There HAVE BEEN disgraceful people in politics...and there ARE disgraceful people in politics. And then there is Republican Senator Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz of Texas - one of perhaps the top 10 of all disgraceful politicians. Now I have no intention of discussing at length...Senator Cruz's fake filibuster...which was a pointless speech...since the Republicans didn't have the votes anyway...to defund The Affordable Care Act...which is the law of the land...will always be the law of the land...and will never be defunded. Besides...Cruz's "talk-a-thon" was merely a publicity stunt...that began on Tuesday afternoon, September 24th, 2013... and was designed to advance Cruz's own career and give himself exposure to voters in "The Lone Star State"...and all across the country. But instead...all Cruz did with his marathon protest of "Obamacare"...was shoot himself in the foot...as even other Republicans called his jibber-jabber a joke...that was totally nonsensical.
Despite his words that "I intend to speak in support of defunding 'Obamacare' until I am no longer able to stand"...Senator Cruz's statement was bogus. After all, it was a pre-negotiated arrangement between the 42-year old freshman senator and the 73-year old Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid... Democrat of Nevada...that required Cruz to stop talking by 12 o'clock noon on Wednesday September 25th. Therefore, it wasn't a filibuster at all...since a filibuster - by definition - is to delay a vote...and in this situation...there was no possibility of delaying anything. And when all was said and done...as odd as his phony filibuster was...after opposing any government funding for The Affordable Care Act...Cruz voted several hours later - along with 99 other Senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties - to move ahead on a spending plan that would avoid a partial government shutdown this coming week...and that would not defund "Obamacare." The rare 100 to zero vote means that the measure can be amended by Senate Democrats to restore funding for President Obama's healthcare reforms...which had been eliminated on September 20th by Republicans in the House of Representatives. The bottom line...Senator Cruz verbally pummeled and pelted a bill for 21 hours and 19 minutes...that in the end...he passed with the rest of the Senate. What a waste of time!The exercise that will accomplish nothing...continued Saturday night, September 28th when the House - early Sunday morning, September 29th - voted in favor of a temporary spending bill so that the federal government won't shutdown as the clock strikes midnight...going from Monday, September 30th in to Tuesday, October 1st...but that includes a one-year delay for "Obamacare." The Senate, however, will act during the day on Monday...but leaders insist...that they won't accept the House plan...and will reject any postponement of the Affordable Care Act.
worse...for themselves...as a party...and for the country...as a whole. Republicans have got to know that President Obama is not going to budge...and, therefore, there is no possibility of the President postponing "Obamacare." And he shouldn't. Mr. Obama is not going to compromise...when it comes to the law itself. And he shouldn't. The President bargained and haggled before the Affordable Care Act became law...and he was basically forced to give in on elements of the bill that he wanted to include...but the President negotiated and came to terms...in order for the ACA to pass. Come this Monday...the Senate is not going to agree with the House...on their latest plan...and even if they did - which we know they are not going to - President Obama would veto it.
House Republicans just don't get it. When will they finally understand that The Affordable Care Act is going to provide millions of Americans access to healthcare...that without "Obamacare"...they would not be able to afford? In a word...that's extraordinary! Children and young adults can stay on their parents' health insurance policies until they reach the age of 26. That's spectacular! And then there's my favorite part of the law...that those of us with pre-existing conditions...can get insurance...and nobody...NOBODY...can ever say again..."Because of illnesses in your past...we can't insure you." For me...and for so many others...that is by far the single best ingredient of the "Obamacare" package. That's phenomenal! The President is phenomenal! And I thank you, Mr. President.
Those are just a few of the many, many positive reasons that Republicans should in no way be arguing against The Affordable Care Act. But President Obama...this past week...may have hit the nail on the head...as to why people such as Senator Cruz and others...oppose the President's glowing achievement. It's quite possible that Cruz has made such a stink about "Obamacare"...and he and others don't want the law to move forward... because they don't want Americans who may be uncertain right now...to begin thinking that The Affordable Care Act is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
President Obama commented that he knows... that Senator Cruz knows...that "It's gonna prove almost impossible to undue 'Obamacare'"...so Cruz and the Republicans have "gotta shut this thing down...before people find out that they like it." The fact of the matter is...I am quite confident...that any American who opposes The Affordable Care Act today...is eventually going to support "Obamacare"...and - along with those who are currently uninsured - are going to
praise President Obama...for giving the United States
a program...that gives every single American...expanded access to get health
insurance. 
But what irks me the most...is that Senator Cruz had compared "Obamacare" (which the President has no problem with that name...and affectionately calls it)...to Nazi Germany. For the "Tea Party" Texan to equate
the killing of 6 million Jews to the defunding of the nation's
healthcare law is coldhearted, insensitive and reprehensible. How dare Cruz use The Holocaust and the despicable, deplorable and detestable acts of Adolf Hitler in the same breath...as anything that is connected to President Obama.
