by Mark Silva
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee and the first woman elected to Congress in her district, also serves as chairwoman of the songwriter's caucus. There is a growing choir of discontent with Washington among the public, she says.
Blackburn was among the Republican congressional leaders at the TEA Party tax protest outside the Capitol recently. She was asked today, at a conference in the shadow of the Capitol, if she is concerned about "the tone'' of the protests - the suggestion, for instance, that House Republican Leader John Boehner has made that the health-care legislation is the greatest threat to American freedom that Americans have seen for some time.
"You know what is so interesting about the TEA Party movement?'' Blackburn asked. "The amazing thing to me about the TEA Parties is, when you look out across the crowd, the crowd is predominantly female... It's amazing, the number of women attending these events, and women are speaking out as never before... They are looking at what is happening with the cost of health care, they are truly concerned about the strong arm of government reaching into their lives and into their pocketbooks.''
But is the health-care bill, as some have called it, tyranny?
"Let me tell you why it is a clearly defined threat, because this is a bill that will change the way health care in this country works,'' she said at the Bloomberg Washington Summit at the Newseum this afternoon. "There's a lot of worry....''
Readers of the Swamp might recall Blackburn as the Republican who warmed up the crowd for the acceptance speech of Republican presidential candidate John McCain at the 2008 GOP convention in St. Paul (pictured there, above, in a photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images.)
"We are the gun totin', God fearin,' flag wavin' Americans who are excited to see two crack shots on the ticket with the status quo in their sights,'' Blackburn told the crowd in Minnesota. ""We don't need to elect someone to install an ATM machine on Pennsylvania Avenue that debits your liberty to fund wasteful programs.''
"I think many would appreciate seeing a much more civil tone here in Washington,'' she said today, at a far less emotional forum than the convention or TEA Parties.
"People are very concerned that we are compromising our freedom because we are accruing so much debt... and we don't have the desire, or the political will, to stop this spending,'' Blackburn said today. "Most Americans are just tired of the rhetoric that seems to swirl around itself,'' Blackburn said today. "The expectations of the American public have not been managed or fulfilled.''
Asked about a potential restoration of Republican control of the House, the Republican from Tennessee said:
"It is going to be important that we lay out an orderly process... The American people want to see jobs-growth. What they want is for leaders to define how they're going to do this... ''
What happens if Republicans take back the House? How much of the agenda becomes a question of dismantling what's been done - such as health care, or the economic stimulus?
"What the American people want to see is, No. 1, not so many penalties and punishments being put in place,'' she said.
One of the keys to jobs-growth is examining the tax code, and making sure that the tax cuts of 2001 and '03 don't expire, she said. "Looking at taxes and regulation, that is one thing that unites all Republicans.''
Comments
When I look out at the Teabagger crowds I see a bunch of astroturfed doughy white, low IQ, toothless redneck haters.
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http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/11/scenes-from-a-tea-party.php
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Posted by: Heckuva Job, Wingnuts | November 12, 2009 3:30 PM
Such a disparate group of misfits, malcontents, and anti-social loners (Teabaggers) coupled with corporate astro-turfing lobbyists will collapse under its own excesses, you watch.
Bring on the popcorn!!!
Posted by: former Republican | November 12, 2009 3:35 PM
When you have this many ignorant, unhinged racists thinking they're going to establich a majority, it only means one thing - FAIL.
If your Teabagger "movement" can't even spell a hate sign correctly, it also stands to reason self-discipline and organization skills are not attributes you are likely to possess.
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http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/3983339.html#cutid1
Posted by: Annie H | November 12, 2009 3:43 PM
Being female is a pre-existing condition that can make health insurance premiums higher, or get you denied coverage entirely if you've been raped.
I don't doubt health care is a VERY big issue among women but I'd advise the GOP from adopting the anti-female position
Posted by: rewinn | November 12, 2009 3:46 PM
The entire Republican party has been taken over by an echo chamber of goober rubes who still haven't figured out that outside of their little cult people view them as being repulsive.
And I love how they're all claiming that they're going to win in 2012.....win with who exactly? Palin? Mittens Romney? Goober Huckleberry? Joe "You Lie" Wilson?
The Teabaggers are just as delusional as their hero Crazy Glenn Beckkk is.
Posted by: Kara Kyler | November 12, 2009 3:48 PM
Teabaggers?
I bet each of you nut cases have been teabagged at one time in your pathetic lives! drug across your chins while you lap up the mess!
When is the Democrat Controlled United States Congress and White House going to pass this so-called health care legislation?
You got the power but can't get it done. All you nut cases produce are silly name calling. You appear to have the power and just can't figure out how to use it, that means one thing - you're idiot's without a solid leader.
Talk is cheap and the democrats have that cornered but can't produce!
