The Preamble to the Constitution - “We The People” By Edward Biamonte

The Preamble to the Constitution - “We The People”
By Edward Biamonte
Photos - Edward Biamonte

It is our right and our duty to question our government about - everything! And the Town Halls represent the best of our nations freedoms. Kudos to Senator McCaskill for opening up the debate with her constituency and for coming to the conservative stronghold called Springfield Missouri in “The Show Me State” !

Split on the issues, the protesters stood peacefully in line while waiting for admittance into the theatre. To be sure the democratic republic of the US is practicing their 1st amendment rights, although no conclusion to the debate is in sight many want reform. Many believe we have to do something and that’s the issue. What are we doing? Many who are fearful of the socialistic agenda of the far left held up signs in protest, while those from the far left protested the deliberation over health care in congress. They just want health care. And, they want the government to pay for it - no debate, just do it- Now!

Blue Dog Democrats have entered the health care debate to voice their opinion in rejection to some of the Obama health care bill and for maintaining a deficit neutral plan that supports a more free capitalist society and to stop any government lead take over of the nations health care system. Senator Claire McCaskill voiced her opinions which led me to believe she is a centrist Blue Dog. She supports a plan that includes across state line purchasing power which is well received by many and is capitalistic in nature but also supports the public option? She wants lower prices for all, which is also well received. She rightly quoted the billions in profits made by the health insurers at the expense of the public. McCaskill talked about Medicaid, Medicare, tax payer penalties created by fraud, insurance companies and the hospitals who have to raise prices to stay in business. And then there’s Tort reform? Oh those greedy trial attorneys and their lobbyist. Capitalism, Socialism and Tort reform!

Obama wants a government plan to make sure the insurance companies have to lower their prices. So what’s wrong with that? Lower prices are good for everyone. Has anything the government has ever done made money or did not cost the tax payers billions more than projected? Does Freddie MAC, Sallie MAE and the US Postal Service ring a bell? And then there's the government panel that decides who, what, where and why; isn’t it a bit socialistic-- and not regulated by competition in the free market?

The last time I looked our Constitution openly supports the free market. Isn’t that why we fought the Revolutionary War against England? The reason there are Tea Parties all over the nation. It appears that millions will March on DC September 12th 2009. Fujah will be there to cover it.

And -- No mention by Obama to support Tort reform!

Missouri has two Senators and both are well aware of the tensions being voiced by the people of the free Republic called the United States America. Springfield's Town Hall meeting was everything we have come to expect. Everyone from the far left to the far right were packed into the Gillioz Theater to ask the junior Senator from Missouri questions concerning the Health Care debate and any other political issue they might need answers to. Typical of Hall Town meetings there were many vocal opponents for and against current Democratic or Republican positions.

Senator Claire McCaskill walked on the stage and the theater of more than 1000 people erupted with resounding applause and boos for the junior Senator from Missouri. The “Show Me State” Town Hall attendants were demanding McCaskill did just that; from the far left and right they shouted at each other and McCaskill their positions while many in attendance tried to get the folks to chill. After a bit of free expression by the crowd the meetings started with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Once the preliminaries were over Claire began her very brief introduction to a Town Hall that was ready to debate.

The first question to Claire was about her loyalty, was it to the “Show Me State” or President Obama and the Democratic parties agenda? The crowd erupted in applause from both sides of the isle to the question and in large part amid shouts of “we are the people”. McCaskill stated- “my job is to represent the people of Missouri... I have on many times voted differently from my party... This bill must pass a common sense test for me - it’s about what’s in the bill”.

Question 2 - Was about the funding of the bill and it’s inclusion to fund abortion. McCaskill stated she “read the complete Senate bill” and the Senate bill “does not have one federal dollar allocated to fund abortion.” Shouts concerning the House bill were brought up by the audience that does include the funding. McCaskill stated that there are three amendments which are being debated in the house and that the Senate bill in present form is online at www.help.senate.gov which reveals the hundreds of hours put into into the bill with bipartisan efforts.

McCaskill then took time to state typical Democratic talking points (which immediately received boos and cheers from the audience) she stated, “there has been a lot of misinformation about the bill in question” grumbling started from the audience as Claire went on to say “I might have the record for doing the most wide open town hall meetings in the Senate”.

Then Claire took a minute to give Senator Kit Bond a cheep shot for rejecting her invitation to the Springfield Town Hall gathering and for going to a rally in Kansas City instead? Some Dems in the audience applauded her effort to discredit Senator Bond, while many less partisan attendants shook their heads in disbelief - so much for bipartisanship? The junior Senator went on to state “one of the things I have learned from traveling around the state is that there is such negativity and cynicism about government”. The audience erupted again.

Was this a Freudian slip concerning her statement about Kit Bond or just a self implicating or defecating statement about her parties leadership? A simple suggestion or word to the junior Senator, don’t cheep shot your opponent to make yourself look good; Independents and Reagan Democrats hate childish behavior and rhetoric. Stick to the point and answer the questions. This is why there is such negativity and cynicism about government; and why 70% of the independents who voted for Obama will vote against the Dems in 2010 (Rasmuessen non-partisan polls).

It’s the trust factor Claire! Obama, Reid and Pelosi have created a quagmire for the Democratic party. It’s all about deception, fast tracking, the deficit, pork spending, Anti Israeli / Pro-Islamic rhetoric, and a socialist leading far left agenda mandated by 20% of the electorate. Seventy percent of the public are sick of the special interest groups from California, the West cost, East cost and large urban cities like Chicago demanding far left ideology be adopted by the country and the people are fighting back. The federal government is at its lowest approval ratings since the Carter administration that led to the Reagan years.

McCaskill went on, “we need to show we are sincere”… we must pass a health care bill and “that we will have the exact same plan as the rest of the country”. The audience erupted with applause as the statement resonated with the fervor of many who question If the public option is so great, why do federal employees have their own policy and are excluded from the debate? You can see the whole debate online at many of the news outlets like KSPR or the Springfield News Leader’s web site.

In retrospect - For some on the left or right it didn’t matter what McCaskill said, they would shout her down or applaud her which was totally unnecessary and a waste of the publics time. Yet for the majority of the audience they wanted real answers to some tough questions and that is the real issue at hand. Did Senator McCaskill answer the questions or did she refer to her parties talking points?

Senator McCaskill made centrist stands respective of Blue Dogs but referred to the standard talking points and views of many in her democratic party. This pauses one to wonder if we’ll ever see the statement “we need to show we are sincere” come to pass based on truth, facts and tenacity to keep America Free and Strong. Although her stump points were not as blatant as many in the far left, and I liked 50% of what she said-- it’s about what she didn’t say that reminds me of song a from the “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” by Charles Durning. “Ooooo I love to do a little side step”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mNDHTfdn1A

Claire to often repeated-- Missouri as you know is split right down the middle... Polls that we have taken reveal the split so it is up to me to make common sense decisions when the polls are so close... The crowd immediately picked up on the fluff. It’s Missouri-- “ The Show Me State ” remember? Politics in 2010-- I it’s going to be a wild ride.