In his letter to the editor published today in The Herald, Craig Diangelo of New Britain raised some valid points regarding Congressman Chris Murphy (Reader: When is Murphy’s next town hall? The Herald, August 25, 2009).
Mr. Diangelo describes the only town hall meeting Congressman Murphy has held during the August recess. As he describes it, the Congressman chose the “idyllic town of Simsbury” where to his surprise; Murphy was confronted by hundreds of those un-American, Astroturf, phony people who had questions too difficult to answer for a Congressman who could only offer the talking points provided him by Nancy Pelosi.
Congressman Murphy was obviously taken by surprise to find a populace that was so well informed that they had obviously read the bill that he hadn’t bothered to read before proclaiming his support for it. The video of that town hall was posted on this site for several weeks so that you, my readers, could witness the great Congressman talking down to his constituents by offering nothing more than his rehearsed propaganda of the party leadership.
What caught my attention about Mr. Diangelo’s letter is that he describes his calls to Murphy’s office inquiring as to when the Congressman may be holding another town hall in his district, only to be told that the Congressman is still deciding if he will even hold more town hall meetings.
I have made several attempts on behalf of a group of senior citizens to arrange for a town hall with the Congressman to be held here in New Britain. The only response I ever receive from the Congressman’s staff is that they will have to get back to me, but that call never comes.
What are you hiding from Congressman Murphy? Are you afraid to face your constituents because you know you are planning to vote for something they overwhelmingly don’t want like the government seizing control of their health care?
Frank Smith, New Britain, Ct.
I have also written to Mr. Murphy a list of questions regarding the proposed health care reform bill specifically how it will effect the local hospitals and physicians in his district which includes the city of New Britain and that of Waterbury. I have not received a written reply, email or call back.
ReplyDeleteThe web site for the video of Congressman Murphy being overwhelmed by constituents who oppose his plan to socialize our health care is found at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDpSJqZEk6s
Murphy dispays a "HEALTHCARE FOR AMERICA NOW" banner on his Congressional web site!
ReplyDeleteACORN TOPS THE LIST OF "HEALTHCARE FOR AMERICAN NOW"
Exactly who is "Health Care for America Now"? They are one of the "manufacturers" of the REAL astroturfing going on at some of these events
Our Steering Committee includes: ACORN, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Campaign for Community Change, Children’s Defense Fund Action Council, Communications Workers of America, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), MoveOn.org, NAACP, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center, SEIU, UFCW, USAction, Women's Voices, Women's Vote and Working America.
I have questioned The Herald more than once as to why they do not report on the disappearance of Chris Murphy. I got a very disrespectful email back from Craven who was insulted by my suggestions as to why they were not covering Murphy's cowardice.
ReplyDeleteSurely the Democrats cannot be proud of Murphy. He is suppose to be representing all of us. Aren't we the ones paying his $180,000 annual salary?
Good for Craig! Good for Frank!
This is who is driving Congressman Murphy's agenda through Health Care for America Now:
ReplyDeleteFrom their own web site, this is who their member organizations are in Connecticut:
Connecticut
* ACORN – CT
* AFSCME
* AFT CT
* AFL-CIO
* IAM
* Connecticut Citizen Action Group
* Connecticut Education Association
* Connecticut Association for Human Services
* Planned Parenthood
* SEIU
* United Action of Connecticut
* UAW
* Universal Health Care Foundation of CT
* Alliance for Retired Americans
* Citizens for Economic Opportunity (CEO)
* UFCW
* CT Parent Power
* Working Families Win
* CT Center for a New Economy
* National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
* IBEW
* Carpenters
The New Britain Herald has turned out to be a real disappointment. I find them to be even more extremist in their reporting than the New York Times and MSNBC, which is why I do not read their paper anymore.
ReplyDeleteIf you take a good objective view of today's paper, what articles are there that you would even have an interest in reading?
Out of the two, who would ever have thought that the Courant would turn out to be the more fair and balanced paper?
I read your report about this Health Care Reform Now banner on the Congressman's web site, and I had to see it for myself, so I checked it out and it was there. Who would have thought the country would come to a point when Congressmen are displaying the ads of fringe groups on their government funded web site?
ReplyDeleteImagine the media outcry if a Republican Congressman had the banner of the NRA or some other group that simply supports the constitution on his site?
Town Hall meetings aren't held in supermarket parking lots. Why would Stop & Shop allow this unless they support him and his left crusade.
ReplyDeleteWill goverment and state employees and retirees be placed on the national plan promptly?
