Bean explains health care vote
U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington has faced intense pressure on the health care vote, including near-weekly protests from both activists who oppose and those who support the measure.
In the days leading up to the vote, national Republicans flooded her 8th District in the northwest suburbs with phone calls telling voters to call Bean's office to stop her from supporting a "dangerous, out of control" health care measure that would cost jobs.
As a Democrat who aligns with so-called moderate coalitions, her vote was key for party leaders. In the end, House Democrats had to carry the measure Saturday, coming up with only two votes more than the needed 218.
Bean, along with every other Illinois Democrat in the House, supported it.
We talked to Bean on Saturday just before the vote at length about how she came to her decision. The audio of that interview is below.
Meanwhile, it seems Republicans are certain to make sure Democrats in the suburbs have a lot of talking to do on the campaign trail next year.
Just after Saturday's late and landmark vote, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent out a blistering e-mail to the media targeting Bean, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Batavia and U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson of the south suburbs.
"Today is the first day of the end of their terms in Congress," said Tom Erickson, a NRCC spokesman.
Here is Bean's side of the story:
Here is the text of the NRCC's targeted phone calls into Bean's district late last week (The NRCC didn't pay for phone calls in Foster's far west suburban district):
“This is an action alert from the NRCC about an impending healthcare vote in Congress. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dangerous, out of control healthcare spending bill in Congress is due to be voted on this weekend and Congresswoman Melissa Bean said she may even vote for it. Even with news today that unemployment has gone over 10%, Melissa Bean may vote for a bill that threatens our economy by increasing taxes, raising our healthcare costs and creating a massive new government program that middle-class families cannot afford. Melissa Bean should be focused on creating jobs, yet she might vote yes for Nancy Pelosi’s bill that has more than $500 billion in new taxes, and could lead to rationing of healthcare for all Americans. Please call Melissa Bean now at 202-225-3121 before it’s too late and tell her to vote no on Nancy Pelosi’s dangerous healthcare scheme. This call is paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. 202-479-7000.”
I'm in Bean's district and looked repeatedly for any town halls or other opportunities to 1) get her ideas on socialized medicine; and 2) to express to her my views on it, as a constituent. As far as I could tell, Bean had a couple teleconferences with her supporters, and showed up a meeting sponsored by a group that charged $25 or $30 to the public to attend -- this latter is what Bean refers to as her "Town Hall Meeting." Ha-ha. Afraid to talk to voters maybe? But less afraid of us than radical leftist Nancy Pelosi. Bean has no guts.
Bean hedged and waffled on the issue. She always looked sympathetic to socialized medicine, but wouldn't take a public stand either way -- apparently lacking the stones or the capability to defend her position. And there are NO good arguments supporting the piece of crap legislation that passed the House. Bean claims to have reservations about that massive spending monstrosity, BUT SHE VOTED FOR IT ANYWAY.
Clearly, she lacks judgment as well as conviction.
And she claims to work for small business. Apparently she didn't even read the bill before voting because it's only a millstone around the neck of small business.
Who's running against her in 2010? Where do I send the check and sign up as a volunteer?
To your question, there are 6 folks vying for a Republican nomination to "retire Melissa Bean." They will hold a debate at 7p on November 20 at the McHenry County Community College, 8900 US Hwy 14 in Crystal Lake. The best among them is Dirk Beveridge of Barrington. He is a lifetime resident of Barrington, entrepreneur-business professional, founder of a super organization supporting Our Troops (http://www.wedocare.org), and a clear thinker. I encourage you to explore alternatives to Ms. Bean and visit Dirk's website at http://wwwbeveridge2010.
I think she has been a decent representative, but this vote will cost her seat.
How can anyone in Washington vote to keep spending money this country does not have?
Joe's commentary on Bean's vote is an apologist's mistake. While he accurately accounts for 'facts' and has a journalistic feel, making him sound less of a sychophant than most in the popular media, let's focus on whether Ms. Bean's vote makes sense and represents the interests of her constituents. Am I supposed to suspend my skepticism of Ms. Bean's purported thoughtfulness and diligence because she's been targeted in an e- and voice-mail campain by her opposition??? Really??? I thought she ran as a 'business woman' and wore 'big girl pants.'
The amount of hedging in Bean's video responses (and EVERY commentary she's made over 8 months on this issue) has been nothing less than embarassing. While I "get" the idea of waiting to see the final bill and her willingness to respond to questions about what she wants to see in that legislation, standing behind a trash piece of legislation that promises medicare cuts in the hundreds of billions while improving access and care is ridiculous. Voting for a "must carry insurance" mandate backed by fines and jail time is not even Constitutional (which is exactly why the Senate will take "several weeks" to work on their version).
Ms. Bean is NOT a sympathetic character...don't aspire to make her one.