Theodor Seuss Geisel...fondly, if not lovingly known as "Dr. Seuss" to perhaps billions of children worldwide...throughout nearly a century...is spinning in his grave today...that one of the most beloved "bedtime stories"...Green Eggs and Ham...would be part of a political presentation... that also included a poor parallel between the nation's healthcare law...and the abuse and death caused by Adolf Hitler. Cruz called "Obamacare"..."a train wreck." No, Senator Cruz...you're the train wreck. The Senator...other Republicans...and anybody else who may oppose The Affordable Care Act...have the right to speak their minds...and attempt - albeit an effort in futility - to defund a law that gives 30 million Americans a way to make their lives better with health insurance. But for anybody to make reference to arguably the single worst human being ever to walk the soil of the planet Earth - no, wait a second...Hitler was an animal...a vicious and ferocious beast...not a human being - anyway...for Senator Cruz to include Adolf Hitler's horrendous acts of peril...with any analogy whatsoever... to the President of the United States...and Mr. Obama's signature piece of legislation....not only disturbs me...but sickens me.
"If you go to the 1940s...Nazi Germany," Cruz said. "Look, we saw in Britain...Neville Chamberlain...who told the British people...'Accept the Nazis. Yes, they'll dominate the continent of Europe...but that's not our problem. Let's appease them. Why? Because it can't be done. We can't possibly stand against them.'"
Why have so few Americans - whether privatecitizens...or people in the public eye - come forward
to blast Senator Ted Cruz for his offensive and nauseating remark. I am generally not a political fan of Senator John McCain. But the Arizona Republican is a true hero...having fought in the Vietnam War...where he was tortured as a prisoner of war for six years between 1967 and 1973...after his plane was shot down during a bombing run over the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.
Retiring from the United States Navy in 1981...Captain McCain deservedly earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. But I applaud this honorable American patriot, Senator John McCain...not only for his bravery, his incredible courage and his acts of valor during the Vietnam War...but for standing tall on the Senate floor...and lambasting his Republican colleague, Senator Cruz...and ripping him apart...for his offensive and abhorrent words...during his faux-filibuster rant."I resoundingly reject (Senator Cruz's) allegation," McCain said. "That allegation...in my view...does a great disservice...a great disservice for those brave Americans and those who stood up and said, 'What's happening in Europe cannot stand.'" McCain went on to say, "There were many who raised their voices...and then there were those who went to war because of the barbaric and great threats to civilization and everything we stand for - amongst them were my father and grandfather (both of whom were four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy). I do not agree with (Senator Cruz's) comparison. I think it's wrong. I do not begrudge Senator Cruz...or any other Senator...who wants to come and talk...as long as they want to...as long as they can...depending on the rules of the Senate. But I do disagree strongly... to allege that there are people today...who are like those who...prior to World War II...didn't stand up and oppose the atrocities that were taking place in Europe."
Senator Cruz is either the most uneducated man to ever to take the oath of office as a United States Senator or he is just cruel and heartless...plain and simple. How ignorant can he be to match the opportunity of giving health insurance to Americans who should rightfully be able to purchase affordable healthcare...against a diabolical dictator and the venomous evils that he spewed upon the world? Senator Cruz needs to either go back to high school
and take a history class...or at the very least...watch the Steven Spielberg, Oscar-winning Best
Picture, Schindler's List. Perhaps the Senator might learn something. In any event...I think Senator Ted Cruz owes an apology - to not only every Jew in America...every Jew in the world - but to all good and decent people. Better still...while you're at it, Senator...how about apologizing...to everyone.
And that's The Controversy for today.
But before I sign-off...a footnote. Tomorrow...September 30th, 2013...is my 40th anniversary as a media professional. It was September 30th, 1973...when I narrated a documentary for the Keep America Beautiful Fund. It was the first time that I was paid...to...(as my mom would say)..."use my voice." Over the last four decades...my career has taken a journey throughout radio and television broadcasting - as a local and nationally syndicated talk show host...as a news anchorman and reporter...and as a voice-over announcer and narrator. My adventure has challenged me...as a journalist...as a writer for on-the-air programming and the Internet. And as I have traveled through the world of broadcasting and entertainment - in both national and local radio and network television...as a writer, as a producer, as a station manager and as an on-air personality...I have had the great fortune of meeting...working with...and/or interviewing...some of the biggest names in show business...in politics...and in all walks of life. It has been a voyage with ups and downs...but I continue to focus...on the positive. And I hope...that my dedication and devotion to my craft... along with my credibility, integrity and high moral character...will prove that with hard work... all my dreams will come true. I wish this for myself. I wish this for each of you.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
The Controversy will make an effort to publish a new commentary every Sunday. Unscheduled essays may appear, from time to time, on other days as well.
Please express your opinions in the comment box below. You do not have to register your name and you can remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy wants to know your views on the essay above and on any other commentaries written on this blog. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your thoughts in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for reading The Controversy.
Copyright 2013 Gary B. Duglin and
TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment