A Sam Bennett sycophant posted the following comment at LVPoliblog yesterday: I am not interested in why [Dent] voted against SCHIP initially or why he changed. It might be politics! Shocking! I know where he stands now but I believe he will shift with the wind on this as he did on Iraq.I think you should know Charlie Dent feels, both about our children's health care and Iraq. But instead of hearing it from a Bennett sympathizer, let's hear what Charlie himself has said.
Children's Health Care
One of the major issues facing Congress this Fall has been the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). As you may know, the federal SCHIP was created in 1997, building on the success of state Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), such as Pennsylvania's. These programs provide access to health care coverage for targeted low-income children with no health insurance in families with income that is above Medicaid eligibility levels. Over the past few months, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have been debating measures to strengthen, improve, and extend SCHIP.
In July, I voted against a bill which would have expanded SCHIP but paid for the expansion by drastically cutting Medicare benefits. This was an irresponsible proposal that would have pitted grandparents against grandchildren. On September 25th, I supported a compromise measure - HR 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - which would have reauthorized and improved SCHIP without jeopardizing Medicare.
Unfortunately, despite broad bipartisan support, the President vetoed the bill. The House is expected to vote on overriding the President's veto on Thursday, although it is unlikely that there will be the required two-thirds support to overturn the President. I have called on Democratic Leadership to work in a bipartisan spirit to forge an agreement that will be signed into law.
SCHIP is currently providing nearly 164,500 children living in hard-working, low-income Pennsylvania families with access to affordable, comprehensive health-care coverage. I am hopeful and committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and the White House to develop a compromise that allows SCHIP to meet the needs of uninsured low-income children.
Iraq
I was one of 28 Republicans and Democrats endorsing the “Bipartisan Compact on Iraq Debate,” a series of eight principles to help guide the House of Representatives away from political infighting and toward a bipartisan solution on Iraq.
Congress committed our troops to Iraq on a bipartisan basis, and I think the American people and our brave service men and women expect us to work together now. These principles, many of which emanate from the Iraq Study Group report, represent thoughts from both sides of the aisle and can help us form consensus for a way forward on Iraq.
37 comments:
Charley Dent voted for the SCHIP bill when he was told to vote for it by the Republican leadership to make him look good at home, because he is in trouble here. They knew Bush was going to veto the bill and it would make all those R's in trouble look good to the liberals at home. Dent doesn't care about your kid's. Wake up.
Anon 11:28,
And where is your proof that (1) Charlie Dent was told to vote for this bill by the Republican house leaders; (2) that Charlie Dent, whio has been now rated as "safe" by CQ, is in trouble at home; (3) that Charlie Dent does not care about children????
It is irresponsible assertions like these that make you sdound a little too shrill.
Here's what you forget. We're all on the same side. There are differences between Rs and Ds, but last time I checked, Rs stilled liked and cared aboutr children. Last time I checked, so did Dent. In fact, he even has a few of them.
Come on, man. If you wnat to argue that Charlie is too probusiness and is a little tough on unions, I'll agree. But let's be truthful.
Can someone come on this blog and explain two things. First, Other then we hate Bush, what in the world will make voters throw out Dent for Bennet. Second, what positions has she ever voiced on anything of importance.
Being a Democratic organizer may have been a road to Washington in 1948 but not so much today.
The koolade must taste particularly good. Even better than the koolade Stoffa gave BO.
Tastes like chicken.
Mr. OHare, In all fairness to Mr. Dent, when I contacted his office, I was emailed the same statement you just posted, and given an explanation of his position by one of his staffers. The only response I have received from the Bennett campaign is the anon statements on my post askubg for a position.
I resorted to writing a public post because their response to my emails was to send me fundraising paraphernalia. I asked my questions back in August, before I gave birth to my daughter, and still haven't received a proper answer. It's been two months.
Yet the Bennett people want my vote. Why should I vote for someone who ignores me now? All I want is one good reason to vote for Bennett, and they have yet to produce one. Am I asking too much?
Sorry! askubg should be asking. You try typing while feeding a baby!
Yes, Dent periodically sends emails, and what I posted here is something anyone who asks for those emails can receive. I find he's responsive and informative. It disturbs me to see his positions twisted by a politico whose sole ambition is to get Bennett or someone else elected. I don't always agree with Dent, but I don't always agree with Rich Grucela or Bob Freeeman either.
