Shorter Specter, Casey, Fattah, Sestak, Brady, Schwartz, and the Rest of the House: If We Don’t See a Problem, It Doesn’t Exist! (UPDATED)
UPDATE BELOW
Via NYCEve:
On August 4th in Washington D.C. the National Association of Free Clinics holds a Free Clinic at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington DC.
An invitation from Nicole Lamoureux the executive director of the Free Clinic Association went to every member of Congress and the United States Senate. 535 in total. 435 Members of the House and 100 members of the U.S. Senate.
To date, Nicole has had one response, from Donna Edwards. Donna is coming on August 4th.
If you refuse to understand what this says about our government and our country, then with due respect, you’re being willfully blind.
Imagine that: in the millionaires club we call “the Senate”, not one single elected representative will come see the dire plight of their constituents. And of the House, only one person is coming.
I think that’s shameful (although perhaps that’s just a reflection of my “permanent outrage and relentless negativity fostered and fueled by the blogosphere.”). When millions of Americans don’t have healthcare or even access to it, when millions are out of work and have lost their insurance, with the cost of health care increasing for the next couple of years, and when the exchanges seem to me to be unaffordable,the refusal to attend seemd to me like sticking one’s head in the sand. Or, to channel Douglas Adams, it seemed like my senators and representativeswere emulating the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal”…
Known for its never-ending hunger and its mind boggling stupidity, the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal is such a stupid animal that it thinks if you can’t see it, it can’t see you.
…so I called both of my senators and asked why they weren’t attending.
Specter’s office was absolutely useless: the woman who spoke to me told me she’s “not allowed” to give out the email for the soon-to-be-retired senator’s scheduler. Bob Casey’s office was fairly helpful, although the woman I spoke to couldn’t explain why he hadn’t signed up. She gave me the email address of his scheduler and urged me to send the information, which I did. I also edited the letter for outreach to Representatives Sestak, Fattah, Schwartz, and Brady
Dear Senator Casey:
It has come to my attention that you received, but did not respond to, an invitation to the August 4 2010 Free Clinic, to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention center in washington DC. I am writing to inquire as to why you are not attending, and to exhort you to go. Here is the link for more information, with some choice quotes
Links don’t show up well in my blockquotes, so here it is for you, dearest reader. Continuing…
“An invitation from Nicole Lamoureux the executive director of the Free Clinic Association went to every member of Congress and the United States Senate. 535 in total. 435 Members of the House and 100 members of the U.S. Senate.
To date, Nicole has had one response, from Donna Edwards. Donna is coming on August 4th.”
Senator Casey, it’s truly shameful that you and the rest of the Senate have essentially refused to go to this clinic: with millions of people unemployed and millions more either without health care or access to health care, closing our eyes to the plight of the poor and the middle class is not an option. You need to see with your own eyes the condition of our families, especially given that health care costs are expected to RISE over the next couple of years.
Senator Casey, I appreciated your stand for a public option, and was gravely disappointed when the Senate passed the Finance Committee’s bill instead of your own. Go to this clinic: then you will be able to tell your colleagues that adding a public option is of utmost importance.
Yours,
Brendan Skwire
I sent similar letters to my Congresscritters as well. I hope that you’ll cus and paste and send similar harangues to whoever purports to represent you in DC too.
UPDATE: Schwartz ain’t going:
Brendan,
Thank you for your email. I do appreciate you following up with our office concerning the invitation for the Free Clinic on August 4, 2010 at the Walter Washington Convention Center here in Washington, DC. The Congresswoman will unfortunately not be able to attend the event because she will be back in her district as that will be the first full week of the Congressional Summer District Work Period. We regret that she will not be able to make an appearance, but please rest assured that she will continue to work and advocate on behalf of the millions of unemployed citizens in the 13th Congressional District, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and throughout the nation.
Best,
Carlton
Executive Assistant/Scheduler
U.S. Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz (PA-13)
