For nearly a week, right wing extremists in both the Catholic Church and the media, have been screaming about a policy that has been discussed in political circles since shortly after the Affordable Care Act - the ACA - was passed last year. In January, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Obama Administration was going to go ahead and implement the policy of equitable insurance coverage, as part of the continuing rollout of the ACA.
The policy had been known about for some time before it began being implemented. Parts of the policy have actually been in place for over a decade, and were put in place during the Bush years. No religious groups or media organizations had made any significant noise about it, even when the Obama Administration rolled out its part of the policy. That would lead most sane, honest people to think there was no real trouble with the issue.
Legally and ethically, there still isn't - though the screams and tantrums coming from the extremist right may have made you think otherwise.
The claims of people from the screaming radio hatemongers to the members of the Council of Catholic Bishops - even some candidates for the President - have been saying that the equitable insurance coverage clause will force Catholic hospitals to pay for birth control and abortions. Some of those setting their hair on fire have even been saying this will be done with taxpayer dollars in Catholic medical institutions.
The truth is much more boring.
Those who've been stirring up trouble on the contraception and insurance issue say the Obama Administration can't make religious organizations include coverage for birth control... but twenty-eight states already do. Most Americans are already paying for birth control, whether they like it or not - though most Americans do actually like it.
In fact, as Steve Benen recently pointed out, most Americans - including most Catholics - believe that all employers should be required to provide their employees with health care that covers contraception and birth control at no cost to the patient.
That's what the equitable insurance coverage clause does.
It says that IF a private employer is going to provide health insurance for their employees, ALL policies - including those at the most basic level - must provide the OPTION of coverage for birth control and other women's health options, in the same way they are already required to provide the OPTION for men's health issues like Erectile Dysfunction.
In short, the insurance policies an employer chooses must give the choice to cover both the little blue pill for him, and the little pink pills for her.
There are those who are saying the Obama administration - through the equitable insurance coverage clause - is taking away the freedom of choice of businesses to choose not to provide insurance, or to provide a less-than-adequate basic level of health insurance. That the ACA, and many states' insurance laws already give states and the Federal government the right to fine an employer if they don't provide certain basic levels of health care insurance seems to escape those who are protesting this decision.
Just like with any law that benefits the greater public good, individuals and businesses alike already have the freedom to violate the law if they choose - so long as they're willing to pay the penalty for doing so.
The decision to roll out the equitable insurance coverage clause was not a decision the White House made lightly - and our sources say the Administration is NOT likely to change this policy in any serious way, no matter how much trouble the Catholic Church stirs up. That the administration has said in public it will try and "resolve the controversy" and "ease the ire" regarding this issue, even if they don't change the policy, isn't hypocrisy - it's politics.
In this case, it's the politics of the Obama Administration attempting to explain the new rules, while applying the "General Welfare" clause of the Constitution.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Overreaction + Underplanning = Total Failure
Just after we published on Tuesday, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska Bob Kerrey announced a decision we were fairly sure of for some time now: that he would not seek the U.S. Senate seat he once held.
Kerrey's decision was compounded by the announcement earlier Tuesday that former Lieutenant Governor Kim Robak also declined to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by her former gubernatorial partner, Ben Nelson.
Unsurprisingly, there were all kinds of ridiculous overreactions and feigned surprise, both locally and nationally. These overreactions came from both Democratic and Republican politicians and pundits, and even national media outlets. On the left, Democrats seem to be left headless in a political contest with a filing deadline just a week away. On the right, Republicans are patting themselves on the back, for absolutely no reason. This was a decision by Bob Kerry, who likely could have defeated any of the clownish candidates the Nebraska GOP looks to put up.
Frankly, we're not surprised at any of this. We also won't be surprised at the likely outcome this fall, or in the years to come. This is what allowing nearly unlimited campaign finance donations, few real campaign finance regulations, and years of no real political competition brings.
For more than a few years now, neither major political party has done much real work at building their ranks for the future. As the number of truly competitive races has shrunk in every category from Mayor and Councilperson all the way to Congress, and in every city, state, and legislative district, neither party has had much need or desire to build a decent farm team.
That need diminished even further with the Citizens United ruling. Now both sides can simply bring out of the back rooms the habits they've been publicly denying for many years now, that only those who can beg, borrow, steal, or inherit a small fortune will be able to buy their way into politics in America.
In real terms, the outlook for Nebraskans is sad and bleak for the near future. It's now fairly likely that one of the many incompetent Republican candidates vying for U.S. Senate will pander, lie, and buy their way into Federal office, That is, though, with fewer TV, radio, and newspaper commercials than they might otherwise have purchased had Bob Kerrey decided to enter the contest.
