ACORN/SEIU SUPPORTED HEALTH FORUM IN SAVANNAH

It appears as though the liberal-sided, health reform supporters are catching on to the fact that the freedom-loving Americans will make every effort to be at every event where they try to push this health care monster down the throats of the American people. So what are they doing about it? I got the call late Friday night asking if I had heard about the health forum at the public library being put on by AARP and Georgians for a Healthy Future. The publicity piece had just been released by WSAV late that evening. Of course I had not heard about it, but immediately went right to work, along with several others confirming the story and doing research on the speakers. We gathered our information and blasted out emails and posted it on our sites and social networks. The line up for the forum was as follows: Ken Mitchell with AARP of Georgia, Charity Woods with Health Care for America Now, Cindy Zeldin with Georgians for a Healthy Future, Pat Kota with Coastal Medical Access Project, and Robert Bush who is a Savannah Attorney. This is an interesting group of speakers to have such an event considering all of the controversy with AARP and ACORN. ACORN? Why did I bring ACORN into this? Hold onto that thought, I will get to it. Just sit and follow me.

Shall we start with the first speaker, Ken Mitchell? Mitchell represents AARP, the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons. In Ken's speech at the forum he stressed the importance of non-partisan behavior and representation. However, at the end of his speech he noted that Rep. John Barrow voted against the Health Care Bill while in the House. He urged everyone in the audience to write and call the Senators who were either on the fence or were Republican. This does not sound non-partisan. It is fine if you want to be partisan, just admit it and represent yourself in that manner from the beginning so as to be transparent. The second speaker was Cindy Zeldin with Georgians for a Healthy Future. Zeldin previously worked for a company based in New York, Demos. Prior to working at Demos she worked for New American Foundation. Honestly, Cindy did not seem steady on her feet in her presentation, especially when the questions began to fly at her. She was unsure of herself and she seemed unsure of whether or not she truly believed in this Health Care Reform Bill. Looking at her previous positions I cannot help but wonder if she is much smarter and knows better than to support such a catastrophe. Following Cindy was Pat Kota with the Coastal Medical Access Project. Nothing outstanding or special was said here other than health care reform needed to pass. She was obviously in support of it as well. The Project provides primary, specialty, dental, and vision services for those who cannot afford it in certain counties. Which leads me to wonder why she want to the bill to pass because her clinic would be shut down if the health care bill is so great and truly covers all American. Next was Robert Bush, an attorney in Savannah, GA. I found it rather interesting that a lawyer would be speaking about why health care reform would be good for Georgians. Again, I did not hear anything overwhelmingly exciting or new. He also apparently supported the bill. Dare I say that one of the major reasons why health care costs are so high is due to all of the frivolous law suits? Just figured this was the most appropriate place to add that thought. I saved the best for last. Well, okay, not the best but the most exciting or most infuriating.

Let us now delve into Charity Woods and Health Care for America Now. See, as soon as I found out about this little forum the previous night, the very first thing I did was start my research rampage. What did I find? Oh, what did I find? First of all, Charity was adamant about pushing the Health Care Bill. Woods pumped the bill in every way possible, stating that it is what all Americans need. She went on to guarantee that this bill would provide medical coverage for EVERY American citizen. She cited the rising costs of insurance premiums and even cited the rising costs of uninsured visits to the emergency rooms and urgent care clinics. Then, she began pushing the free clinics and community clinics and how vital they were to providing necessary health care for the uninsured and lower income population. May I ask, why Charity Woods, if the proposed Health Care Bill is so GREAT and promises to cover EVERYONE, is it so vital to support and fund local community and free clinics? Just a thought.

Of more interest to me however, was the extensive list of coalition members. First of all, among this list are many union organizations. Decide for yourself if union organizations are good for the overall population of America. Among those unions listed is SEIU which is the fastest growing health care union in North America. SEIU is the largest property services union and the second largest public services union. There are also connections between Barack Obama and SEIU. Listed also is ACORN, I am sure you are well aware of them. You will also find the infamous Moveon.org group listed which has ties to George Soros and Van Jones. Also is Democracy South which also has ties to ACORN and SEIU through the Tides Foundation. Planned Parenthood supports the coalition along with abortion, government funded abortion. The NEA, Radical Health Network, OFA of Central PA (Organizing for America), this is Obama's campaign website (Now this is not a conflict of interest in any way), Bus Project, who claims to be non-partisan, however they support Health Care for America Now, which is obviously a very liberal and left organization seeing as how it is supported by OFA. A cervical cancer organization even supports HCAN. Have they even read the bill? Friends, there are so many other organizations listed as part of their coalition that it would take too long to list them all. I will continue to research the list however. It takes a lot of work to research each name listed. At first I was under the impression that the news released was put out late because they were getting smart. But, now I am just beginning to realize it probably has more to do with how much they have to hide. Why does all of this matter? Did your parents ever say to you when you were little that the company you keep is a representation of who you are and how you will be received? Hmm? Health Care for America Now is trying to sell the American people on this ludicrous bill that will compromise our privacy, liberties, freedoms, and financial freedom. If you are going to buy something as serious as health coverage from someone, do you not want to be able to trust the person who is trying to sell it to you?