Bernie,
I saw Charlie at the Allentown Fair. I have always known Charlie to be sincere. We do not agree on every issue. Who does? I told him that he looked well, given all that is going on in Washington. I don't ever think Charlie would vote against a good bill that would help kids. He has young kids of his own! But he did mention that he couldn't support a bill that would hurt their grandparents and other seniors, those with fixed incomes who struggle to make
ends meet. That's what I like about Charlie. He's balanced. It's easy to jump on the bandwagon and say what people like to hear to get votes. But it's a legislator's job to find a way to use the process and make a bill better. I
could see he was struggling with this bill. I don't always vote the message. Sometimes you need to look at the messenger. Beyond the mailer. Beyond the glitz and glamour. Back when Paul McHale was running for Congress, I didn't
agree with most of his "message", but when he left his office to support our country, he demonstrated character, and the ability to make tough decisions
under tough conditions. He earned my vote. Do you really think Sam Bennet is in the same league? Most people will be reasonable on election day, and that is why I feel Charlie Dent will be re-elected.
The above message was just emailed to me by a friend. And I posted his email as a comment without naming him.
At Project Vote Smart you can find a description of the SCHIP bill Dent voted againstin July. Nothing there about cutting benefits to seniors.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=14620
The Morning Call's summary from its 8/8/07 issue page A9 states that the bill proposed to cancel planned cuts in Medicare reimbursement to doctors and reduce taxpayer subsidies of insurers who provide private Medicare policies.
Sounds a bit different from Dent's spin on his vote.
A recent GAO report claims that private medicare insurers have been allowed to keep tens of millions of dollars which should have gone to consumers but for lack of scrutiny by the Bush admin.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/health/policy/10medicare.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Dent's stated concern for seniors is really concern for the insurance companies who contribute so heavily to his campaign.
When it is said that a politician wouldn't vote a for a bill that is harmful, or even of less benefit,to poor children because he has children of his own, after all, is to assume that no vote that is harmful, or even of less benefit to poor children has ever passed as there has never been a majority of any legislative body made up of members without children.
Nobody is saying anything of the sort. The original charge is that Dent doesn't care about your kids. And that's just ridiculous.
Annon 6:10. I think your'e refering to Angle.
The problem with the SCHIP expansion is that it provides incentives for people who are currently insured to move out of private plans and into a government plan. It's a disservice to what was once a good program, and it's indicative a voracious attitude by some to bring everyone into a single payer program. SCHIP is getting a bad name while being sacrificed as an incremental step toward national health care.
I'm not satisfied with our current state of health care, but I'm just not ready to hand over the business of heart surgery and kidney dialysis to a gang (left, right, center) that does very few things well. Politics should be on the list of our nation's top killers.
Dent's explanation for his original vote, as in his MCall op-ed, was preposterous and counter-factual.
For example, his claim that it required cuts to Medicare. Simply false. What the bill did was pare back the excess in payments that had been legislated for private insurers who picked up some of the Medicare recipients. These companies were getting considerably more in payments for identical service, than ordinary Medicare payments. Never made sense; it was just a sop to big political contributors. The new bill would have affected Medicare recipients not one whit, not in any way, not any how. It just cut back on some favored companies' profits.
Dent was just spouting a convenient GOP talking point on that, as on his other excuses for his vote. Again, Dent claimed that the bill he voted against would open up SCHIP to illegal aliens. False again. All it did was rewrite the rules by which people had to demonstrate that they were legally eligible for the program. Simple reform; twisted beyond all recognition by Republican propaganda. Republicans just plain made things up, and loyalists like Dent repeated the nonsense.
Still think that Charlie Dent is candid and straightforward? I found his op-ed both outrageous and laughable, and I believe him to be disingenuous.
Fast forward a few years
A bill for universal health care comes up for a vote.
President Clinton has said she will sign it.
The bill is expected to run into trouble in the House.
It is an off-year and therefore easier to vote against the popular bill.
I believe that Dent is philosophically opposed to universal health care.
I want a Democrat casting a vote for our district.