ACORN, WFP are cults. The sick thing is there are plenty of people
ReplyDeletewilling to "drink the juice". They follow along like lambs to the slaughter.
Health Care for American Now, an umbrella organization of groups supporting Obama's plan, is coordinating its efforts with Organizing for America, the Obama campaign organization now melded into the national Democratic Party.
ReplyDeleteKenneth Gladney, the man who was beaten by Barack Obama's SEIU supporters outside a healthcare town hall forum in Missouri, has asked to join the Tea Party Express tour! He'll be with us from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C!
ReplyDeleteThis includes a rally in Hartford on September 11th (Friday) at 10AM on the North Lawn of the Capitol. The same location where 4,500 gathered for the Tax Day Tea Party on April 15th!
Voters Say They Know Health Care Bill Better Than Congress
ReplyDeleteTuesday, August 25, 2009
Most voters think they understand the health care reform legislation proposed by President Obama better than Congress does - and about as well as the president himself.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of voters rate their understanding of the health care plan as good or excellent. Only 21% say their understanding of it is poor.
By contrast, just 22% say Congress has a good or excellent understanding of the plan. Thirty-five percent (35%) say Congress’ knowledge of the proposal is poor.
Voters give the president more credit than that. Forty-seven percent (47%) say Obama’s understanding of his own plan is good or excellent, while 27% rate his knowledge of it as poor.
I have run out of adjectives to describe these guys. The stupid-o-meter is on overload. The amazing thing is they are all arrogant enough to think they're going to get re-elected even after all of this. These tapes need to be shown over and over and over again during the various campaigns. I can't wait to hear how they're going to try to BS their way out of this.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about the emergence of The Herald as just another, liberal oriented flop house for ultra liberal thinking. Mike Shoroder and Jim Smith have badgered Jim Craven and the other reporters to adopt a socialist tabloid format. Check out the reporting of J. Abel and Lisa Backus. Leaning so far to the left that they can't walk straight. No fair and balanced here.
ReplyDeleteTo the governor, one of the scariest policies is the national health-care bill. "I think it'll die. I think Americans are catching on. That's the reason that Rahm Emanuel and his guys were trying to push it through so fast, because they know [that once] Americans see what this is going to do—limiting their access to health care, costing them more—they're going to oppose it. And interestingly, you know who's against this more than anybody? The elderly. They figured this bill out.
ReplyDelete"They like what they got right now, they like their access to health care. Particularly, the aspect of this [bill] that has to do with end-of-life decisions . . . are pretty cold-hearted in my opinion. You're a little too old to be spending money on, so we're just going to put you over here in the 'gonna die' category. 'Bye.' That's pretty gruesome and scary to people that are my mom and dad's age."
You are correct about the emergence of The Herald as just another, liberal oriented flop house for ultra liberal thinking. Mike Shoroder and Jim Smith have badgered Jim Craven and the other reporters to adopt a socialist tabloid format. Check out the reporting of J. Abel and Lisa Backus. Leaning so far to the left that they can't walk straight. No fair and balanced here.
ReplyDeleteFOX NEWS is the best place to get your news, although I understand it doesn't help you much with the local news. But at least we still have Frank Smith!
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty:
ReplyDelete"Having the Democrats watch your money is like have Michael Vick watch your dog for the weekend!"
If government is so wonderful that we want them to manage our health care, tell me why all government employees need a union to protect them from the abuses of government?
ReplyDeleteSome Dim congressman said that you need 5 lawyers to understand the bill. A total lie. You need a 6th grade education which may account for the fact that the Dims haven't read it. I had no trouble.
ReplyDeleteMore important is why have the Democrats chosen to suddenly want to investigate the CIA? Do I smell a smoke screen? Every time I think that they have hit bottom the floor drops out.
ReplyDeleteI hope that citizens are not distracted by this kangaroo court.
Stay focused and be sure to contact our ct reps at:
Senator Chris Dodd
Ph. 202-224-2823
Fax 202-224-1083 http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3128&cat=Opinion
Senator Joe Lieberman
Ph. 202-224-4041
Fax 202-224-9750 http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding=issue
Representative John Larson
Ph. 202-225-2265
Fax 202-225-1031 http://forms.house.gov/larson/contact.html
Representative Joe Courtney
Ph. 202-225-2076
Fax 202-225-4977 http://courtney.house.gov/email/
Representative Rosa L. DeLauro
Ph. 202-225-3661
Fax 202-225-4890 http://delauro.house.gov/contact_form_email.cfm
Representative Jim Himes
Ph. 202-225-5541
Phone 202-225-9629 http://himes.house.gov/?sectionid=54§iontree=54
And New Britain’s favorite
Representative Chris Murphy
Ph. 202-225-4476
Fax 202-225-5933 http://www.house.gov/formchrismurphy/ic_zip_auth.htm
Chris Murphy also has offices in CT. It is your right to respectfully visit and request a meeting.
