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Rightwing group Americans for Prosperity, a group that really should be called Americans for Prosperity for the Rich since they want to stick it to the rest of us, are lying to West Virginians.
From an email:
Americans for Prosperity Running False Ads in WV
Two fact checker sites calls AFP's health care ad's claims false
Charleston, W.Va. - Yet another conservative group that doesn't disclose its donors, this time Americans for Prosperity, has launched a health-care ad littered with problems. Today, West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey called on them to pull the anti-health care TV ad from the airwaves in light of recent analysis by Politifact.com, a Pulitzer Prize winning fact checker, which called the ad "absurd" and said was packed full of "misinformation" and "distortion." FactCheck.org also debunked the ad recognizing its "sheer number of falsehoods."
In the ad, which began airing in northern West Virginia this week, a breast cancer survivor claims that Democratic health care proposals would inhibit early detection of breast cancer in women. The woman then asks viewers to call congressional offices to oppose the bill.
Politifact examined the ad and gave it a "pants on fire" designation, meaning the ad is "not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim."
"This ad paid for by Americans for Prosperity was always false. It has always been absurd and full of falsehoods," said Casey. "Now, a Pulitzer Prize winning fact checking organization has confirmed that and given the ad the lowest marks possible for honesty."
"We're calling on AFP to pull the ad immediately and to apologize for deliberately misleading voters with false claims about Democratic health care proposals that will help hundreds of thousands of West Virginians get better health coverage," Casey concluded.
Politifact's complete analysis of the ad can be read here.
Why are the rightwingers so afraid of the Healthcare Reform?
Because they know the Teabaggers they've duped are going to find out they like what is in. Mother Jones:
I pointed out that the health care overhaul would have saved him a lot of money by allowing his daughter to stay on the family plan until she was 26, a fact he hadn't known. Not that this information changed his mind-"you can't have the federal government managing the family life!"-but people like Chiusano might feel differently once they see for themselves how the bill affects their pocketbooks.
Meckler claimed that the bill's benefits were illusory. "Nobody will see any new insurance for four years, but they will see higher taxes," he insisted. That's incorrect: Many of the bill's reforms will kick in almost immediately (PDF), including the provision allowing young people to stay on their parents' insurance plans until age 26. Medicare recipients, who seem disproportionately represented in Tea Party rallies and town-hall meetings, will also see tremendous benefits right away.
The bill will end copays and deductible charges for preventive care, close the "donut hole" in Medicare's prescription drug benefit (which forces the elderly to pay high out-of-pocket costs), and creates a $10 billion temporary fund to help offset the costs of insurance for people who retire before turning 65. That last benefit is likely to be a huge boon for Tea Party activists, but they'll also benefit from provisions requiring insurance companies to cover everyone regardless of their preexisting conditions. Aging Tea Partiers are much likelier than young people to need such protection.
Rightwingers hated the government funded Social Security and Medicaid too.
West Virginia Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Nick Casey:
Get the Facts!
Lies, deceit and scare tactics; shouting down members of Congress and bullying people: the Republican media machine is back.
Just when the entire country thought the vicious politics of the Republican right wing had been so discredited that they would never be seen again they are back. Every senior has quality government managed health care through Medicare, kids have CHIPS courtesy of our US government, people who are unable to work, but too young for Medicare have quality health care through the government funded Medicaid program. Even prisoners in jail have quality government managed and paid for health care.
But, as soon as our President and Congress take up the critical question of health care for the working men and women of this country the Republican scare machine goes into action. The Republican right wing apparently does not care about our health care, they only care about swift-boating our Democrat leaders so Republicans can try to regain the power they so thoroughly abused under President Bush. What is wrong with these people? Whatever is wrong with them we need to set the record straight.
We can do that by simply listening and learning the truth that our trusted elected Democrats are telling us. Listen to Senator Rockefeller who at the invitation of the AARP led a forum in Charleston or to Congressman Mollohan who did a public meeting in Wheeling or Congressman Rahall who is spreading the truth in the southern part of WV. Shame on the Republicans who are spreading myths and falsehoods, but don't let them win.