Posted by: springfield | November 12, 2009 4:16 PM
A party that wants to deny health care to women and equates pregnancy-related costs with smoking is hardly going to attract women...
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | November 12, 2009 4:37 PM
The teabaggers do not like it when you ask them sinple questions, like " where have you been for the last 10 years"
and " what do you think needs to be done with the estimated 47 million uninsured Americans.."
The have no answers.
Posted by: O Susie Q | November 12, 2009 4:52 PM
The GOP is fast becoming the party of right wing fringe fake outrage. They (Blackburn, Bachman etc) want to cavort with the sexist, racist, anti-semite Teabaggers so they deserve to reap the blowback that comes with it.
Live by the teabagger, die by the teabagger.
Posted by: tammy lundeen | November 12, 2009 5:08 PM
Marsha Blackburn--a woman who is not out for the good of other women. Put her in the same category with Palin and, now, with Nancy Pelosi. I've seen and heard Marsha Blackburn speak. Her drive toward the far conservative right overshadowed any common sense and any individual thought she may have had. Blackburn reminded me of the cold, conservative, computer-chip-brained Stepford women on Faux Noise.
*
Funny, when George W. Bush was in office, dems often suggested that we have another tea party due to the Bush maladministration taking away civil liberties as a result of 9/11--which played so perfectly into his hands, and into his and Cheney's pre 9/11 agenda. 9/11 actually played too perfectly into that agenda--where many of the directives used after 9/11 were actually outlined before 9/11.
Posted by: Vivian | November 12, 2009 5:14 PM
I see the racist, bigoted, homophobic, anti-humanity, foaming-at-the-mouth crud that makes up the Loony Left is spewing their usual BS here. And it seems whenever there is a Swamp item on a conservative female Republican, well that makes the rabid, hateful, disgusting filth on the the Left get even more unhinged.
Come 2010, when Democrats get swept out, it'll be the right time to corral all the Lefty Loons put them on a garbage barge or two and send them where they belong: lost and out to sea for good.
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | November 12, 2009 5:51 PM
Funny, when George W. Bush was in office, dems often suggested that we have another tea party due to the Bush maladministration taking away civil liberties as a result of 9/11--which played so perfectly into his hands, and into his and Cheney's pre 9/11 agenda. 9/11 actually played too perfectly into that agenda--where many of the directives used after 9/11 were actually outlined before 9/11.
Posted by: Vivian | November 12, 2009 5:14 PM
Vivian- you are aware that the Obama administration has approved virtually all of the anti - terrorism policies included in the patriotic act - right?? Wire tapping, renditions - etc...
Posted by: heartburn | November 12, 2009 6:06 PM
Vivian- you are aware that the Obama administration has approved virtually all of the anti - terrorism policies included in the patriotic act - right?? Wire tapping, renditions - etc...
Posted by: heartburn | November 12, 2009 6:06 PM
*************************************
That's true, and it's also true that these hypocritical Teabagger morons weren't saying a single word in protest when Bushco began taking away their civil rights in the first place. They didn't start crying about it until the black guy was in the White House.
Posted by: antacid | November 12, 2009 6:19 PM
____________________________________
And it seems whenever there is a Swamp item on a conservative female Republican, well that makes the rabid, hateful, disgusting filth on the the Left get even more unhinged.
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | November 12, 2009 5:51 PM
____________________________________
Lil' Johnny Dittohead,
If you want to start attracting female voters to the Republican party you might want to start out by not telling them what they can and can't do with their own bodies.
Pudgy, middle aged single white guys (average Republican) like yourself wouldn't know anything about women anyway, seeing as how you probably haven't scored with one in the last 10-15 years.
Posted by: janet | November 12, 2009 6:28 PM
heartburn--yup. But why so much agreed upon bf 9/11? Obama kept many of the Bush appointments??????? Always has been scary to think about this. Who got to Obama????? Emanuel????? His mentor in the Senate, Lieberman?????
Posted by: Vivian | November 12, 2009 6:33 PM
Its funny how fast the childish show. But, you folks of small minds and you know who you are (childish name calling) here are a few numbers for you.
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Forty-five percent (45%) of U.S. voters now give President Obama poor marks for his handling of the economy, the highest level of disapproval this year.
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Over the weekend, Democratic leaders spoke of an historic moment as health care reform legislation passed the House of Representatives. But that legislative victory failed to significantly move public opinion.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Most (52%) remain opposed.
Only 25% Strongly Support the plan while 42% are Strongly Opposed.
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But 55% believe media bias is more of a problem in politics today than big campaign contributions.