It is real simple people, read the bill. If you do not have time to read the bill, then I suggest you write and call your Senators and beg them to SLOW down. You think you are busy and do not have time to read it? You can bet they are having difficulty getting through it. It changes constantly. What happened to the transparency that was promised to us? What is the rush? Beg your Senators to take their time, read it, understand it, and reveal it to the American people before voting on it. After all, they are supposed to be representing us. Should they not then give us time to read it as well? Have you wondered why they want to begin taxing us five years before the plan goes into affect? Have you considered how you will feel about the government having access to your bank account at any time that they deem necessary? How do you feel about the new mammogram screening age of fifty? What if your current coverage does not meet the Health Choice Commissioner's standard? There goes your freedom of choice. Then what plan will you be on? Is it really fair that you will be taxed and /or fined for your health care, or lack thereof, and illegal immigrants will not? These are things to consider. This is not something to take lightly or to rush into. I was always taught to read before signing. I truly hope that all of our elected officials have read the entire bill or will read the entire bill before signing our life away. May God bless you and may God bless America.

Post A Comment

* Indicates required information

Comments

10 comments for this article

Reverse Comment Order

Added: November 29, 2009. 08:16 AM CST

Mr. Anonymous,
I don’t understand how liberals a.k.a. progressives can be so hateful with corporations making money for doing work that they do. Maybe when corporations go bad like Enron, but not all corporations are Enron! You talk about standing on the right side, I would certainly hope that the side you are referring to is not the one where publicly known corrupt, nonprofit or otherwise, businesses who do nothing, sell nothing, or make nothing receive billions of hard earned tax dollars from those of your good friend and the likes of all us Americans. Why is that not detestable in your eyes? Why is it only the independent, free market capitalists that offend you? The organizations like SEIU, ACORN, and many others that are receiving money that we borrowed from China are politically backed and actively holding Americans down in an effort to keep them afraid of doing things for themselves. Why? So the government intervening in their lives will be accepted and welcomed. Also known as socialism. Unions were originally put in place to make sure the workplace was fair, safe, and a good environment for productivity. Now it’s a lobbyist dream with lawyers fighting for more money with equal to less work. The major reason GM was having such a hard time making it was because of the union. They were paying out more to the retirees who weren’t productive for the company anymore than they were to the working employees. If SEIU is such a wonderful thing then why doesn’t Nancy Pelosi have them manage her vineyards? She is benefiting from the capitalist system but doesn’t want the hell of a union. You think her workers get health coverage? LOL!
My family and I currently don’t have health insurance, we pay out of pocket. But there is no way in HELL I want the government healthcare bill. First of all, it’s none of their business what I discuss with my doctor, how and when I want my life to end, should it come to that, or what procedures I want done and when. I know lots of women who have gone to the doctor in their thirties and doing a annual mammogram found lumps. Now, the government wants to cut that part of prevention out because they bought off someone at the ACA to back it. Might I mention prostate exams as well. Secondly, we have a major shortage on nurses and have been for the last decade or more, and as recently reported, we are currently TODAY 30,000 doctors short!!!! Now you add 40 million or more to that workload and God Bless you if can get in for the flu. Not to mention that enrollment is down in medical schools. Who wants to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to earn a degree in medicine when they will be making as much as everyone else and die leaving their children to help them pay for their college? We might not all have health insurance but we all certainly do get health care when we have to have it including illegal immigrants. Maybe if they would make payments on what they have sucked out of the system then hospitals wouldn’t be closing left and right in places like California. So we have fewer hospitals than ten years ago, shortage on nurses and doctors and you think anybody is better off? Not even the people who get the government plan will benefit from it. And lastly, what comes next? As Reagan put it in a speech in 1964, I believe, that they fastest way to socialism is through healthcare. The doctors get overloaded and then the government again steps in to call the shots. Telling the doctors what they can practice and then the student what they learn. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like AMERICA! More like RUSSIA!
I grew up in a very financially unsound home. We made too much money for me to get a Pell grant for college and yet could barely put food on our table at times. My mother worked for a good corporation and still does. What did I do though as a child growing up in that environment? I knew we lived paycheck to paycheck. I got a job!! As soon as I turned 15, I got a job to provide myself with the things that I wanted and tried to become less of a financial burden to my family. I went to college with student loans so that I could do things differently for my family, hopefully better. Why? Because it was possible to do. Now, on the other hand I have a sister. She started young and unwed having children. She was on welfare for a short while in the 90’s, but has always wanted someone to help her out financially. She was a leach on my parents till nearly her 40’s. With her there was an entitlement attitude. So much the attitude of the impoverished and minority sectors of our society. The opportunity has always been there, but the lack of desire for betterment, hard work, or education has been there too. It’s a vicious cycle that desperately needs to be broken. But throwing more money at it NEVER helps, only destroys the dream. Look at the world. Charities give and give, and America gives and gives to areas of need around the world, and aren’t they still in need?
Also, remember that nothing is for free! The CBO estimated last week that the average American family with two workers combined making 95,000 the government run plan will cost a whopping $23,000 per year, and 9,000 for individuals. Couple that that the estimated household energy increase with Cap and Trade at +/- 4,000 and then tell me that we will all be better. That people will still be able to maintain their current way of life. These numbers are ON TOP of the current taxes taken out! If your friend knew this I wonder what they would want?