*New Britain Office
114 West Main St.
Suite 206
New Britain, CT 06051
Phone: (860) 223-8412
Fax: (860) 827-9009
**Meriden Office
22-26 West Main St.
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 630-0815
**Danbury Office
198 Main St.
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: (203) 798-2072
**Waterbury Office
49 Leavenworth St.
Waterbury, CT 06702
Phone: (203) 759-7541
*Main office in Connecticut. Due to the high volume of faxes we receive, please call to confirm receipt.
**Please direct all mail to the New Britain office.
Don’t let these guys hide. They have sworn by these town hall style meetings. Keep them honest
Didn't Obama tell Murphy and all Democrats to go into hiding until they return, when they plan to ram this nonsense through whether we, the people, want it or not? Our turn to be heard is next November!
ReplyDeleteTo everyone reading Frank's Blog ....I am attaching my Editorial, as the New Britain Herald edited my original letter. Now, an Editorial Page is supposed to be a page were people get to post THEIR thoughts in words, not a page that has the paper decide on how to rewrite your letter. The Herald told me that I was to harsh on our Congressman. You all can decide for yourselves. Shame on the Herald!
ReplyDeleteDear Editor,
In a place that is out of touch with Americans and filled with disingenuous people, Washington D.C. is now ruled by a Partisan Queen – Nancy Pelosi. As summer break was approaching, her majesty summoned her fellow Democratic Reps and ordered them to set up Town Hall meetings. They were to be filled with welcoming crowds to hear of her proposals of a Healthcare Bill filled with utopian fantasies.
One of her loyal followers – Congressman Chris Murphy, chose to have his first Town Hall meeting in the idyllic town of Simsbury. As Congressman Murphy arrived on his white stallion paid for by Big Pharma, he began to preach the rehearsed word prepared for him by Queen Pelosi. He was unable to finish his speech, as Aqua Turf wives, old white men, senior citizens and Un-Americans began asking him some tough questions. Alas, poor Congressman Murphy couldn’t give adequate answers, as he did not read the Congressional Health Care proposal, just as he hadn’t read the thousand pages Stimulus Bill. The best that he could do was just to LISTEN to those types of people!
After this first encounter, our Congressman has seemed to have disappeared into the vast hinterlands of the 5th congressional district. Word is that he is waiting for further instructions from his Queen. If you call his office, his loyal staff will tell you that the Congressman is still deciding on whether to host any further Town Hall meetings. Now what can our Congressman be afraid of if he speaks the truth? I am sure that people in his district would welcome the opportunity to face Chris Murphy and tell him exactly how they feel about his health care bill. But where is he?
Is he attending fund-raisers hosted by Big Pharma or is he actually taking the time to read the Stimulus Bill, the Cap and Trade Bill and now the House version of the Healthcare bill. Let’s hope that he isn’t dyslexic or we will never see him again.
So the next time that you get to see Congressman Murphy, just picture Nancy Pelosi in a man’s suit!
Craig Diangelo
285 Carlton Street
Anonymous said... although I understand it doesn't help you much with the local news.....
ReplyDeleteDoesn't a former New Britain Herald reporter have a new paper!!
Just kidding.
It is kind of funny how Rick and company claim that the herald sold them out for stewart.
Go figure
If the government run "option" that isn't an option for us little people is such a wonderful utopia, then why don't Congressmen like Murphy enroll their families into it instead of protecting them from government rule by exempting themselves?
ReplyDeleteDEMOCRATS HATE THE TRUTH!
ReplyDeleteThe screamers in Simsbury were an organized group of wackos. They represent a tiny sliver of the population -- the haters and screamers.
Congressman Murphy supports a health care system where people can keep their existing plan, or get another plan through a private insurer, or get a plan run by the government. (Check out his web site before making false statements of what he supports.)
Private insurers are scared of the public plan choice, because it would be cheaper than theirs for the same coverage. (The government doesn't need to make a profit. Corporations do.)
Today, one third of all health care spending is by the federal government -- Medicare, Medicaid, and the insurance plan for federal employees, their families and federal retirees. These plans work just fine.