Two-out-of-three voters (67%) say most reporters when covering a political campaign try to help the candidate they want to win. Just 21% say most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage. These findings have remained basically unchanged since last fall’s presidential campaign when 51% said most reporters tried to help Democratic candidate Barack Obama win the presidency. Just seven percent (7%) thought they tried to help his Republican rival John McCain.
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Fifty-one percent (51%) of voters nationwide believe that Congress is too liberal while 22% hold the opposite view and say it is too conservative. Only 14% say the ideological balance of Congress is about right.
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The majority of voters (62%) continue to believe the nation is heading down the wrong track, up slightly from last week. This finding has remained fairly consistent after dropping nine points from the week prior to the president’s inauguration.
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Let the democrats keep doing what the people do not want. See you in Nov 2010
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | November 12, 2009 7:23 PM
Blackburn????
Reminds one of Ginny Foxxx,
Louie Gomert, Gomer Pyle, and the other usual Replican suspects.
Who like to monopolize CSpan 1 a couple of nights a week.
The Grand Ole Oprey From Hell.
Worst part:
They can't sing for sour apples.
Posted by: ornery | November 12, 2009 8:00 PM
One, she never answered the question, and two, yes health care reform would change the way health care is delivered in this country.
Duh...
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | November 12, 2009 9:10 PM
LOL, from the neocommusist's comments on here, I swear I just read the same ones over on a Governor Palin article.
You pathetic losers all have the same Soros, DNC talking points.
Now here are a couple for dunces for sure, dumb and dumber :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jf17Yo7hBM
Urinate a liberal, sign up as a fan and supporter -(977,000+ as of today)-on Sarah Palin's Facebook Page at: http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin
Posted by: Travis | November 12, 2009 9:18 PM
When is the Democrat Controlled United States Congress and White House going to pass this so-called health care legislation?
Posted by: springfield | November 12, 2009 4:16 PM
When they do pass this bill will you eat your hat -as they say- ? No you'll move onto something else and be proven wrong again.
Your so up-tight and got such a huge stick up your A** perhaps it is you who needs some real teabagging in your life!
I see the racist, bigoted, homophobic, anti-humanity, foaming-at-the-mouth crud that makes up the Loony Left is spewing their usual BS here.
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | November 12, 2009 5:51 PM
You've got to be kidding me? Calling the left homphobic?? Thats the biggest joke you've made this year! Racist?? Um the Liberal President is half black MORON! Anti- humanity? I wont even approach that one.
You,re so delutional you're mixing up YOUR PARTY with the Liberals. Maybe it's you who've been drinking too much Kool Aid!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | November 12, 2009 9:55 PM
What a bunch of nasty people. You do the democratic party proud. All the BS you spout about diversity is just your way trying to win votes, you don't mean a word of it. You people are the most intolerant hateful people I can imagine.
So, I looked it up and sure enough you liberals ARE the most hateful!
"Now comes fascinating statistical evidence that the Left is indeed more hateful than the Right. Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks writes in the WSJ today about annual surveys that shed light on just how unhinged liberals really are:"
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/17/the-statistical-proof-of-liberal-intolerance/
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | November 12, 2009 11:24 PM
Dumb Dumb Janet, in regard to who is or is not scoring, were you not voted the most unsanitary girl in high school? A claim to fame that I hear continues to this very day?
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | November 13, 2009 1:51 AM
Meet Heather, the GOP's new crackerjack marketing strategist:
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http://bit.ly/fxv3G
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(satire)
Posted by: bondwooley | November 13, 2009 8:44 AM
I LOVE IT. Turns out the RNC employee health care plan covered elective abortions! Way to go LOSERS!!! You guys are burnt toast now! LOL!!! Holy crap this is big! All of you holier than thou hypocritical wingnuts have been supporting abortion rights within a healthcare plan and didnt even know it! Dont't even ever talk about how the democrats dont read their bills again because it means nothing now compaired to this news! I hope the left leaning loony media jumps on this big time. I hope the DNC uses this big time. I hope you all go down the drain where you belong!!!
Republicans = Hypocrites
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | November 13, 2009 8:56 AM
Looks like more and more Americans are waking up to the Obama's Obamism Dictatorship
Posted by: Inly | November 13, 2009 10:07 AM
heartburn--yup. But why so much agreed upon bf 9/11? Obama kept many of the Bush appointments??????? Always has been scary to think about this. Who got to Obama????? Emanuel????? His mentor in the Senate, Lieberman?????
Posted by: Vivian | November 12, 2009 6:33 PM
So are you really proposing that Obama has been influenced or possibly even intimidated into keeping these tactics (that worked) in place??
Wouldn't it be a much more possible or even a reasonable conclusion that the policies and practices that Bush initiated and that Obama has continued, WORK?
Your Bush derangement syndrome is really effecting your ability to engage in common sense thinking.