Smintheus, I'll check out what you say. I followed the debate for the original bill on c-span. At that time, even Dems were conceding that it would result in cuts to other programs and they would have to fix that. So I'm a bit puzzled. But I'll do some research. Perhaps I misunderstood what I heard.
Anon 8:56, I know Dent opposes single payer health care. He believes that medical insurance groups should be expanded instead. I'm with you on this one. I won't be agreeing w/ Dent on that one, but that won't cause me to dump him in favor of someone who just tells me what I want to hear. I've seen too many of that kind of pol.
You've seen too many of that kind of pol?
You mean the kind you might actually agree with on issues?
I'm not keeping score but this isn't the first time you talked about disagreeing with Dent on an a major issue but sticking with him anyway.
This isn't/shouldn't be a popularity contest. Sure Charlie makes a great class president and he'll look great at the homecoming dance and everything but he is VOTING ON YOUR BEHALF
You don't care how he votes?
No, the kind of pol that I've seen too much of is the one who wears a mask while running for office and is a completely different person once elected. Bennett has persuaded me that she is not only that kind of pol, but worse, a blatant opportunist. I don't believe a word she says.
I do have major disagreements with many candidates, including candidates I support. I can't expect a person to agree with me on every issue. I look for a candidate whom I can believe, and then look at what he or she is saying.
Stoffa is a prime example. I adore the guy. He and I were actually on the opposite sides of the open space debate. he supported the county's $111 megabond. I sued to stop it. But he believes in open and accountable government, and he has credibility with me.
Same with Rendell. I think some of his ideas are just plain goofy. And he is no reformer. But he has a vast reservoir of credibility with me, and I like his positions on many issues, and believe him.
With Dent, I disagree completely with his vote union organizing, and I support single payer health care. On the other hand, I like his stands on many issues. I pretty much agree with him on Iraq, and applaud his Schip vote. He is a careful guy who does his homework and is bipartisan in his approach to different issues. he has a certain amount of gravitas.
He is slightly more conservative than I would like, but is also slightly more liberal than many of his conservative supporters would like. But his chief asset with me is his credibility.
If he was voting like Toomey, I'd have to oppose him. But he doesn't. And if you stack him up against all of his recent predecessors, he has actually been the most liberal Congressman the LV has seen. he is still a conservative, but far more liberal than anyone before him with the possible exception of Rooney.
Bernie 9:07
Google-medicare private insurers through the Common Dreams link on your site
Another scandal rich scam whereby the R's make policy based upon crony capitalism
Anon 11:40, I'll do that and more.
Do I want Dent or a Democrat voting on National Healthcare. First Hillary is poised to take the nomination and proceed to lose. Hillary polls awful with men even Demo men. She reminds many of the polarizing politics this nation has endored for sixteen years. As to healthcare, do you really think the 'new' Hillary will push it? As to what a 15th District Dem might do it depends on the Dem. What the hell is Bennets position on Healthcare, she has been so busy clearing the field she forgets that Dems are still thinking creatures and wonder why her only meaningful speech was a druken tirade. Dude, you can rail against the machine all you want. Bennet willnot sway independents and independent Dems in this race.
Bernie,
You applaud his vote on SCIP. Which one?
Bernie, You agree with Dent's position on Iraq? Which one? The latest seems to involve a lot of hand-wringing that Bush's policies are bad (for endangered Republican incumbents, anyway), yet never the less Dent will continue to vote against any bill that would change those policies.
On Iraq, then, Charlie Dent appears to want to be all things to all people.
From observation of Dent's public actions, and from my own personal experience with him, I would say that he's evasive and disingenuous.
Bernie 5:02
Anon 11:28 stated that Dent doesn't care about your kids.
I believe your response was that Rs like children
Isn't the real point that most people like children but that the protection or care for poor children is a lower priority for the Rs (conservatives) than the Ds (progressives)?
Dent is a moderate?
He gets a 72% score from the American Conservative Union
Specter gets a 43%
Alaska's Ted Stevens gets a 64%
Dent is a moderate the way Bush is a compassionate conservative- lip service and a few votes here and there but when you get down to the big issues he's with the Chamber of Commerce and not with the people.
