Please continue to shine a light on these folks Jane!

Their antics would be quite comedic if there weren’t so much at stake on this. Most of these a**hats truly do seem as if they would have fit perfectly in France circa 1787.

Yes. If you post their contact information, I will respond. I also will send this out to my group. Thanks for focusing now.

I’ll bet this is the first time in ages any of these people have heard from anyone other than lobbyists. Seriously.

Ask him. DC: 202-225-5065, Fremont: 510-494-1388.

Option 1) Pete if the economy gets better Obama will get the credit and become more popular and powerful and if anything the Healthcare bill your masters don’t like now will look great to them compared to the next one we plan on pushing here is a hint less compromise.
Option 2 The economy gets worse more people lose their healthcare and next election the Left will certainly run ads reminding voters that you voted NO on healthcare. I suspect that the amount of Government money you and your family spent on your health care might get leaked to the media.

Why does his website proclaim his support for the bill or is he supporting something else entirely? Or just talking out two sides of his mouth?

supported by the AARP along with other organizations, includes important reforms such as the creation of health insurance exchange, a public health insurance option to compete with private insurers, and new rules to prohibit abusive practices by private insurers.

Are you taking bribes, congressman? Your constituents think so and will fire you next go round. Don’t worry about it. Count on it.

I saw the video of the mark-up sessions on Friday, and Stark made some pointed remarks that were critical of the bill, for what seemed to be the right reasons. Rangel just chuckled in response. Allied health lobbies aren’t exactly the insurance industry, are they?

Stark is a progressive but refuses to let his phone people give any info on where he stands on health care. I’ve been round and round with them on this for weeks.

Please put on the pressure, they recognize my voice by now :D

I spoke to an aide and she stated she was unaware of the pledge, but would pass it on. No position. I did try to stay positive and expressed our wish to make Rep. Stark a healthcare hero.

Is Mike Ross blocking non Arkansas calls to his office? I just tried to dial his Washington office number and I got an error message saying that the number wasn’t available to callers from my area. Do a lot of congressional offices do this? I’ve never gotten one of these messages before. Is there anyway around it?

Option 3) All those Antibiotics given to pigs who are not checked by the FDA’s very lax rules will result in a new wave of pig flu ( the disease is in full swing right now in South America, Argentina’s health Minister resigned over their failed handling of it)
A vote against health care before a plague? Plague violence against authority that people think has failed them is a common phenomena during plagues I suggest you move at the very least sick people will cough on you.

I should add, that Stark said he would support the bill, nevertheless.

If Ross is blocking the direct Capital Hill lines for anything other than area codes from his district, then call the Capital Switchboard 800#s:

Toll free phone numbers (thanks katymine!) to the capitol switchboard (call one of these numbers and then just ask for any congress member’s office):

(800) 828 – 0498
(800) 459 – 1887
(800) 614 – 2803
(866) 340 – 9281
(866) 338 – 1015
(877) 851 – 6437

Option 4) Pete you and your friends get voted out of office who cares you all got guaranteed jobs on the boards of various health insurance companies waiting Right?
Insurance companies collect money from people with jobs and the invest it. So if the economy gets worse or stays the same less people will have healthcare and the insurance companies will have less good places to invest their money.
Also no Healthcare NO support for another bank and insurance company bailout.

Isn’t Pete Stark one of the co-sponsors of HR 3200?

Jane, my brother woke up one morning, recently, to find that one finger on his hand was a little numb. Didn’t think much of it. The next day, it was still a little numb, and concerned, ask me what I thought he should do, because like so many others, he doesn’t have insurance. I told him he should get it checked out because an emergency room visit couldn’t possibly cost that much to find out his problem. He agreed. He went to the hospital, was looked at and told that the numbness might be a blood clot and he needed to be put in intensive care cause it might be life threatening. Four days later, after several tests, he was told he could go home. They told him they didn’t know what was wrong with exception that there have been a few examples of people losing limbs from smoking pot, so he should quit. A week later he was sent a bill for $ 25,000. If anyone has any doubt that our health system is broke this might help them.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 14, 2009

Mr. DINGELL (for himself, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. STARK, Mr. PALLONE, and Mr. ANDREWS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

76% of the voters support this Pete do you have any ambition for higher office? Do your kids think about running for office?
Ask Herbert Hoover and his family how things have worked out. Opposing what maybe the start of a new New Deal with 76% support before we even pass the program and get it working is not smart.
Find a Republican in office today who will go on the record of wanting to take away Social Security. Find an old person even a Republican who opposes the program and refuses to cash the check?
Find that person Pete because they will be whats left of your base if you oppose us on this.

Four days in ICU for what possibly was a case of a pinched nerve in a finger (or carpal tunnel). Crickey!

