Yesterday, at noon, on the steps of the Capitol in Washington D.C., thousands of patriotic Americans gathered to express their heated opposition to the government capture of the nation’s entire health care sector.
These individuals, many of whom traveled from across the country, were protesting the takeover of more than one-sixth of the nation’s economy by a government that can’t even balance its own budget. They were rightly wary of bureaucrats getting between them and their doctors. They opposed of the rationing of health care away from seniors. And they refused to meekly accept the unsustainable hundreds of billions of dollars of taxes and spending riddled in the 2,000 pages of the bill.
In total, Americans for Limited Government estimates this bill will cost taxpayers some $2.1 trillion over ten years once fully implemented. All of which will be added to trillions of dollars in annual deficits, and a national debt expected to equal the entire Gross Domestic Product in 2011.
Several Republican members of Congress, led by the courageous Republican Congresswoman from Minnesota, Michele Bachmann and Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) thrilled the crowd with speeches as the gathered throng chanted “Kill the bill!” and “No you can’t!” They were joined by top radio host and author of Liberty and Tyranny, Mark Levin, and acclaimed actor Jon Voight.
Upon the conclusion of the rally, these concerned constituents stormed the House of Representatives office buildings to petition their members of Congress in person, fulfilling a critical civic duty. They may have arrived in just a nick of time.
Bachmann said their country needed them to defeat the bill as she encouraged them to speak up against Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. “The biggest vote in the United States, the biggest voice in the United States is your voice,” said Bachmann. “Quite simply, the Republicans don’t have the votes to kill this bill… We knew we were limited, but what we knew was unlimited was the voice of persuasion of the American people. And that’s why you’re here today.”
To defeat the bill its opponents—including 54 percent of the American people according to Rasmussen—need to be at least 41 House Democrats voting with Republicans. However, despite the huge majority Pelosi has to work with, House Democrats are still working to achieve a plurality. In short, she does not yet have the votes.
According to the Wall Street Journal: “As of Wednesday, House leaders didn’t appear to have secured the 218 votes they need to pass the bill. They were moving to quickly swear in two Democrats elected Tuesday, which would give the party 258 seats in the House and allow leaders to lose as many as 40 Democratic votes without losing their majority… House leaders spent Wednesday scrambling to secure votes from freshmen and lawmakers in swing districts.”
Adding urgency to the American people’s presence at the Capitol are moves in Congress to speedily move to a vote on the bill, H.R. 3962, in the House. According to top Capitol Hill sources, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has announced that the House will convene an emergency session on Saturday, November 7th with votes occurring as early as 9AM.
The single purpose in Pelosi’s mind: to rush the bill through as quickly and covertly as possible—in the face of a tidal wave of public opposition.
Fortunately, throughout the year, the American people have made their voices heard against the unbridled expansion of government. They’ve stood up and spoke out at tea parties. At the summer town halls. On the phone and fax. Via email. And in person. They have said, “No!”
They are not alone. According to Rasmussen Reports, 54 percent of voters oppose the “public option” proposed, which only 42 percent support. But defeating this bill is no easy task.
Moderate and conservative members of the Democrat caucus are actually the American people’s only hope to kill this bill. As Congresswoman Bachmann noted, there are not enough Republicans to defeat ObamaCare.
In response, activists nationwide have begun focusing on those vulnerable members of the Democrat majority who are concerned about a tough election battle in 2010. Some have already begun to cave in to constituent pressure—especially after crushing GOP victories in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday. Americans for Limited Government is urging its 400 thousand members to target some 92 House Democrats, including all members of the Blue Dog coalition.
In the end, it is the vulnerable members of the majority who will have to “choose ye this day whom ye shall ye shall serve”: those citizens who traveled hundreds, even thousands, of miles to demand the right to their own health care choices—or the politically powerful liberal elite.
Now, the choice is theirs. It won’t be on November 2nd, 2010.
Robert Romano is the ALG Senior News Editor.