Anon 10:21, Drop the numbers game played by all the special interests. Look at the ratings at CQ. He's right in the middle. It won't be until about 6 yrs are gone that we know for sure. But right now, Dent looks like exactly what he says he is - a moderate who leans right. Don't try to make him outr as something worse - you'll just fall on your face.
Smintheus, You have to go by your own experience, and I have to go by mine.
Bernie 10:59
OK let's use your suggested source
CQ's party unity table shows that Dent went with the Rs 81% in 2006 and he is down to 73% in 2007.
http://www.cqpolitics.com/party_unity.html
Hmmmn!
Shifting with the wind, just as I said.
The 2006 votes are most important as they came when the Rs had the majority and controlled which bills came up for a vote.
Effectively you are claiming that a Congressman who voted 81% of the time with the Republican Congress then controlled by Hastert, Delay, Armey etc is a moderate.
I posted about this long ago, on May 21. Charile is a centrist. If you look at the Pennsylvania delegation, he's smack dab in the middle.
You can argue this group and that and try and try to make a different case, but you just can't fit a round peg in a square hole.
As Esquire noted about Dent last year, "[T]he majority of Republicans - both voters and politicians - are social and fiscal moderates. Freshman Charlie Dent is one of their best."
At 8:39 and 9:43 am you were asked to clarify your stated support for two of his positions (Iraq and SCHIP. As the one who posed the original SCHIP question I am genuinely interested in your response.
You sent me to CQ and I came back with good stuff and now you are relying on Esquire? I guess GQ would have been too much.
Orwell would have loved the way you accept these terms (centrist, moderate) without much scrutiny.
The Nat'l Journal rates Jeff Flake of AZ as a 51 thereby making him even more of a centrist than Dent in their study. However Project Vote Smart notes that Flake gets a 100% rating from the John Birch Society and the Club for Growth. Perhaps the NJ study would allow an unfortunate result such that a vote for a highly conservative measure which will pass with your help is offset by a meaningless vote for a liberal one which will lose anyway. I'm not implying that anyone would purposely do this but it appears to be a flaw in the study.
Bernie, I am curious as to why you don't put any stock in an interest group rating? When the John Birch society gives Flake a perfect rating that tells me something.
Anon 7:00,
I thought the 8:39 post was an attempt at humor. Obviously, I applaud the second vote, when Dent supported SCHIP.
You mention a 9:43 post but I don't see it. If you're asking me to talk about Iraq, I have done so in many posts and many times on this blog, and I do agree with Dent's position. I opposed our initial invasion, and felt we needed to get out before we became entrenched. But now that we are entrenched, we have to get out in a way that ensures stability in the region and prevents genocide. That is my main fear. I have blogged this many times.
No, I don't put much stock in the ratings of special interest groups because they are biased and they have an agenda. I do like to look at votes over a period of time. It's unfair to judge someone on one year's worth of votes, especially when it is a freshman year. By this time next year, you will have a good base from which to judge Dent fairly over a few years if you're a fair-minded person. And I think the National Journal, which has no agenda, is a good place to start.
When Dent votes with the left, he's called a Machiavellian. When he votes with the right, he's a Cheney clone.
Now, as far as my delay in getting back to you is concerned, I'm sorry. I'm busy right now. I blog. I have a job. I had a meeting this evening and did not get in until after 9 PM. I am preparing posts about the election and am deeply concerned about the LANTA situation.
I will be researching SCHIP in the next few weeks and writing about it and our health care crisis. But I cannot respond intelligently to some of the concerns raised by you and Smintheus earlier. That requires a little more homework.
But since everyone seems to know why Dent does this or that, I thought it might be nice to include what Charlie told his own constituents. That means something, too.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to rush you.
Found this in a story on Slate:
Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Rev. 3:16
A Revelation that centrism has not always been as well thought of as it is here.
You're not going to get much religious teaching at Slate. All major religions, from Christianity to Judaism to Islam to Buddhism, preach moderation.
Actually there is an interested dialogue about religion on Slate now
Interesting how Mr O'Hare doesn't see the irony in posting about a "Bennett sycophant" and then writing this post and its responses.
No, I see no irony at all. For a day, I read many people tell me why Dent voted this way and that. For those who are willing to be objective, it is useful to read Dent's own explanations.
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