I was at Representative Jo Bonner's town hall meeting in Tillman's Corner, Alabama. My question to Rep. Bonner was:
I would like to start my own business, but I am over 40 & under 65. I can't get affordable health insurance unless I work for a large corporation. Why can't I buy into Medicare?
A single payer, Medicare for All, health plan was taken off the table before the discussion was started, even though a majority of Americans, and a majority of doctors are in favor of it. [shouts from hecklers in the back of the room, so I had to raise my voice here.] My question is, Will you ask the CBO to rate it in comparison to the other proposals so that all of the various proposals can be evaluated objectively?
Jo first told the hecklers to behave themselves, and that I had a valid question.
He then said a lot of words about how great Medicare is, but gave no indication of how it might be expanded to people under 65.
Next, Jo talked about how the Republicans have no power in Washington, because they are in the minority. I told him that he could shame the Democrats into joining his request to score Single Payer.
Then he rambled on about various plans that the CBO has scored, implying that Single Payer was one of them. I repeated that HR676 had not been scored.
Then he mumbled something about trying to request it. So I thanked him, and told him that I looked forward to seeing the report.
But liars do figure. In Atmore for a town-hall meeting, Congressman Jo Bonner said:
“The problem with social security is that it used to be for every 55 people putting money into it there was one taking out and now it seems that for every two people there is one taking it out,” Bonner said. “The government is afraid to try and fix any of the problems with social security because they are afraid they will step on people’s toes no matter how they attempt to make the change.”
Sounds like that change from 55 to 2 workers per beneficiary happened in recent memory, huh? In fact, even though Bonner was careful to say "seems," it sounds like there are already only 2 workers for every Social Security beneficiary. Well, it seems like Jo Bonner exaggerated the problem just a trifle.
At some point the ratio must have been as high as 55 to1 -- heck, when the first person retired it was everybody except him working for his benefit, I guess -- and the ratio may drop to 2 in the future, but Bonner is stretching the truth from both ends in his statement above. For a more straight discussion of Social Security, read Protecting Social Security's Beneficiaries by Nancy Altman. Here's a couple of paragraphs as a teaser.
The worker-to-beneficiary ratio, which compares the number of workers contributing to Social Security to the number of people drawing Social Security benefits, reveals virtually nothing about the affordability of Social Security, because it sheds no light on how productive those workers are or on whether other burdens on those workers are increasing or decreasing.14 The projected reduction in the ratio from 3-to-1 to 2-to-1, which results from the aging of the population, merely indicates that, if Social Security were to be funded solely—which it now is not15 —from a tax on wages, that tax would have to increase. The shift in the ratio demonstrates, in a rough way, that Social Security will cost more in the future, but it is silent with respect to the affordability of those higher costs, and, even more important, fails to reveal that those higher costs were addressed decades ago, as discussed below.
A better measure of Social Security’s cost and affordability is the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) the program consumes. Unlike dependency ratio measures,16 which simply reflect age distributions, and when more refined, work status, GDP focuses on the productivity of the nation as a whole. When the cost of Social Security is examined in terms of GDP, it becomes unquestionably obvious that our economy can support our elderly, the widespread demographic anxiety notwithstanding.
I read a letter of withdrawal today from Tommy Fuller, dropping out of the AL-01 race for Congress. I have also been in touch with State Chairman Joe Turnham, who is working very hard to field a slate of candidates who are not only competitive, but also ideologically acceptable to Democratic voters.
My take on the Fuller situation is that, either: 1) he was recruited as a stalking horse to hold the seat until a new candidate can be found and then withdraw, or 2) the questions about his affiliations became a problem. In any event, my bottom line is that this Congressional seat must not be passively abandoned to Jo Bonner.
I have received a response from Democratic candidate, Thomas E. Fuller, to a question about his views on interracial marriages and about allegations that an organization of which he is a member opposes such marriages and supported Alabama's ban on them. While talk is indeed cheap, Mr. Fuller's assurances have given me reason to face the election with raised expectations.