Carol

Alert a moderator

Added: November 27, 2009. 09:40 AM CST

A note to Anonymous

What does "anonymous" mean? It is either an individual who is not willing to sign their name to their mindless babble because they don't want to take personal responsibility for it OR it is a comment from one that considers themselves of such insignificant stature that what they have to say shouldn't matter to anyone any way. If you fall into the first category, therein lies your - and your associates - problem. You see, the American dream is not whining about your victimization but, instead, overcoming the station in life that - as you say - locks people into minimum wage jobs and are thus unable to afford insurance. The choices we make in life all have consequences, no matter what they are. If an individual never takes personal responsibility for their actions and, thus, their station in life then what they are looking for is a hand out by saying some other force is controlling their lives and what they make of themselves. These kind of people will never have anything worthwhile, nor will they appreciate what they do have, because they didn't work or pay anything for it. They're like the immature individual out there squealing the tires off their car because daddy's paying for them. Personal responsibility occurs when a person says, "I made bad choices and THAT got me where I am". It also leads one to realize that they can change their position in life by working extra hard to improve their situation, thus, allowing themselves to rise above where they started in life. This is what the American dream is all about - opportunity to improve their station in life. On the other, if you see yourself as so insignificant that what you say doesn't matter, then why bother to say it at all? You gotta believe in yourself or you're never going to improve your position in life. Now that we've addressed the "anonymous" aspect of your response letter, now we can look at what you had to say.

The author of the letter you are offering a response to, is neither independently wealthy nor a CEO, instead they are someone doing their part in the defense of this country by staying here at home taking care of the family and working at many jobs to make ends meet while her husband is out fighting for your freedom to be able to mouth off your drivel. The current administration is doing all it possibly can to destroy that freedom - and all the others we hold so dear as Americans. If you don't think so, just look around! The greatness of this country is being frittered away as if they are toys in the playroom, that the head child can do with as he desires. People better than you or I have fought, and in many cases, died that we can be free. The current powers-that-be in DC care nothing for the values and principles this country was founded on and has made it great for all of us. They are slapping each God fearing, freedom loving veteran in the face. Get on your knees right now and thank God, and then our service people, for thi land! Then never, never forget what it cost!

John Stanley Stones

Alert a moderator

Added: November 26, 2009. 07:09 PM CST

God bless the Troops!

Thanks for all you do Soldiers Wife. May God bless you and may God bless and comfort our Troops and their loved ones this Thanksgiving Day.

