Waldo’s Virginia Political Blogroll

Between working full-time and going to school full-time, I'm a little behind the times. I read an article a few days ago the Richmond Times-Dispatch which impressed on me again that those who go without health insurance are not just the poor - they are the working poor.

I applaud the commonwealth for its efforts in trying to decrease the rate of uninsured children. Currently 1 in 11 go without health insurance.

I really don't know what the solution, if it feasibly exists, should be. However, I do know some things:

A. Again, this is a moral issue that receives short-shrift because the emotional gut-reaction is not widespread.
B. Healthy children grow up to be healthy adults, and thus can contribute more to society and have a better chance of attending college and obtaining substantial employment. The article mentions the risks of skipping routine check-ups.
C. This is not a class issue: 70 percent of uninsured children come from families where the income level is twice the level of poverty, or $33,200 for a family of three.
D. This is not a race issue: In Virginia, 27 percent are African-American and 17 percent are Hispanic - totalling 44 percent.

"These findings destroy some of the stereotypes that exist," Pollack said.

Families USA said that despite gains in enrolling children with insurance, the rate of uninsured children has increased since 1998. And there are wide disparities from state to state.

In Virginia, 9 percent are uninsured, while in Texas the percentage is more than 20 percent.

The figures suggest that uninsured children will represent a huge cost burden as time goes by. For instance, less than half experienced a well-child visit in the past year. Uninsured children are three times more likely to have unmet mental-health needs and nine times more likely to have other unmet or delayed medical needs.

How do we as Christians address this issue?

As a special “I’m bored on a Sat. Night after walking way to much door-to-door today” post, I wanted to touch base on the difference between Republicans and Democrats, because I believe it reveals an important angle on why we are working so hard against tax increases.

There is an old saying, “Republicans think they are helping the poor, Democrats think they are the poor.” Now lets think about that for a second. Who is doing more to help the poor?

Democrats would say that, with Medicare/Medicaid and Welfare, they are helping the poor. But I’ve walked door to door in multiple states in multiple income areas. I can tell you from experience that, across the board, the poor (unless they have been made lazy and complacent, which is few and far between) do not want to be thought of as poor or given pity laden handouts!

One you consider that many working, lower class people do not want to be classified as poor, what can you do to help them. Democrats will tell you that you FORCE them to take Gov’t aid. But guess what?!? Many hard working people consider that an insult. What would really help them, from my experiences working on the street, is a tax cut!

Now Democrats will rail against the GOP’s plan for trickle down economics, but I ask you, where is their comprehensive proposal for the overhaul of the tax system and the extending of the earned income tax credit? It’s not there because they’re against ANY tax cut. Republicans could offer to cut taxes for the lowest 20% by 10% and they would be against it because they need that money to fund their massive social engineering projects.

My experience in campaign work (and I have worked some of the nastiest districts for Republicans in VA) says that the poor don’t want hand outs, they want a hand up. That’s what tax cuts do. Tax increases are a slap back down the ladder.

A tax increase on gasoline??? Who needs the gas more, a CEO driving from Henrico to Downtown Richmond, or a minimum wage worker driving from Suffolk to Chesapeake for the only job they can get??? As a percent of income, who will be hurt more?

I would ask Democrats (and Senate Leadership Republicans) who is really hurt a gas tax increase? It’s not your CEO’s in the SUV’s. It’s your Subway employee in the Stationwagon. Next time you want to accuse fiscal conservatives of harming Virginia families by not agreeing to a tax increase to pay for new roads, I ask you to look into the mirror and look at how that increase would effect those you claim to “represent.”

Richmond, Virginia — September 30, 2006

Right now, every Republican legislator connected to the Mark Foley cover-up is studying this definition, wondering if it applies to them:

“Accessory after the fact” - Whoever, knowing that an offense has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact; one who knowing a felony to have been committed by another, receives, relieves, comforts, or assists the felon in order to hinder the felon’s apprehension, trial, or punishment.

The Republican congressional leadership were faced with obvious evidence of a serious crime against children and they covered it up. End Republican corruption and cover ups: vote Democratic on November 7th.

Richmond, Virginia — September 30, 2006

Jim Webb’s reaction to criticism he received from four women who were midshipmen at the Naval Academy when he published his much criticized article “Women Can’t Fight” is instructive.

When these four women held a press conference to criticize Webb and say that his article caused them great suffering, Webb did the only thing he could do: he apologized, quickly–his apology went out two hours after the women’s initial press conference. Webb’s actions present a stark contrast with Allen’s two week refusal to apologize for “macaca” and his ongoing refusal to acknowledge his past history of racism and racist remarks.

Webb’s decision to do the right thing, and do it quickly, has resulted in his receiving forgiveness and an endorsement from one of his critics, Linda Postenrieder. Postenrieder is an artist and art gallery owner in California. “I would vote for Jim Webb if I were in Virginia,” Postenreider was quoted as saying in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch.