So, yes, in answer to my question, Stark is a co-sponsor. Do we really think a co-sponsor wouldn’t support the bill? Is there any evidence that he is trying to water down the bill or stall it? Granted, it is awfully inconvenient and somewhat suspicious that a bunch of health care interests are holding a fundraiser for him but I’m not sure if some kind of guilt by association litmus test is the best way to go. Is it possible that the health interests are going to start holding fundraisers for all the supporters of the bill as a way to discredit them? I mean Bara Vaida did say this came from “a K Streeter”, presumably a lobbyist.

Swine flu is a virus. Antibiotics are for bacteria. So while prophylactic use of antibiotics on farmstock may not be a good idea, it would have nothing to with viruses.

I’m guessing that the problem is that Stark might be perfectly willing to dump or eviscerate the public option in the name of passing a bill.

I find it unbelievable that Stark would not be for a public option. He wanted a better bill than the one in question, but, as he said last Friday, he’s not Chairman of the committee.

By the way, this hit and run stuff is not good. A lot of questions have been raised and not answered.

Is there any evidence that he is trying to water down the bill or stall it?

Stark voted against the War Supplemental (funding for European Banks and funding Afghan war) which unfortunately puts him in a pretty elite group of progressives.

Pete loses zero in his district by “taking the pledge.” The only way we’re going to get a robust public option is if Blue Dogs know that 40 progressives will actively block the health insurance industry. It’s not enough for Pete to stand by silently and allow others to water it down.

I’d encourage your brother to take the bill to a whole bunch of lawyers. Sounds like ICU was empty and they used your brother to fill it????

Well done. I just got off the phone with someone named Cimin??? She knew all about the pledge. Hat tip to you and others like you who have been calling. Unfortunately, she knew of no timetable when Stark might make a decision.

You guys do realize Pete Stark WROTE the public plan for the House. He’s been arguing for the public option probably years before most of you were born.

Then why won’t he take the pledge? Such a simple step to take if he is as committed as you say.

Called Rangel’s office. Still no commitment on voting no against phony reform.

I get that we need everyone who is on board to publicly say they are on board regardless of how obvious it is but forcing our allies to do it by pointing out that they are receiving money from health interests seems like a very painful shoot yourself in the foot way of doing it. I would also like to point out the fundraiser in question is in honor of Stark and was set up by Fraioli Associates. I see no indication that Stark would actually be there and the event is not listed on Fraioli’s Upcoming Events list. Has anyone asked Stark if he knows anything about this event?

The thing is ,what a lawyer would want to take on something like this is probably more than the insurance would have cost. And this hospital has a lot of clout around here. Poor people, poor ways, just waiting for the lawsuit to begin.

Please think about this and get all the facts before you rally the troops to call Pete Stark’s office and leave intemperate remarks. I’m a Bay Area resident for decades and I can’t think of anyone less likely to betray the cause of health care reform. He is on our side, folks.

This may seem irrelevant, but if you want to know who Pete Stark is, I suggest you google the speech he made on the day they passed the resolution to go to war in Iraq (October 10, 2002). Wait, here’s a link:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/…..raq_Speech

The guy is a genuine hero in my book and a *real* public servant, if a pretty feisty one at times. He also made a big stink in 2007 when they tried to kill SCHIP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lTUB5_l0Mg

If this looks to you like someone who will quietly vote the wrong way on public health care, then be my guest. Call his office.

I agree wholeheartedly – Pete Stark is about as unabashedly liberal as they come! The idea that he would suddenly cave on public health care seems quite bizarre to me.

It’s mildly entertaining to see people realize that no politician is perfect.

I am a constituent, and I take serious offense at you accusing Stark of taking bribes. Just because he won’t sign a pledge does not mean he’s corrupt. You completely weaken any good arguments by distorting and lying. Stop it. If he accepted money from ActBlue, would that be considered a bribe? Time to grow up a bit.

Gross exaggeration and name calling has it’s place in political discourse: coming from the mouths of republicans.

You do know that Rep. Stark is 78, right? Do you think he is lining u a job for when you allegedly vote him out? Are you even in his district? I live in Alameda, and am pretty sure he gets reelected for as long as he wants.

Wasting time and energy attacking a good progressive – nice work everyone! Feel good about yourselves? I hope you are not under any delusions that this is useful.

Why hound the guy? Go attack your own congresscritter.

The incentive system is all screwed up. They have much more incentive to keep you in there forever than to tell you to stop chewing on your finger and go away.

The accusations made here against Pete Stark and the health care provider advocacy organizations supporting him are completely unfounded and utterly false. Representative Stark has been an unwavering supporter of a public health care program for many years, and these PACs with “health care interests” are in fact representatives of health care workers who support him (http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/Stark%20fundraiser.pdf) for that very reason.