After this fall, those Nebraskans who are not right-wing political extremists will have little real representation in their Federal government. Sadly, all that will be left in Nebraska's national political delegation are politicians who do not agree with, and will not fight for, anything other than extreme conservative points of view. We honestly recommend any politically displaced Nebraskan forward any appeals for Federal assistance to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa - though they may only be able to do so for another couple of years. By then, the cannibals may have run him out of Washington, as well.
For those who want to curse out Kerrey or Robak, we think you should stop now. Who can blame them for not wanting to get back into the fray with the political landscape the way it now is?
For those on both sides of the common political divide who are decrying the dearth of worthwhile candidates, ask yourselves: would you want to do the pandering, the begging, the glad-handing, and even maybe some groveling just to get the money required to run for office? Would you rather become an incredibly high-priced plaything for a multi-billionaire, like Newt Gingrich seems to be? Would you want to put your family, your friends, your former co-workers - virtually anyone you've ever known - through the insane magnifying glass of a major political/slime campaign today?
We certainly wouldn't.
Kerrey's decision was compounded by the announcement earlier Tuesday that former Lieutenant Governor Kim Robak also declined to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by her former gubernatorial partner, Ben Nelson.
Unsurprisingly, there were all kinds of ridiculous overreactions and feigned surprise, both locally and nationally. These overreactions came from both Democratic and Republican politicians and pundits, and even national media outlets. On the left, Democrats seem to be left headless in a political contest with a filing deadline just a week away. On the right, Republicans are patting themselves on the back, for absolutely no reason. This was a decision by Bob Kerry, who likely could have defeated any of the clownish candidates the Nebraska GOP looks to put up.
Frankly, we're not surprised at any of this. We also won't be surprised at the likely outcome this fall, or in the years to come. This is what allowing nearly unlimited campaign finance donations, few real campaign finance regulations, and years of no real political competition brings.
For more than a few years now, neither major political party has done much real work at building their ranks for the future. As the number of truly competitive races has shrunk in every category from Mayor and Councilperson all the way to Congress, and in every city, state, and legislative district, neither party has had much need or desire to build a decent farm team.
That need diminished even further with the Citizens United ruling. Now both sides can simply bring out of the back rooms the habits they've been publicly denying for many years now, that only those who can beg, borrow, steal, or inherit a small fortune will be able to buy their way into politics in America.
In real terms, the outlook for Nebraskans is sad and bleak for the near future. It's now fairly likely that one of the many incompetent Republican candidates vying for U.S. Senate will pander, lie, and buy their way into Federal office, That is, though, with fewer TV, radio, and newspaper commercials than they might otherwise have purchased had Bob Kerrey decided to enter the contest.
After this fall, those Nebraskans who are not right-wing political extremists will have little real representation in their Federal government. Sadly, all that will be left in Nebraska's national political delegation are politicians who do not agree with, and will not fight for, anything other than extreme conservative points of view. We honestly recommend any politically displaced Nebraskan forward any appeals for Federal assistance to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa - though they may only be able to do so for another couple of years. By then, the cannibals may have run him out of Washington, as well.
For those who want to curse out Kerrey or Robak, we think you should stop now. Who can blame them for not wanting to get back into the fray with the political landscape the way it now is?
For those on both sides of the common political divide who are decrying the dearth of worthwhile candidates, ask yourselves: would you want to do the pandering, the begging, the glad-handing, and even maybe some groveling just to get the money required to run for office? Would you rather become an incredibly high-priced plaything for a multi-billionaire, like Newt Gingrich seems to be? Would you want to put your family, your friends, your former co-workers - virtually anyone you've ever known - through the insane magnifying glass of a major political/slime campaign today?
We certainly wouldn't.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Game On
As Americans returned to work yesterday, one of the biggest topics of discussion was naturally the Super Bowl, including the commercials. As there often is, one specific ad seemed to be generating the most amount of discussion at workplaces, online, and even in the media.
If you haven't yet seen the ad, we highly recommend that you do. The ad was for the Dodge & Chrysler family of products and featured scenes of Detroit and Michigan - as well as the talents of the iconic Clint Eastwood. The ad was a stroke of genius, and reportedly, Eastwood even wrote some parts of the script himself. It didn't even mention Chrysler by name - but everyone seems to remember which company the ad was for.
The ad also made it clear, without ever mentioning the auto bailout, that it took everyone coming together - our government included - to rally around and find a way to save one of America's last great industries, and that the same thing is now needed for our nation to take the next big step back.
The message of the ad was a powerful one, one of hope and rebirth - but one that also matches the empirical data about what has been happening in our economy. Already this year, Chrysler announced they had returned to profitability for the first time since 1997. Jobs are starting to come back to Detroit too, and to many places in the Midwest and Ohio Valley that were so decimated by the recession.