George Allen could learn something from this: the first step in receiving forgiveness is to confess that you have sinned.

"It's vile," said Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach. "It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."

No, this wasn't said about himself, after resigning from Congress Friday because of improper emails with a 16 year old boy, this was in relation to President Clinton.

What happened to the Republicans? Have they no shame? Where did this whole 'we'll restore dignity to the White House and DC' go?

With Rep. Bob Ney's conviction regarding corruption and the whole Jack Abramoff scandal, not to mention Tom Delay's resignation, I was told that sort of behavior was impossible, for these were good Christian men.

Shame on those Christians who claim that Jesus would vote Republican, or for those who cast Democrats out of their churches.

How is this a Christian value?

How is justifying torture a Christian value?

How is lying to the country to justify war a Christian value?

How is corruption a Christian value?

How is ignoring American and International law a Christian value?

And for Virginia and the illegal immigration debate, how is racism a Christian value?

I guess this is what happens when you present yourself as holier-than-thou... anytime you set yourself up higher than humans and closer to God, gravity's humbling mechanicism kicks in.

Update: Just saw that Foley was the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children. Nice.

Charles Babington and Jonathan Wiseman report on the Foley resignation in todays Washington Post. Most disturbingly, they report that

House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) told The Washington Post last night that he had learned this spring of inappropriate "contact" between Foley and a
16-year-old page. Boehner said he then told House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

In other words, keeping a majority seems more important to the House leadership than disciplining a member who is endangering young Pages. The people of Leader Boehner's and Speaker Hastert's districts need to ask themselves if they believe the same thing. If they do, they should return Mr. Hastert and Mr. Boehner to Congress, they are saying that partisanship is more important to them as well. If these men had any decency, they would resign now and not force their constituents into such a choice. Given how they have run the House the last several years, I do not expect it.

It is time for their constituents to send the message that they put decency over partisanship.

Richmond, Virginia — September 30, 2006

One of the previously anonymous sources for Salon’s story about Allen’s use of the N-word has come forward. Edward J. Sabornie, a special education professor at North Carolina State University, now says that he was one of the two anonymous players who accused Allen of calling Blacks “niggers” during his time at the University of Virginia.

Given that the events that surround this scandal, should graduates of the University of Virginia begin to worry about the negative publicity their alma mater is receiving? George Allen is an embarassment to the University of Virginia and the entire Commonwealth. He must be removed from office and consigned to the scrap heap of history, along with his crackpot racism.

Sabornie’s story is absolutely credible, and Allen’s denials are beginning to wear more than a little thin. Read the complete story at Salon.

Richmond, Virginia — September 30, 2006

Six weeks before a critical mid-term election, Republican legislators in the House of Representatives have dealt themselves a shocking October surprise. Representative Mark Foley, a Republican from Florida, resigned yesterday after it was revealed that he had sent a series of e-mails described as “raunchy” to a 16-year old male congressional page and had also asked the boy for pictures.

This was not an isolated incident. It has been revealed that Foley also e-mailed another male page, asking “Do I make you a little horny?” In another exchange, Foley offered a suggestion to another underage male: “You in your boxers, too? … Well, strip down and get relaxed.”

Foley resigned from his house seat yesterday in disgrace, dropping a bombshell on his Republican colleagues. Republican lawmakers returning home to face re-election will now have to explain to their constituents why they did nothing to protect these congressional pages, these children, from a predator in their own midst.

Indeed, the Republican majority allowed this pervert to continue as head of the Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus! The Republican leadership in the House has known about Foley’s activities since late 2005!

Voters in Virginia and nation-wide need to send a message to the Republican Party: we are tired of the exploitation and the coverups. You can read more about this developing story here.

Transcripts are available of Foley’s online chats with underage boys, but I warn you: they are extremely graphic. If you click here you will be outraged by the way this Republican legislator victimized children.

Just a reminder, our fundraiser with Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will be held on Monday at the Crown Sterling (6120 Fort Ave Lynchburg, VA 24502) on Monday, Oct. 2nd.

You can still RSVP to vcssenate@yahoo.com

In addition, catch VCSS Chairman Chris Shores on WLNI in Lynchburg on Monday Morning at 9:20 AM.

Friday’s open thread: Transportation problems, What do you think about the House bill or the Senate “compromise”?

Richmond, Virginia — September 29, 2006

If his latest television ad is any indication, then the Allen campaign has asked Virginia voters to compare Webb’s past treatment of women with Allen’s past treatment of women, with the implied result that they will choose Allen over Webb.

Allen has definitely opened the door to allow the voters of Virginia–and the political press of Virginia–to examine George Allen’s past interactions with women. Rumor has it that George Allen doesn’t think women are any good in a fight either.

My opinion: Allen got desperate and played this ad too soon. Opposition researchers now have five-and-a-half weeks to dig in Allen’s past. I wonder what they will find. In Charlottesville.