It seems self-evident that we will not know the true nature of any candidate for office unless and until that person assumes the office and is required to "walk the walk". But, for now, the fact that Mr. Fuller is willing to "talk the talk" is in itself a sign that he will serve District 01 far better than has Jo Bonner, the Bush-bot. Mr. Fuller's emailed response follows below.
On the final day for candidate filing, Thomas E. Fuller, County Democratic Chair of Washington County was announced as our party's candidate for the First District Congressional seat, opposing Jo Bonner, Repugnican incumbent and Bush-bot. Many of us had questions about Mr. Fuller's credentials as a "real Democrat", due in part to certain of his affiliations. I wrote Mr. Fuller an email, asking for some assurances on issues important to me and - I suspect- to all of you.
I have recently received a response from the candidate, replying to my questions and including an invitation to an introductory event this weekup in Chatom. Please read on, as I think you will be pleased with the tenor of his remarks.
"The House Republican brand is so bad right now that if it were a dog food, they'd take it off the shelf," said retiring Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (Va.), who chaired the NRCC for four years earlier this decade."
So look at those races in Alabama's Congressional districts -- there's a chance to elect a better Representative in 6 out of the 7 this year -- and urge a strong Democrat to RUN, RUN RUN!
Greetings from the Lodmell campaign! We hope everyone is enjoying their Mardi Gras, and that everyone reading managed to get out and cast their ballots today!
We're still fighting hard down in AL-01 to get Ben elected and get Jo Bonner out, and we wanted to keep the Left In Alabama community updated on our efforts! So, without further ado, here's another exciting update to Ben's revolutionary campaign video diary. Over the last week, we've added several videos of Ben discussing his view on a whole host of different issues. His thoughts on public education are embedded below, but make sure you check out the whole video diary at YouTube.com/BenLodmell to see more of his ideas for a better and brighter future.
Also, back by popular demand, we've got some more videos showing the lighter side of Ben and our campaign. Embedded below is a message from Ben's wife, Leleca, and you can go to the YouTube Diary and even see Ben working in his kitchen or explaining how he chose his church!
Enjoy the videos below (please post them where ever you can!), and be sure to follow the links at the bottom of this post to keep up with and support the Lodmell campaign as we make our case for change.
Bonner should worry less about running a clean campaign and more about coming clean to his constituents.
Lagniappe recently quoted Bush’s man in Mobile, Rep. Jo Bonner, as saying he would be running a “clean” campaign this election year. Yeah! Well, if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
And if you believe that, you’ll believe Jo’s going to use that humungous war chest of special interest money he’s banked to pay for love letters to his constituents in the 1st District – love letters similar to that eight-page self-glorifying, record-distorting drivel of an insert the taxpayers paid the Mobile Press-Register to distribute to a couple of hundred thousand of his constituents and others a few months back.
If Bonner wants to run “clean” campaign then he should come clean with his constituents about his sorry record in Congress. Bonner should come clean about why he takes so much special interest money that has such a corrupting influence in Congress. And why he votes time and time again in support of those very same special interests, the oil and insurance companies, the utilities, and timber interest. Heck, Jo could just as easily vote the way he has without taking a dime of their money - if he voted with his heart instead of his wallet!
Bonner should also come clean about why he invariably supports Bush’s failed domestic and foreign policies, particularly why he votes to deny health care insurance to children who can’t afford it, while wholeheartedly supporting Administration policies that created and perpetuate a bankrupting war without end and then denying adequate health care to tens of thousands of returning veterans of a war he helped induce.
In addition, he should come clean about why he pretended to support wind damage legislation to garner constituent kudos when out of the other side of his mouth he told reporters the legislation didn’t have a chance for passage, and, if it did, the president would veto it anyway.
And he should come clean about…. Well, I could cite another handful of political dirty laundry Alabama’s most devoted Bushketeer should clean up with those hundreds of thousands of dollars of special interest campaign cash Jo has salted away, but Jo’s actions inevitably will speak louder than his words. In the meantime, if Jo won’t come clean about his record, Ben Lodmell will have to help him.