The American Podiatric Medical Association PAC represents podiatrists, podiatric surgeons, and students. I’ve worked with many podiatrists on a research and clinical care level for many years, and as a group they are as dedicated to patient care and welfare as any other professional health care workers. They generally provide services at rates less than MDs, and are of course concerned that their ability to practice is not threatened by any new legislation just as are nurses, technicians and other health care providers. Of course they have an “interest” in health care legislation, and have as much right to lobby on health care reform as you or I.

The American Occupational Therapy PAC advocates for occupational therapists, and for their patients. Their web page (http://www.aota.org/News/AOTANews/Health-Reform-Update.aspx) highlights their interests in lobbying for establishing a high level of care for the elderly, the disabled, children, the mentally ill and other patient groups that too often receive short shrift from government funding.

The American Dietetic Association PAC lobbies for nutritionists and dieticians, and advocates expansion of education on food safety and nutrition. From their web site (http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy.html):

“Members of the American Dietetic Association, experts in food, nutrition and health, work on a broad range of issues to advance the nutritional status of people here and around the world. We focus on seven priority areas: aging, child nutrition, food and food safety, health literacy and nutrition advancement, Medical Nutrition Therapy, nutrition research and monitoring and weight management for health.”

The American Speech—Language-Hearing Association PAC advocates for speech therapists, who work mainly with the deaf and hearing impaired, those with congenital speech impediments, and those whose language ability has been impaired by stroke or by accident. From their web site (http://www.asha.org/advocacy/federal/pac/):

“ASHA-PAC provides financial support to candidate committees for the U.S. House and Senate that recognize the importance of speech-language pathology and audiology services and who demonstrate concern for the rights of all citizens to receive these services.”

So there you have the sneaky evil intentions of these PACs: advocating for health care providers, not insurance fat cats, and for the right of the disabled, the impaired, the ill, the damaged, the injured, children and the aged to receive decent nutrition and quality medical care. How awful.

Yet you characterize these decent people, and the entirely good and humane and compassionate and honest Pete Stark, as somehow carrying on a nefarious scheme to damage the cause of providing a meaningful public health care opportunity. In doing so you defame these organizations and their members, and you also defame a good and decent man. Pete Stark has been an unwavering advocate for universal public health for decades, as have I, and I stand proudly with him in his efforts to see it finally realized. I am grateful for his unstinting service to his district and to our country, and as a constituent I support him in office without reservation.

Jane, you have badly missed the mark here, by repeating false innuendo without checking the facts. You should retract your suggestions of inappropriate influence on the part of these organizations. You also owe Pete Stark an apology for suggesting that this fine and honest man is corruptable, and one to your readers as well for seriously misleading them.

Representative Stark has been an unwavering supporter of a public health care program for many years,

then he should have no problem signing this pledge

fyi – we raised our kids in his district and were pleased to have his usually progressive representation. his waffling on this has been a huge disappointment for us.

Jane hasn’t defamed anyone here. She’s asking why a career long advocate for universal healthcare wont step up and help provide a backstop to watered down, corporate friendly language in a major piece of legislation – and this family wants an answer

Nationwide

Day 1

Accountable to Congress and The People

period

I disagree. It’s one thing to keep needling progressives to sign the pledge. It’s quite another to impugn their integrity with destructive innuendo that lumps all “health care lobbyists” into a giant, undifferentiated toxic stew.

Yes. I hate to think of good guys in Congress being hounded by blog readers who’ve just gotten part of the story here and don’t know Pete Stark’s context. He’s a grownup and he’s been in Congress a long time. I think we can trust him on this issue – of all issues. The pledge is not the main thing, the ultimate reform is.

in response to cbl2 @ 41

Where exactly has Stark “waffled” on health care? Have you any evidence, or is that just another false defamation of his character? If you have proof; put it up instead of simply making base allegations without any evidence.

Time was, demands for the signing of a pledge to demonstrate purity on an issue was a revolting tactic of the Far Right; abstinence pledges, “Right to Life” pledges, McCarthy-era loyalty oaths, all come to mind. Apparently now some on the Left feel that this sort of tactic – demanding someone sign a pledge and then falsely impugning their character if they don’t – is also acceptable. I disagree.

To be perfectly honest, the notion that a bunch of johnny-come-latelys think they can command those of us who have been working for single-payer for decades to sign some trumped-up pledge or else they’ll make up lies and spread false and defamatory claims about us is offensive. Deeply offensive.

I’ve known Pete Stark for a very long time. He is one of, if not the most honest and compassionate people in all of government. Whether Stark signs your little “pledge” or not won’t make a whit of difference in how he votes or what he advocates. He has been entirely consistent on this subject, and the good news is that he has enough integrity and focus to ignore such puerile behavior and continue to pursue universal health care as he has for his entire career in office.

This post is false on its face, the allegations made are repugnant, and it should be repudiated by anyone with a shred of decency.