These facts about the economy, coupled with the powerful ad, had many people asking if this ad was an ad for Chrysler - or for the Obama reelection campaign. That the ad was voiced over, acted in, and partially written by Clint Eastwood - a man that George H.W. Bush had once considered asking to be his Presidential running mate - seemed to shock those who derided the ad as Obama's, especially those on the right.
The man with the most responsibility for our political system's current hostile temperament, Karl Rove, said the Chrysler ad offended him. Other talking heads on the extremist right followed in lockstep with Rove, denouncing the ad as propaganda, and heavily implying that Eastwood must have sold out.
The truth is, Eastwood did not sell out - either his principles or his politics, a claim supported by Eastwood's own comments on Monday that he is "not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama." In fact, Eastwood has been historically very centrist, with a bit of a libertarian streak. When he was mayor of Carmel, California he was registered non-partisan. He's supported candidates from both major parties in the past, too. And while Eastwood said he voted for John McCain in 2008, he's also noted he has yet to decide who he'll support for President this year.
The claim that the ad is propaganda is also untrue. Even if some Republicans are in denial about it, the economy finally appears set to strengthen its recovery this year - much to the dismay of some very partisan Republicans running for office. Jobs are already coming back to the American automobile industry - and GM finished 2011 as the world's top automaker.
We'll admit - the economy isn't fixed yet, and we're all going to have to work together if we want to get things rolling again, past the starting point into a full-blown recovery. That was exactly Mr. Eastwood's message in that ad - one we believe is good for every American, regardless of their political affiliation.
The fact is, while the Chrysler ad may not have been meant to be political, its honesty and message being delivered at this time in American history make it somewhat naturally political - and to us, that's actually a very good thing.
As Mr. Eastwood says in the ad, "This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines."
The ad finishes with this line: "It’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin."
To that, we heartily agree, and simply say, "Game on."
If you haven't yet seen the ad, we highly recommend that you do. The ad was for the Dodge & Chrysler family of products and featured scenes of Detroit and Michigan - as well as the talents of the iconic Clint Eastwood. The ad was a stroke of genius, and reportedly, Eastwood even wrote some parts of the script himself. It didn't even mention Chrysler by name - but everyone seems to remember which company the ad was for.
The ad also made it clear, without ever mentioning the auto bailout, that it took everyone coming together - our government included - to rally around and find a way to save one of America's last great industries, and that the same thing is now needed for our nation to take the next big step back.
The message of the ad was a powerful one, one of hope and rebirth - but one that also matches the empirical data about what has been happening in our economy. Already this year, Chrysler announced they had returned to profitability for the first time since 1997. Jobs are starting to come back to Detroit too, and to many places in the Midwest and Ohio Valley that were so decimated by the recession.
These facts about the economy, coupled with the powerful ad, had many people asking if this ad was an ad for Chrysler - or for the Obama reelection campaign. That the ad was voiced over, acted in, and partially written by Clint Eastwood - a man that George H.W. Bush had once considered asking to be his Presidential running mate - seemed to shock those who derided the ad as Obama's, especially those on the right.
The man with the most responsibility for our political system's current hostile temperament, Karl Rove, said the Chrysler ad offended him. Other talking heads on the extremist right followed in lockstep with Rove, denouncing the ad as propaganda, and heavily implying that Eastwood must have sold out.
The truth is, Eastwood did not sell out - either his principles or his politics, a claim supported by Eastwood's own comments on Monday that he is "not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama." In fact, Eastwood has been historically very centrist, with a bit of a libertarian streak. When he was mayor of Carmel, California he was registered non-partisan. He's supported candidates from both major parties in the past, too. And while Eastwood said he voted for John McCain in 2008, he's also noted he has yet to decide who he'll support for President this year.
The claim that the ad is propaganda is also untrue. Even if some Republicans are in denial about it, the economy finally appears set to strengthen its recovery this year - much to the dismay of some very partisan Republicans running for office. Jobs are already coming back to the American automobile industry - and GM finished 2011 as the world's top automaker.
We'll admit - the economy isn't fixed yet, and we're all going to have to work together if we want to get things rolling again, past the starting point into a full-blown recovery. That was exactly Mr. Eastwood's message in that ad - one we believe is good for every American, regardless of their political affiliation.
The fact is, while the Chrysler ad may not have been meant to be political, its honesty and message being delivered at this time in American history make it somewhat naturally political - and to us, that's actually a very good thing.
As Mr. Eastwood says in the ad, "This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines."
The ad finishes with this line: "It’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin."
To that, we heartily agree, and simply say, "Game on."
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