The "Ben Lodmell for Congress" local campaign office is moving closer to our grand opening with a meeting today of local supporters with his staff members from Mobile. A group including this diarist, Foster Kiser and other local folk are meeting at Foster's B&B, the Royal Oaks at 11:00 this morning with Dr. Elizabeth Castle and others from the Mobile staff to organize a workday. Purpose will be to paint -up and fix-up the office (106 E. Church St. Atmore), install furniture and a goodly supply of campaign literature. I have attempted to get support and involvement from other Democratic party leaders, but response is sadly lacking. One almost doubts any sincere determination on their part to actively contest this race. Anyone reading this diary who has contacts in the First District, please feel free to join us and/or to contact others who might be interested.
This is going to be a race, folks. Make no mistake. There are already a lot of "little people" on board in this campaign. If Jo Bonner (rhymes with No Honor) expects a cakewalk he may just be in for a surprise.
AL-01 Democratic congressional candidate Ben Lodmell on the current state of the American economy.
Economy is one more Bush-Bonner failure
First there was Iraq, which is costing us $9.6 billion a month. Then came worldwide anger over the Bush-Bonner gang’s go-it-alone and shoot-first tactics. Then there was Katrina. And let’s not forget the VA scandal. Or the sub-prime housing debacle. And what about the infamous tax cuts for the rich, while working families got squeezed, the poor got poorer, and millions of children continued to live without health care coverage.
Whoops! Almost forgot the Bush-Bonner pro-oil company policy that subjects the country to a perilous dependency on $100-a-barrel oil. And to top it all off, we’ve seen the worst federal government spending binge in history and, as a result, an astronomical hike in federal debt that makes us more and more vulnerable to the whims of cranky foreign government lenders.
So why should we be surprised that economy seems ready to be flushed down the toilet, thanks in large measure to Mr. Bush and those none-for-all Bushketeers that crafted all this chaos. Our particular thanks goes to Bush’s man in Mobile, Congressman Jo Bonner, for being behind the President - every failed step of the way. Good going, Jo!
Now it seems that Bonner and the rest of the frantic Bush-Bonner gang has been scurrying about in Washington for the past couple of days cobbling together an agreement among Democrats and Republicans on a $150 billion plan to rescue the economy from its first recession since 2001. The plan is simple: Two-thirds goes for tax rebates to spur consumer spending, with the balance earmarked for tax breaks aimed at jump-starting new business investment. Bear in mind that the people making this deal are the very same people who only yesterday couldn’t agree on the time of day.
Well, we will soon see how much they really agree when the rescue bill goes to the floor of the House next week and after that to the Senate, where chances are good that partisan politics will re-rear its ugly head. The continuing irony, of course, is that some economists fear the Bush proposal may be too little too late – that the economy has already been flushed down the toilet. Hopefully, the Bushketeers will follow suit in the next election.
This release was received today from Benjamin Lodmell, candidate for Congress from AL-01.
Lodmell candidacy for Congress reaffirmed; intends ‘to take campaign direct to the voters’
MOBILE, January 12, 2008 –Businessman-humanitarian and political pragmatist, Ben Lodmell, said he is taking his campaign “direct to the voters” as he seeks to become the first Democratic Congressman from Alabama’s 1st Congressional District in 45 years.
(The system in Washington really is corrupt -- this is just one example. - promoted by mooncat)
MOBILE, December 10, 2007 – When the Bush-Bonner gang torpedoed the Energy Bill last week it was “a near-perfect example of corrupt government at work,” according to a statement issued today by Ben Lodmell, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama’s first congressional district.
“Had it passed, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 would have reduced oil imports, raised automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and required electric utilities to increase use of renewable energy, all of which are beneficial to the country,” Lodmell said. “But Bush’s man in Mobile, Rep. Jo Bonner, joined with every other Republican in Alabama’s congressional delegation to make sure the historic bill died so their friends in the oil and gas industry could remain fat and happy.”
What prompted Senate Republicans to cut off debate on the bill, which had been passed by a 231-to-181 margin in the House a day earlier, was a $21 billion tax package. Included was the rollback of $13.5 billion in tax breaks enjoyed by some of the country’s largest oil and gas companies. Among other things, the taxes would have been used to extend tax credits for wind, solar, and biomass power, as well as hybrid cars.