THIS POSTING MUST HAVE COME FROM SOMEONE IN MURPHY'S OFFICE OR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ITSELF BECAUSE IT IS SO FULL OF LIES AND PROPAGANDA, I HAVE NEVER READ SUCH B.S. BEFORE:
To start out with, the people in Simsbury were the "real deal" unlike the 1,000 phony protests the Democrats are staging with the use of paid agitators from ACORN, SEUI and other radical organizations over the next 2 weeks across the country.
Try reading the bill, which I have right in front of me, and Murphy clearly hasn't read it from his ignorance on the subject, or he is intentionally lying to the public--you decide.
HR3200 creates a government control of all health care in this nation that is so massive and controlling, that any dictator in the world would be jealous of it.
Did Murphy comment on the sections that control how much a doctor can make, how much property he can own, or the fact that he can never buy property again without permission of an Obama Czar?
Did Murphy comment on the section that is in fact in the bill that was named a "death panel" that requires an analysis of the cost effectiveness based on how many years you may be expected to live, and you must be expected to live long enough for the government to justify spending any money on your care based on your productiveness to society? In other words severe rationing for the elderly???
Did Murphy comment on how the entire bill is designed to put all private insurance out of business and force everyone into the "government option"?
Did Murphy explain that it is not free and that everyone must pay whatever a government bureaucrat decides to charge you, otherwise why do they mandate that you grant them access to all your banking accounts so that they can automatically withdraw funds from your accounts?
Did Murphy explain that only a private insurance company approved by an Obama Czar can be acceptable and that the restrictions are designed to eliminate any competition with the government and force everyone into their plan and that any private insurance that was not in effect on day 1 of the plan can never be added as "acceptable"?
Did Murphy outline the sections which specifically state that anyone who is eligible for Medicare or Medicaid is MANDATED to be enrolled in the government "option" and that all Medicare supplemental plans become illegal on passage of the plan that supposedly allows you to keep the insurance you want?
Did Murphy comment on the fact that this is not really about health care, as Ronald Reagan explained in 1961, but about transforming this entire country into socialism through the power of one man to control all of our lives like a dictator?
If it were really about providing health care for the needy 5 to 7 million who are in need of coverage, we could do that easily without disrupting the coverage of 90 to 95% of Americans who are happy with what they have, but it is clearly about POWER. Some of the unspent trillion dollars in stimulus money that isn't stimulating to anyone bu government could provide free health care to everyone who needs it tomorrow, but that would avoid creating a huge government bureaucracy that could control our lives, and the left is not about to give up on ruling everyone's life, are they?
For those who believe the Democratic talking points Congressman Murphy is offering you, try reading the bill (*HR3200) for yourself (even if he hasn't):
ReplyDeleteSec. 123, Pg. 30: A GOVERNMENT COMMMITTEE will decide what treatments and benefits you get.
Sec. 142, Pg. 42, the HEALTH CHOICES COMMISSIONER determines your benefits for you.
For whoever is lying and claiming that illegal aliens will not be covered: Sec. 152, Pg. 50-51: Health care is provided to ALL NON-US CITIZENS.
For those who believe everything will be free: Sec. 163, Pg 59, Lines 21-24: Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer (unless you are a "NON-US CITIZEN).
For whoever keeps lying to you and telling you if you like your current plan, you are free to keep it (I wonder who that is?): Sec. 201, Pg. 72, Lines 8-14: Government is creating a Health Care Exchange to bring private plans under government control. read on:
Sec. 203, Pg 84: Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private health care in the exchange. (insurance is not allowed unless it is in the "exchange").
Sec. 203, Pg. 85, Line 7: Specifications of benefit levels for plans (means that the government will define your health care plan and has the ability to ration your care!
Sec. 205, Pg. 102, Lines 12-18: Medicaid-eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled--you have no choice--it is required by law!
For you doctors: Sec. 225, Pg. 127, Lines 1-16: The government will determine how much doctors are allowed to make. Even better for you doctors: Sec. 1156, Pg. 317, Lines 13-20: PROHIBITION on physician ownership or investment. (government tells doctors what/how much property they can or can not own! (sounds like Russia, doesn't it?
Sec. 1162, Pg. 335-339, Lines 16-25: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures (in plain language: rationing!)
For you elderly citizens: Sec. 1162, Pg. 341, Lines 3-9: The government has the authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans (Part B), HMOS, etc. This will force people into the government plan. ("The secretary may determine not to identify a Medicare Advantage plan if the Secretary has identified deficiencies in the plan's compliance with rules for such plans under this part") Remember this is the same secretary who has broad powers to make whatever rules he/she wants. Who was it that told you if you like your current plan, you can keep it?
Do you believe him?