I then saw Jane Hamsher’s article on Joe Courtney.

Joe Courtney is one of the good guys, and Hamsher’s portrayal was disheartening, so I had to listen to the entire interview on WPNR to see how he could have taken such an about-face.

He didn’t… it was a distortion of what actually took place. Don’t you hate that.

First, about the Mike Stark video, get over it. In the 27 second video, Stark never asked Courtney whether he would vote for a health care bill; and when Stark identified himself, Courtney said, “Nice to meet you Mike”. The rest…probably the response all of us would have to Stark’s sophomoric approach.

But the WNPR interview is central, and Hamsher’s interpretation is a head shaker. “Blows off questions about where he stands on public plan”? (trying to preempt Marcy’s colloquialism.) Well, wrong context, and way, way off base.

A “…less-civil answer he gave to reader Hugh B.” Courtney was more than civil, and very politely corrected Hugh B. that the poll number of those that support a government sponsored plan is 72%. The reference to 76% is from a NBC/Wall Street poll of those supporting a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance. It was a simple distinction.

And Hamsher stated that Courtney refused to take the Pledge to support a public health plan. Wow, did you miss Courtney stating “I’m with you”; “I totally support a public option (several times); reiterated his “pledge to bring health care to all”, etc.

But then Hamsher inserts a paragraph about Blue Cross raising rates in Connecticut by 32%, etc., a comment that Joe Courtney made, inclusive of having a public plan, as if it was her own piece of reporting(?).

Joe Courtney remains one of the “good guys”; not one of the “good old boys” that Hamsher infers. He does want to “stay smart”. Understanding that by the end of August there are not enough votes for a “single payer” system, but hopefully “…can have universal health care, with a multi-payer system.”

Advise all to listen to the WNPR interview.

Here’s hoping that Hamsher isn’t representative of this entire site. I want a progressive place to visit, that has some depth and heavy lifting, re: Marcy Wheeler; but not reckless utterances from someone like Hamsher.

the (D) establishment, and almost all the (D) politicians, know that progressive activists phoning faxing and calling have as a default setting, part of their most basic operating system, the self-imposed obligation to vote Democratic, no matter what.

the intensity of all the outrage, phoning and faxing does not correlate into lack of support in even numbered years, therefore it can be treated as kabuki from a constituency that has nowhere else to go.

no wonder some, like Democrat Joe Courtney, do not bother to hide their contempt.

Fixed it for ya :)

so try a primary Firepups, Netroots . . . and best of luck to you!

the one I was involved in in Chicago broke out into double digits, wooo!

but then, if you can’t overcome the massive incumbent advantage Democrat Joe Courtney has,

and

if someone, like a progressive millionaire, if there is such a thing, decides not to bother with a Democratic Primary and runs as an (I) against Democrat Joe Courtney

then what does Netrootsia do?

really, do you fall in line and vote for Democrat Joe Courtney out of habit, tribal loyalty, cautious pragmatism, and because the (R) is reeely reeely scary?

the (D) establishment knows you are a safe bloc, despite all the disgruntled faxes calls and letters, which they have their interns dispose of.

think this might have anything to do with why pols like Democrat Joe Courtney can scorn you so easily?