Ben Lodmell is running an active campaign against Jo Bonner in AL-01, criticising Bonner in op-eds, letters to the editor and (gasp) blog posts. He just launched a new website that continues to criticize Bonner at the same time it emphasizes Lodmell's own priorities to achieve change for the better:
Fiscal restraint
Affordable healthcare
Improved education
Energy independence
A stronger middle class
More and better jobs
An improvement in America’s standing in the world
Too often Alabama Democrats have run polite campaigns against incumbent Republicans, carefully avoiding mention of their opponent's name or sharp criticism of his policy or record. This cautious approach is not only a reliable loser at the ballot box, it is morally indefensible as well. If you think the incumbent is doing a bang-up job, why are you running against him? If you think he's doing a crappy job, keeping quiet about it does a disservice to your supporters and to voters.
Ben Lodmell has differences with Jo Bonner, and he isn't afraid to tell voters what they are. That isn't mudslinging, it's honest discussion -- a necessary ingredient for good government, and a hopeful sign for Alabama politics.
Ben Lodmell issued a press release today in which he sharply criticized Congressman Jo Bonner for his continuing support of the trade embargo with Cuba. That embargo has been in place for most of my lifetime and there's not much evidence that it's done a damned bit of good to "bring Democracy to Cuba."
As Ron Sparks and others have long pointed out, Alabama producers are in a great position to market our agricultural products to Cuba, so ending the trade embargo would be a major boon for the state's economy. Why wouldn't our Congressional delegation be supportive of more trade with Cuba? In these days of undue influence from lobbying interests, Lodmell may have a point about those contributions to Bonner from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC.
Here's the entire release from the Lodmell campaign:
Did you hear what President Bush said last week about Cuba? “As long as the (Castro) regime maintains its monopoly over the political and economic life of the Cuban people, the United States will keep the embargo (on Cuban trade) in place.” His objective? To bring democracy to the Cuban people. Now, doesn’t that sentiment have a familiar ring?
At 36, I’m not old enough to know for sure, but I’ll bet you a box of Cuban cigars that U.S. presidents having been saying much the same thing since the Communist Cuban Revolution of 1959. But for goodness sake, when will President Bush – and let’s not forget his ever-faithful man in Mobile, Congressman Jo Bonner - wake up and smell the Cuban coffee? The Cold War has been over for nearly 20 years. But not to the Bush-Bonner gang, apparently. Not when it comes to Cuba. The fact is that piddling island, which has about 11 million people and is about the size of Alabama, couldn’t hurt us if it tried, with or without Fidel or his brother Raoul at the helm.
Even so Cuba has been a thick political thorn in the side of the U.S. for almost 50 years, and no administration in all that time has had the common sense or guts to pluck it out. Heck, every chance Bonner gets he does what the President wants him to do and that is to vote against normalizing relations with Cuba. Jo continues to follow his President’s lead despite the fact that the U.N. General Assembly has voted 16 years in row on a resolution urging the U.S. to lift the 46-year-old trade embargo. Jo’s voting record seems oblivious to the very real probability that lifting the Cuban trade embargo would provide Alabama with significant “investment and trading opportunities that have been missing” since 1962, according to study released earlier this year by Auburn University. This windfall would be on top of the $126 million in humanitarian exports to Cuba Alabama enjoyed in 2004.
According to the Auburn study, the Cuban embargo costs the U.S. $1.2 billion a year in lost export revenue, “with the Southeast and Alabama in particular suffering.” Moreover, if the embargo were lifted, Cuba would likely become a much larger market for Alabama agricultural products, such as poultry, meats, soybeans and grain, which in turn would also benefit the Port of Mobile, the study says. Alabama’s employment picture would surely improve as would our service industries due to increased demand.
Is it possible that Jo Bonner doesn’t recognize that the benefits of trade – even with our enemies – has a better chance of improving relations between countries than the hardheaded my-way-or-the-highway attitudes we have seen in recent years? Look at China, for instance.
