the supposed benefits of killing oneself.
Assisted suicide is a red-flag issue here in Michigan, where Jack Kevorkian assisted in a number of suicides before making the grievous error of acting as his own lawyer in a murder prosecution against him.
Republicans like McCotter are good at waving red flags at voters.
(McCotter: the gift that keeps on giving. - promoted by Snarky Anderson)
Thaddeus McCotter is getting lots of face time on The Rachel Maddow Show. Tonight Rachel calls him out for advancing the idea that the Democratic health care plan calls for encouraging euthanasia for senior citizens. Shame on you, Thad.
Even after President Obama walked back from his "acted stupidly" remark in regard to the arrest of Professor Henry Gates, Congressman Thaddeus McCotter isn't satisfied. He wants to introduce a resolution in Congress calling for a Presidential apology. What a waste of time.
I had an opportunity to listen in on Congressman McCotter's conference call discussing the Economic Recovery Act. You will hear at the 6:25 mark I identified myself as Bob from Livonia. At 19:26 in the recording, the moderator says "Bob" had dropped off the call. I was still on the call, but they didn't ask me to ask my question live to the Congressman.
My question was basically whether Congressman McCotter, as some governors are doing, not accept the stimulus money for his district.
Once upon a time, WJR-AM was the "station of record" in Detroit. Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey brought Tiger baseball into people's homes; the genial J.P. McCarthy interviewed the city's movers and shakers; and the soothing voice of Jay Roberts kept insomniacs and third-shifters company on "Night Flight." Not any more. The station that once called itself "The Great Voice of the Great Lakes" has become a very large cog in the Republican Noise Machine, spewing out 50,000 watts of right-wing bile to a huge swath of the nation's midsection.
Which makes WJR the perfect audience for Thaddeus McCotter, the flannel-mouthed congressman from Detroit's western suburbs. In person, McCotter talks like a constipated Snidely Whiplash and has a skin thinner than the paper our grandparents used to send airmail letters. The man fancies himself a rock musician. That is, when he's not trying to act like the second coming of William F. Buckley. (Aside to McCotter: it's bad form to use a five-dollar word in a $7.50 sentence.)