Don Strong

Alert a moderator

Added: November 26, 2009. 02:00 PM CST

One last thing to set the record straight Mr. Anonymous

Have you ever noticed Aetna or Humana involved in large scandulous fraud? Or, prostitution? Have you heard of Aetna or Humana fraudluantly signing up an entire football time to vote, or other people five and six times? Have you ever seen them charged with any of the types of fraudulant activity as ACORN,SEIU, MoveOn.org, or George Soros?
THAT is the whole point in the problem with them supporting an organization who supports this health care bill. Instead of being so quick to point the finger back at someone else, step back and look at the bigger picture. These orgaznizations are being exposed in big ways, all of them. Why on earth would you want them supporting, funding, or even having anything at all to do with anything you do? They are crooks, criminals!!!
What, I dare ask you, is possibly wrong with Aetna, Humana, or any other company or person making a living, a profit, or building wealth legitimately off of a dream? Why are you so oppose to someone or any company making money? Why is that wrong? What if I was a big executive? What if I was wealthy? So what?Is that not the American dream and the right of every American? To force people or tell people they are not allowed to make a certain amount of money or have financial freedom just because others don't, that my friend, is socialism! Everyone here in America, yes everyone, regardless of where you came from or your circumstances, has a way to make a life better for yourself. It is up to you if you choose to find that way to make it possible. Sometimes it requires a little help and support from the community or from others. You may have to search for it and do a lot of hard work. You may have to actually make some sacrifices as oppose to expecting handouts and expecting someone else to just hand over their money to you. That is the freedom of capitalism. Welcome to America and the American dream. You too could be wealthy and financially free. My husband and I made a lot of mistakes and are having to pay for them. We are fincially almost completely debt free! We are having to work very hard for it though.
"What comes around goes around"? My husband and I both have already experienced hardship. We know what it is. I pray to God you never have or never will. I have been without insurance before, even while I was pregnant. I would never wish that on anyone. However, again, we have worked very hard to come out of our debt and will continue to do so. No, Mr. Anonymous, I do not get paid for this. As I told you, I am a housewife, I bring home no extra income, which actually,is very ignorant on my part that I choose to do any of this for free. But, I choose to do it because I feel so passionately about it, that is why I do it!!!

"Take off your rose-colored glasses and see that every good thing done for our citizens health or welfare came from the progressives"

Good thing Mr. Anonymous? If you take a real close look at all the welfare programs, they are really no real help at all. In all actuality, they continue supression upon the minorities and lower income families by giving them a false impression of security. Instead of providing them with more education and informative tools as to how to help themselves immediately but more importantly in the future so that they will never have to depend on the govt. again. The Progressive's plan doesn't teach welfare recipients how to become self-sufficient or self-reliant, no...instead, they teach them how to "work" the system and remain on it, and get more benefits. The cycle seems to repeat itself and their children learn this way of life. Sounds like a winning system to me. NOT!

Sounds like you may need to taek off your rose-colored glasses. I am so glad I did not fall for that crap. I am so glad that I have a mind of my own and can think for myself. I am so glad that I have a dream and a desire to better myself, my family, and the future of all generations. To rely upon someone else is pathetic. Good-luck in that way of life. As for me and my house.....We're movin' on up!!!!

American Soldiers Wife-Ann Lindholm

Alert a moderator

Added: November 25, 2009. 08:49 PM CST

Mr. Anonymous, apparently you don't take time to read titles of writers

Look at my title: "American Soldiers Wife". Hmmm. 1. I have worked more than my share of minimum wage jobs. 2. Not an executive, a house wife of four kids and the wife of a soldier who fights for YOUR freedom 3. I write, because I am passionate about what is going on. 4. Contrary to waht you believe, so far at every Republican event I have been to, I have paid for my own meal, or another member who invited me paid for it, Thank you Jerry Loupee and Marolyn Overton. I paid my own way to all other events. We bought and paid for most of our supplies or received donations from citizens who feel the same way we do in holding rallies. For you to cowardly hide behind an anonymous name says a lot about your character and how you feel about yourself. I have made mistakes in my life. My famiy has had to help me out before. At times, I even had to rely on the government. I HATED IT, every blasted second of it. I did everything I could to get away from their assistance as soon as possible and I did. I vowed I'd never do it again. I will do everything possible to make that promise come true. I would run to my famiy first, work two or three jobs if necessary before asking or expecting a handout!!!!

" Some good, caring, upright citizens I know have worked 10 years or more at those types of jobs"

So have I sir. Are you implying I am not a good, caring, upright citizen? Who are you to try and make all of these assumptions? Mr. Anonymous, I did my research sir. I looked up all of these companies and speakers. I asked Charity Woods at the meeting if they were connected with ACORN and she confirmed that they were and received funding from them. I am not making this up or making assumptions as you are here. There were well over 30 people in that room who heard the same thing. They didn't appear to be too happy either.