Is it also possible that Jo Bonner missed the Auburn University report? Never read it? Perhaps. But then again, perhaps not. After all, one of Jo’s big political special interest contributors since 2004 has been the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, a powerful lobby that uses big bucks to help shape public policy favoring continuation of the Cuban embargo no matter who it hurts – the people of Cuban or Jo Bonner’s constituents in the first congressional district of Alabama.
Benjamin Lodmell spoke to the AFL-CIO meeting in Mobile last Tuesday. I asked the campaign for the gist of his remarks - below. Good stuff!
When General Wesley Clark [link here] told the members of UAW Local 1314 in Huntsville “the union movement is the real secret weapon of the American economy,” he wasn’t kidding. It is a secret. Bush’s man in Mobile, Congressman Jo Bonner, has done his best to keep it that way. So the time for change is long overdue. We need a Democrat in Congress from the First District who will give the labor movement the kind of representation needed to strengthen working families by:
·Supporting the union movement;
·Creating good jobs
·Making health care affordable and accessible to every man, woman and child, not just the rich and well-off;
·Improving job security and workplace safety; and
·Ensuring reliable pensions.
·Securing our borders and enforcing our laws
That’s what I stand for. That’s what I will work for in Congress. But there are other reasons why you should vote for Ben Lodmell. For one thing, I have spent half my adult life helping people that need help through public service and charities that provide opportunities for those that have none. And, unlike the Bush-Bonner gang that has been squeezing the life out of the middle class, I believe in my soul what you believe - that working families and the union movement represent the backbone of America and that working families and the union movement need to be strengthened - not weakened by returning the likes of Jo Bonner to Congress next year.
Sure, it’s going to be a tough campaign, but it can be won. For my part, I’m willing to give a year of my life, along with a strong personal and financial commitment, to beating Jo Bonner in next year’s election in order to give the labor movement some true representation in Washington. What are you willing to do, because I can’t do it alone? I need your help. And I need it NOW.
The fact is that, although Bonner’s campaign hasn’t started yet, he’s already soaked the rich and the famous for more than a half-million dollars to buy his way back to Congress. The point is, I have a lot of catching up to do. With your help, we can do it together. With your support, we can get labor back on track. I’m ready to fight. Are you?
Since the first time I talked to Lodmell, I've been impressed that he sincerely believes it's important to run on his values and talk to voters about what Democrats really stand for. Too many Alabama voters get their news about Democratic values from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, et al. Those guys present a caricature of liberals that bears no relationship to reality. In my opinion, Democrats have not successfully combated the demonization of our values and it's refreshing to see a congressional candidate out there talking about working families, the squeeze on the middle class, health care-- he came out strong in favor of SCHIP reauthorization -- and yes, the importance of the union movement to Alabama families.
The other thing that impresses me about Lodmell is that he's willing to give up a year (more actually, since he's been doing this a few months already) of his life to talk directly to First District voters about his values and his desire to be a real representative of the people, not a rubber stamp for whoever is in the White House.
This is a tough district, but Benjamin Lodmell is working hard to get the Democratic message out. Give him some help -- he's out there earning it.
Benjamin Lodmell, candidate for Congress in Alabama'a First District, had a rapid response to Jo Bonner's vote yesterday to uphold Bush's SCHIP veto. I recieved this via email last evening:
Bonner has no shame; votes against S-CHIP
override; children’s healthcare in jeopardy
Contact: Benjamin Lodmell, Candidate for Congress
PO Box 40926 - Mobile, AL 36640
Telephone: 251-404-2663
MOBILE, October 18, 2007 - Representative Jo Bonner once again has shamelessly proven he is “Bush’s man in Mobile.” Today the three-term Congressman from Alabama’s first congressional district voted to defeat a bi-partisan House override of last week’s Presidential veto of legislation calling for an expansion of the federally-subsidized State Children’s Health Care Program.
Today’s vote of 273-to-156 was 13 votes shy of the two-thirds needed to override the President’s veto.
The five-year S-CHIP reauthorization and expansion bill would have added as many as 4 million children, most of them from low-income families, to the 6 million already receiving subsidized healthcare at a cost of about $6 billion a year more than the President wanted.
