Anyone reviewing our national politics realizes that most things are rarely free, especially in D.C. We have seen favors and legislation bought in front of our eyes and paraded on national TV. Citizens are fuming at what Obama campaigned he would stop: entrenched business as usual and rigid partisanship. The modern day “Louisiana Purchase” and “Cornhusker Kickback” the “Union Loophole” in exchange for healthcare votes are glaring, not to mention the $459,000.00 check the DNC wrote Ben Nelson shortly afterwards on the pretence that Nelson might need it to defend himself, according to ABC. http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/02/another-cornhusker-kickback.html If you believe in political coincidences, it won’t do much good to convince you that there is only a Santa Claus in Washington DC. if he is paid for. Call it a bribe, a tit for tat, or one hand greases the other, is there a price for votes? You may see it in future legislation when no one is looking, or maybe in a spirit of corrupt desperation, it’s plainly evident. And sometimes in veiled threats that gives new meaning to ‘implied consent’.
Another healthcare ‘coincidence’ erupted this week with House Democrat Jim Matheson of Utah being invited as one of ten (Altmire, Boyd, L Davis, Herseth-Sandlin, Kratovil, Markey, Matheson, Murphy, Shuler and Tanner) to the White House for some arm twisting to change their ‘no vote’ for a future ‘yes’ vote. When what to our wondering eyes appear, a White House press release prior to the meeting indicating Matheson’s brother is selected as nominee for a Judgeship. Another fine time for a coincidence? The Weekly Standard writes “ The timing of this nomination looks suspicious, especially in light of Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak's claim that he was offered a federal job not to run against Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania primary. Many speculated that Sestak, a former admiral, was offered the Secretary of the Navy job,” in the WS article titled ‘Obama Now Selling Judgeships for Health Care Votes? Obama names brother of undecided House Dem to Appeals Court.” Article
Another healthcare ‘coincidence’ erupted this week with House Democrat Jim Matheson of Utah being invited as one of ten (Altmire, Boyd, L Davis, Herseth-Sandlin, Kratovil, Markey, Matheson, Murphy, Shuler and Tanner) to the White House for some arm twisting to change their ‘no vote’ for a future ‘yes’ vote. When what to our wondering eyes appear, a White House press release prior to the meeting indicating Matheson’s brother is selected as nominee for a Judgeship. Another fine time for a coincidence? The Weekly Standard writes “ The timing of this nomination looks suspicious, especially in light of Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak's claim that he was offered a federal job not to run against Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania primary. Many speculated that Sestak, a former admiral, was offered the Secretary of the Navy job,” in the WS article titled ‘Obama Now Selling Judgeships for Health Care Votes? Obama names brother of undecided House Dem to Appeals Court.” Article
Even last July, the Dems wanted their blue dog Jim Matheson to hop on board the healthcare wagon. “ President Barack Obama's campaign group is turning up the heat on conservative House Democrats -- like Utah's Jim Matheson -- who have balked at the health care reform package moving through Congress”, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Article
The White House press secretary responded by calling any connection as a ‘silly argument’. But here’s another coincidence: On the Morning Joe show, Tim Kaine, the DNC Chairman, responded to the interviewer’s question: MIKA BRZEZINSKI: “Are you saying there is no other reason but qualification for this?” TIM KAINE: “Qualification is the most important and I'm sure there are other factors. Life is life, right?”