Posted by: heartburn | November 13, 2009 10:15 AM
heartburn--your words--"Bush derangement"--no syndrome on anyones' part.
*
The Patriot Act was written by Bush(Cheney) and ready to go before 9/11. Yet, that planning and thinking did no good for the peole in the towers or for the first responders on 9/11. Since the government had been warned about planes going into buildings, and since the government thought it necessary to outline such measures as the Patriot Act, why weren't they (Bush) acting and planning for the worst--where they believed it necessary to reduce our freedoms? Also, the Patriot Act did no good for Fort Hood--even given soooo many red flags regarding the shooter. It seems the most the Patriot Act has done is to have reduced good American citizens' privacies and freedoms while allowing terrorism to happen here anyway.
*
Doesn't Lieberman's wife, Hadassah work for Hill and Knowlton--a lobbying firm--in their health and pharma practice.
Posted by: Vivian | November 13, 2009 12:10 PM
annual surveys that shed light on just how unhinged liberals really are:"
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | November 12, 2009 11:24 PM
Hmm curious, who did they survery the KKK? What a joke!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | November 13, 2009 12:24 PM
Marcia,
I believe the ladies of the Tea Party Movement prefer the same moniker as you. Thus, better to refer to these new female activists as the "female men" of the new Tea Party. Otherwise, you might be considered a feminist.
Hugs,
Tom
Posted by: Tom B | November 13, 2009 1:11 PM
heartburn--your words--"Bush derangement"--no syndrome on anyones' part.
*
The Patriot Act was written by Bush(Cheney) and ready to go before 9/11. Yet, that planning and thinking did no good for the peole in the towers or for the first responders on 9/11. Since the government had been warned about planes going into buildings, and since the government thought it necessary to outline such measures as the Patriot Act, why weren't they (Bush) acting and planning for the worst--where they believed it necessary to reduce our freedoms? Also, the Patriot Act did no good for Fort Hood--even given soooo many red flags regarding the shooter. It seems the most the Patriot Act has done is to have reduced good American citizens' privacies and freedoms while allowing terrorism to happen here anyway.
*
Doesn't Lieberman's wife, Hadassah work for Hill and Knowlton--a lobbying firm--in their health and pharma practice.
Posted by: Vivian | November 13, 2009 12:10 PM
So what?....Other than some vague references to conspiracy and the apparent extortion of Obama (Your words..."Who got to Obama?????" ) - what exactly are you criticizing other than Bush - who is long gone?
Seriously, if your assumptions are correct- why are you complaining about Bush- who has no longer has any impact on national security? Where is your criticism of Obama - who can with an executive order could end the provisions of the patriot act today, but instead extends them?
Posted by: heartburn | November 13, 2009 1:56 PM
Actually, it is you who has the stick up the arse there Scotty. My comments ask a valid question about the 100% control of the US Congress and the White House by the Democrat party. Why haven't the Democrats who control everything passed this legislation that you and they say is so good?
Your response speaks volumes - not really. Your response shows your ignorance and lack of understanding but then you never seem to have an answer, only juvenile name calling.
Lather, rinse, repeat you moron.
**********************************
When is the Democrat Controlled United States Congress and White House going to pass this so-called health care legislation?
Posted by: springfield | November 12, 2009 4:16 PM
When they do pass this bill will you eat your hat -as they say- ? No you'll move onto something else and be proven wrong again.
Your so up-tight and got such a huge stick up your A** perhaps it is you who needs some real teabagging in your life!
I see the racist, bigoted, homophobic, anti-humanity, foaming-at-the-mouth crud that makes up the Loony Left is spewing their usual BS here.
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | November 12, 2009 5:51 PM
You've got to be kidding me? Calling the left homphobic?? Thats the biggest joke you've made this year! Racist?? Um the Liberal President is half black MORON! Anti- humanity? I wont even approach that one.
You,re so delutional you're mixing up YOUR PARTY with the Liberals. Maybe it's you who've been drinking too much Kool Aid!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | November 12, 2009 9:55 PM
**********************************
I'm, sure there are a few missives in your rants but the name calling is superb - for a puke kid!
Posted by: springfield | November 13, 2009 3:10 PM
Posted by: springfield | November 13, 2009 3:10 PM
Ya and if the Democratic controlled Congress passed this bill over night you'd be complaining they did it too fast right! Whatever. Hows that abortion clinic at the RNC working out for you Dumb A**??
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | November 13, 2009 8:32 PM
What the Hey! Rep. Blackburn just couldn't be working to preserve the
Frists family business in the health care field now could she? Naw!
Remember the republicans never do anything for this country they only do things to this country! Right Newt! whiteagle38
Posted by: Raymond L. Juneau | November 13, 2009 9:44 PM