Even if Congress gives the President what he wants, it won’t be enough to maintain the ‘ALL KIDS’ version of S-CHIP that has been operating in Alabama for ten years, according to estimates by Department of Health officials. If the President digs in his heels, estimates are that about 68,000 Alabama children would lose their existing health insurance and join the 75,000 kids currently uninsured in the state.
“Bonner’s cockamamie reason for opposing healthcare for poor children? The S-CHIP bill would raise taxes paid by smokers! Can you believe it” Lodmell asked? “Here’s a Congressman who earlier this year voted to make the rich oil industry even richer by giving it billions of dollars in subsidies now votes to deny poor uninsured children the healthcare they need because it will increase ‘entitlements.’ What kind of uncompassionate ideological nonsense is that? Bonner has no shame. Why didn’t he apply some of this fiscal thinking when helping the President to increase the national debt by about $5 trillion since Bonner’s been in office?”
Lodmell became a Democratic candidate for Congressional seat held by Bonner early last month. Raised in Huntsville during much of his early life, Lodmell describes himself as the people’s representative. “When it comes to the people’s money, I’m an anti-special interest fiscal conservative,” he said. “Beyond that, I’m a pragmatic, independent-thinker with a social conscience that can bridge the ideological extremes that often get in the way of getting the people’s business done in Congress.”
Democratic Congressional hopefuls Greg Warren (4th District) and Benjamin Lodmell (1st District) are making their opponent's vote against S-CHIP reauthorization a campaign issue. Alabama Republicans are wrong on this issue and voters here know it.
Warren, whose opponent is CAFTA tie breaker Robert Aderholt, issued this statement on Tuesday:
Is Alabama's current Representative from the Fourth Congressional District actually representing his district or is he representing President Bush? Yet again your current Representative has voted against helping his own constituents to fall in line with the Bush Administration. The latest being his vote in opposition of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization act. This bill would have provided an additional $35 billion for SCHIP -- $30 billion more than Bush wanted. This legislation would reauthorize coverage for 6.6 million children and extend the program to 4 million more. This program has significantly affected the health status of children from low-income families. As before with his deciding vote for CAFTA (which has cost his district numerous jobs) your current Representative has again come up with his excuses for turning his back on the needs of his constituents to be President Bush's "rubber stamp". Your current Representative had rather tell you what you need and what is good for you instead of the job that he was elected to do which is represent you and your needs.
As noted, Aderholt has exhibited a paternal attitude toward his constituents, first assuring them that his CAFTA vote would protect textile jobs in the district (wrong!) and more recently through absolute opposition to a tribal casino, with no consideration to any positive economic impact it might have on the area.
Down in South Alabama, Benjamin Lodmell is taking on Jo Bonner. From a statement issued by the Lodmell campaign on Monday:
“That must be what they mean by compassionate conservatism,” Lodmell said when learning of the President’s veto. Even if Congress eventually gives the President what he wants, it won’t be enough to even maintain the ‘ALL KIDS’ version of S-CHIP that has been operating in Alabama for ten years, according to estimates by Department of Health officials. “That’s heartless and intolerable.” When asked about his vote against S-CHIP, one member of Alabama’s Congressional delegation reportedly said he “didn’t join the Republican Party to raise taxes on the American people.” Point well taken, Lodmell said, “Especially when you consider how a failed Republican ideology has destroyed this country’s sense of fiscal responsibility by replacing years of federal surpluses with staggering deficits and reducing taxes for the rich while trying to fight two wars at the same time. “It’s incredible that those who managed to increase our national debt by about $3.5 trillion since Jo Bonner and President Bush first took office can now say ‘no’ when asked to provide healthcare for children who through no fault of their own are uninsured. “The difference between what the bill calls for and what President Bush opposes is less than 4% of the $190 billion the Pentagon asked for in fiscal 2008 to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s also a drop in the bucket compared with what Congress has been secretly sneaking into its annual appropriations bills. Which, by the way, may be the reason why Jo Bonner refused to discuss his ‘earmark’ activity with a journalist during a recent interview. “No matter how they try to explain it away, Bonner’s vote and the President’s veto against children’s healthcare simply boggle the mind. Regardless of their new-found fiscal sanctimony, trying to make political points at the expense of poor children is just plain unconscionable.”