" the lack of empathy and concern for others is a key component of the downfall of the Republican Party and it will be yours as well I suspect."

Lack of concern? Sir...my lack of concern consists of taking in a family of four because they have no place to live, providing a home for the weekend to two Ugandand orphans while visiting the US, serving with the American Red Cross, let me just stop because this is not even my style. But for you to personally attack my concern for others and to prophetize doom in my life? Who do you think you are and why are you such an evil and hateful man? Who is the one that has such a lack of concern for others here? If you would take the time just to even read my title on this column and take your mind off yourself for a second you would see that my life probably does not revolve around me. Then, if you might take a little more time and try reading just a few of my other articles, you may learn a thing or two. Try reading my "Mission Monday" articles or "Freedom Friday" articles. You sir, anonymous and cowardly, are a waste of my time until you can find the courage to leave your name. I will waste no more of my precious time on anonymous commentators. Good day sir.

American Soldiers Wife

Alert a moderator

Added: November 25, 2009. 08:39 AM CST

Get Your Own Life...

What an angry ignorant tirade you brave anonymous - or is it anony-mouse soul.

I've worked my entire life, paid my bills and done all the we are supposed to do. I've paid over $1,500 for COBRA when being laid off for over a year in order to maintain my health insurance and it was a horrible burden that left my family bankrupt, and forced us to lose our home.

Then I became sick, and the medical bills are into the 40,000's for one operation and follow up treatment.

And I still won't support the Government takeover of my life. I will not relinquish control of my health care to a panel of pencil pushers with actuary charts that will determine when I live or die.

I am an American and I cherish my freedom, even when freedom comes with difficulty and struggle as it has for me and my family this past two years.

If you want to run to Daddy government, then there are a good number of countries already set up for people like you: France & Cuba come immediately to mind.

Run ANONY-MOUSE! RUN!

But remember when you forfeit all of your rights to your government you have forfeited your soul, your freedom and your freedom for a slave's wages.

Wake up!

Arnold Arthur

Alert a moderator

Added: November 25, 2009. 08:30 AM CST

Get a life and a real job

I will bet you have never worked a minimum wage job OR been without health insurance. Some good, caring, upright citizens I know have worked 10 years or more at those types of jobs because that's all there is in District 1 just south of Savannah. THEY can not afford insurance and deserve coverage. They make too much for medicaid and not enough to purchase it on the job. In either case the lack of empathy and concern for others is a key component of the downfall of the Republican Party and it will be yours as well I suspect.

If you think SEIU, ACORN, and others are terrible look whats on the bottom and top of your signs AETNA, HUMANA. Corporations.....$$$$$$$ Foolish!
PLEASE: you're probably a shareholder or executive or getting a paycheck for what you do.
One day you will be lacking and found doing without. I don't know how that will come about however, it is how we all get "educated" about others and life that "what comes around goes around."

Remember this admonishment when you loose your job/insurance/home. It's your perception that's flawed. Take off your rose-colored glasses and see that every good thing done for our citizens health or welfare came from the progressives. Count your self on the wrong side of history and learn your lessons when they come and they will come!

Anonymous

Alert a moderator

Added: November 24, 2009. 11:31 PM CST

Health Care Bill

Great article Ann. Why don't these people supporting this bill realize that it will kill the best medical care in the world, drive us into debt that will make us a third world country and is unconstitutional. All of these politicians need to be run out of office on the next election.

Jerry

Alert a moderator

Added: November 24, 2009. 08:37 PM CST

Thanks for the great article, Ann.

You are doing a great job exposing this bill for what it is and what it is not. If it were only about health care we could have a bill that would be cut to 250 pages.

Like Conyers said, who can read these bills?

Jo Anne @ 12stepgolf.com

Alert a moderator

Added: November 24, 2009. 06:11 PM CST

I too was always taught to read before signing.

I too was always taught to read before signing. In reading this bill I am convinced that it has nothing to do with Health and nothing to do with Care. It does however have everything to do with increased taxes, loss of liberty and government intervention into every aspect of our lives. This is the European Dream not the American Dream of less taxes, smaller government and less government intervention in our lives.
Great article!

Donald Strong, Congressional Candidate 4th District, TN

Alert a moderator

Reverse Comment Order