Daily Archives: Nov. 4, 2009

Big wins for GOP but mixed results for conservatives

Nov. 4, 200912:39 p.m.

US Elections OwensGOP wins Tuesday in the governor races in New Jersey and Virginia boosted Republicans’ hopes for a 2010 comeback. But the win by Democrat Bill Owens (in photo) in a special New York congressional race — a seat that Republicans have held for more than a century — highlighted what can happen when conservatives try to purge moderates from the GOP. National conservative talk-show hosts blasted the GOP candidate as too liberal and not a true Republican. And politicians such as Sarah Palin and even Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, injected themselves into the race by endorsing the Conservative Party candidate. But Newt Gingrich warned that such national interference in local elections could make Nancy Pelosi the House “speaker for life” and guarantee President Obama’s re-election. “I think we are going to get into a very difficult environment around the country if suddenly conservative leaders decide they are going to anoint people without regard to local primaries and local choices,” Gingrich said.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under U.S. politics | Comments (30)

Tiahrt takes aim at Democrats, Moran

Nov. 4, 20099:20 a.m.

tiahrtnewmugDuring a Monday town hall meeting in Pittsburg, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, said that Democrats wanted to get people “into a life of dependency” from “cradle to the grave,” using the terms “communism” and “socialism” to describe them. “That didn’t work in Russia,” Tiahrt said. “And it didn’t work in Germany.” On his battle against the health reform bill, he said: “This is about freedom. . . . Nobody in America should ever have to go to a public official to get health care.” Nor did Tiahrt measure his words in discussing his rival for the U.S. Senate seat, Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays. Tiahrt said: “We need somebody to fight for us. We need somebody who is going to ride toward the sound of the guns.”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation | Comments (36)

All Americans entitled to all of health reform

Nov. 4, 20099:19 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., proposes letting Americans in some states have the “public option” while leaving out other Americans who happen in lives in states that choose to opt out. The politically motivated idea offends Washington Post columnist David Broder. “Consider the precedent that would be set if a major piece of social legislation were to be passed with a states’ rights provision,” Broder wrote. “Imagine, for example, if Franklin Roosevelt had signed the first Social Security law with the proviso that any states with Republican governors and legislatures could exempt themselves from its coverage. This might have seemed a minimal concession to conservative opinion. But what would have followed? How long before some states would have demanded an exemption from the wage-and-hour law that established a minimum wage? And what about the clamor in a broad swath of the country when the first civil rights law was passed?”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Health and safety | Comments (16)

Abortion could still derail health reform bill

Nov. 4, 20096:03 a.m.

abortionprotestAbortion remains a sticking point in health care reform legislation. The House version of the bill would allow people to use federal subsidies to buy private insurance that covers abortion, but only if the federal funds don’t go toward paying for an abortion. In other words, the insurance companies would have to use money from other sources, such as private employer insurance premiums, to pay for the coverage. But some House Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, want a complete ban, and may have enough votes to derail the bill.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Abortion, Congress, Health and safety | Comments (164)

Open thread 11/4

Nov. 4, 20096:02 a.m.

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By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Open thread | Comments (259)