Bonner, Aderholt and other Republicans of their ilk are in Bush's pocket on this and everything else. They have happily voted to spend, spend, spend on Bush's foreign entanglements, but now they draw a line over a small spending increase for children's health care -- which won't increase the deficit by one dime. How can these men sleep at night?
Benjamin Lodmell's campaign released a statement today (full text below) with some harsh -- and deserved -- criticism of Jo Bonner for his NO vote on reauthorization of the S-CHIP program. Republicans like Bonner point to S-CHIP and cry socialized medicine, taxes and government health care. Those words aren't quite as scary as they used to be.
If you want to see how socialized medicine works in this country, take a look at our military and veterans hospitals and clinics. Or check out Medicare, an extremely popular, government-run, tax-funded program. This bridge is an example of what happens if we go hell-bent down the "eliminate taxes" and "drown the government in the bathtub" road.
I don't see any moral ground for opposing S-CHIP reauthorization. Thankfully, Democrats like Lodmell are calling Republicans out over this unconscionable vote. Bonner is so deep in Bush's pocket, he will probably vote to uphold the veto anyway. Who will suffer if Bush's veto stands? The children of working class Alabamians will feel the pinch right away. Bonner and his ilk will have to wait until November of next year.
MOBILE, October 8, 2007 – If Representative Jo Bonner has his way – and it looks like he will - the ranks of Alabama’s uninsured children will likely swell, thanks to President Bush’s veto last week of legislation calling for an expansion of the federally-subsidized State Children’s Health Care Program. If enacted, the so-called “S-CHIP” program would be paid for by an increase in federal tobacco tax. Much to his shame, Bonner, and every other member of Alabama’s Republican Congressional delegation, voted against the five-year S-CHIP reauthorization and expansion bill that would add as many as 4 million of the nation’s 9 million uninsured children to the popular healthcare program at a cost about $6 billion a year more than the President wants. Estimates are that if Congress fails to override the President’s veto later in the month, about 68,000 Alabama children could lose their existing health insurance and join the 75,000 kids currently uninsured in the state. “That must be what they mean by compassionate conservatism,” Lodmell said when learning of the President’s veto. Even if Congress eventually gives the President what he wants, it won’t be enough to even maintain the ‘ALL KIDS’ version of S-CHIP that has been operating in Alabama for ten years, according to estimates by Department of Health officials. “That’s heartless and intolerable.” When asked about his vote against S-CHIP, one member of Alabama’s Congressional delegation reportedly said he “didn’t join the Republican Party to raise taxes on the American people.” Point well taken, Lodmell said, “Especially when you consider how a failed Republican ideology has destroyed this country’s sense of fiscal responsibility by replacing years of federal surpluses with staggering deficits and reducing taxes for the rich while trying to fight two wars at the same time. “It’s incredible that those who managed to increase our national debt by about $3.5 trillion since Jo Bonner and President Bush first took office can now say ‘no’ when asked to provide healthcare for children who through no fault of their own are uninsured. “The difference between what the bill calls for and what President Bush opposes is less than 4% of the $190 billion the Pentagon asked for in fiscal 2008 to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s also a drop in the bucket compared with what Congress has been secretly sneaking into its annual appropriations bills. Which, by the way, may be the reason why Jo Bonner refused to discuss his ‘earmark’ activity with a journalist during a recent interview. “No matter how they try to explain it away, Bonner’s vote and the President’s veto against children’s healthcare simply boggle the mind. Regardless of their new-found fiscal sanctimony, trying to make political points at the expense of poor children is just plain unconscionable.” Lodmell declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party’s nomination early last month. Raised in Huntsville, Lodmell describes himself as the people’s representative. “When it comes to the people’s money, I’m an anti-special interest fiscal conservative,” he said. “Beyond that, I’m a pragmatic, independent-thinker with a social conscience that can bridge the ideological extremes that often get in the way of getting the people’s business done in Congress.”
Last week I had an opportunity to chat with Benjamin Lodmell, Democratic candidate for the AL-01 Congressional seat now held by Jo Bonner. This is the second time I've spoken with him and he passes my first candidate electability test: Likeability. He is easy to talk to, gives thoughful responses and nothing he said to me sounded canned or packaged.
Lodmell told me that he plans to work full time between now and the 2008 election meeting people in his district, listening to their concerns and building a strong campaign. Even this early in the campaign season he is having a lot of conversations with voters, the traditional Democratic constituency of course, but also meeting a cross section of voters through shaking hands at the grocery store, knocking on doors, talking to people at shopping malls and so forth.
In those informal conversations, Lodmell says health care is a recurring concern he hears, especially from those who are self employed, work for a small business or are in another situation with no health insurance. Lodmell said that people seem to be concerned with their own insecurities, with how expensive life is. Concerns about the price of gasoline, health care and the rising price of food are mentioned frequently.
I asked if he heard many concerns about Iraq and he said that does come up, but not as often as health care worries. Lodmell said he is a "strong supporter of a timely withdrawal from Iraq" but from the general public he hears not so much anger about the situation there as frustration. People are also expressing concern about the cost of staying in Iraq and how much money has been spent on the war already. He said folks in the 1st District (map below) tend to be fiscally conservative and are concerned about government spending.
He reiterated that he is a "moderate Democrat" and elaborated, saying "by moderate I mean willing to listen," try to build bridges between ideological extremes and "represent everyone, even the people who didn't vote for me." He also said he is a lifelong Democrat, who believes in the principles the Democratic party stands for.
I asked him how he felt about supporting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and what I regard as a weakening of those documents by legislation in recent years. He said he is concerned about "changes in all these hard won rights" and we need to "be careful about what civil liberties we allow to be torn down." He said he appreciated the push and pull between Homeland Security and Civil Liberties, particularly in an environment of fear, but cautioned against giving up too many freedoms. He said "liberty is not conservative or liberal, it's an American issue and one that should be taken very seriously." I particularly asked if he had an opinion on the so-called Protect America Act extending the Bush administration's wiretapping authority. Lodmell declined to comment until he had read the bill. While it didn't answer my question, that is a refreshing attitude since lawmakers in recent years have admitted they often vote on bills before they read them.
Running against an incumbent is never a picnic and Lodmell realizes that to win he must make serious inroads with independent minded voters and conservative voters who are disgruntled with Bonner's performance. He plans to run a campaign that will "challenge Jo Bonner" and "not just roll over and take it" when Republicans strike back at him. He talks about getting out and listening to people and getting back to the true spirit of representative government.
His website, benjaminlodmellforcongress.com is up, though still under construction, and he has already started raising money online through ActBlue. The more contact I have with Lodmell the more I think he is a very good Democratic challenger for Jo Bonner in Alabama's First Congressional District.
The Political Skinny has a neat story this week. I love it when a Democrat gets a great deal from a Republican. It just turns that savvy businessman/country bumpkin stereotype on it's head.
U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner , R-Mobile, has a loyal supporter in University of South Alabama President Gordon Moulton . But earlier this year, Moulton sold his Government Street home to the man now challenging Bonner in next year's election, according to Mobile County Probate Office records.
Moulton said he wasn't aware that Lodmell planned to challenge Bonner for the 1st Congressional District seat, and he might have asked more for the house if he had known it. The price had been reduced because the house had been on the market for a while.
Could be some other things in Mobile will be switching parties after next year.
By the way, Benjamin Lodmell's ActBlue page is up and working, accepting online donations to help him take on Jo Bonner. This is a great way to give to progressive candidates ... safe, secure, simple, and you can even do a recurring donation of $5 or $10 (or more) each month until the election. It's a practically painless way to support Democratic candidates.
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Benjamin Lodmell
I asked him how he felt about supporting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and what I regard as a weakening of those documents by legislation in recent years. He said he is concerned about "changes in all these hard won rights" and we need to "be careful about what civil liberties we allow to be torn down." He said he appreciated the push and pull between Homeland Security and Civil Liberties, particularly in an environment of fear, but cautioned against giving up too many freedoms. He said "liberty is not conservative or liberal, it's an American issue and one that should be taken very seriously." I particularly asked if he had an opinion on the so-called 