Speak the truth and spread the word - we need national health care reform and we need it now. Please spread the facts about health care - click here for a fact sheet. You can fight back: send a letter-to-the-editor of your local newspaper, call or e-mail your representatives in Congress, or share your health care story online.
Take action today and fight back against the Republican lie machine!
Statement by WV Democratic Party Chair Nick Casey on Credit Card Reform Legislation Signed Today
Casey Thanks Democratic Congress for Passing Important Legislation
Charleston, W.Va. - Today, President Barack Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, a bill that protects consumers by cracking down on arbitrary rate increases, misleading terms and excessive fees while also enhancing monitoring and enforcement tools. The legislation passed with wide bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Nick Casey released the following statement commending President Obama for enacting such important legislation:
"In signing the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act today, President Obama took an important step in creating strong, reliable, protections for credit card consumers. The bill will require fairness and transparency and will put a stop to practices which have unfairly hit West Virginia credit card holders for too long.
"While we expect consumers to live within their means and pay their bills on time, we also expect credit card companies to be reasonable and fair. Yet in recent years, too many companies have been making outsized profits by imposing unfair rate hikes, penalties, and fees.
"Today I join President Obama and the Democratic Congress in saying 'enough is enough.'
"I congratulate the Democratic Congress and President Obama for their leadership on this critical issue and for acting so quickly. These reforms will provide strong protections for credit card holders by finally cleaning up the fine print and holding companies accountable for misleading practices."
State Democratic Party Chair Nick Casey Statement in Support of President Obama's Agreement With Health Care Industry Groups to Reduce Health Care Costs
Historic Deal Would Save $2 Trillion in Health Care Costs Over Next 10 Years,
Provides Significant Momentum to Passing Health Care Reform in Congress This Year
Charleston, W.Va.- Today, key stakeholders in health care reform joined President Obama at the White House to announce their commitment to achieving a sharp reduction in the nation's health care costs. Their plans to prioritize preventative care, manage chronic illnesses, curtail unnecessary tests and procedures, standardize insurance claim forms and use electronic medical records could save the nation 1.5 percent a year, or $2 trillion over the next 10 years.
Six health care industry groups including executives of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, a lobby for medical device manufacturers; the American Hospital Association; the American Medical Association; the America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade group for insurers; the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; and the Service Employees International Union met with the President today and presented him a letter pledging to pursue efforts like those outlined above to make significant costs savings in the health care system over the next 10 years. These groups represent a coalition of competing interests that have concluded that health care costs are rising at an unsustainable rate and must be curtailed.
Democratic Party Chair Nick Casey issued the following statement after the announcement at the White House and called on Members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation, Democrats and Republicans, to get behind broader health care reform this year:
"Health care industry leaders joined President Obama today to announce their commitment to working with the Administration to sharply reduce national health care spending. By 2014, a family of four could save $2,500 a year. That's a big difference for the working families in West Virginia who are struggling to make ends meet.
"The President's announcement today with this coalition of supporting groups is nothing short of historic and will provide the momentum we need to get broader health care reform passed by Congress this year. Skyrocketing health care costs are one of the biggest burdens on West Virginia's families. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and health care premiums have grown three times faster than wages. Rising costs are crippling businesses and too many West Virginians delay or skip medical care all together because it's too expensive. Reforming health care is the key to restoring financial stability and securing our fiscal future.
"We have a long way to go to reform our health care system, but today's announcement is an important step toward comprehensive reform. And it shows President Obama's ability to bring people together and provide the leadership we need to make health care reform a reality.
"The West Virginia Democratic Party looks forward to working with President Obama and our Congressional leaders to harness the growing momentum for reform and chart a course toward a patient-centered health care system that reduces costs, preserves individual choice and assures quality affordable care for every West Virginian. As the President has said time and time again, reform is not a luxury that can be postponed, but a necessity that cannot wait."
President Obama & Democratic Congress Commended for Productive Start
Charleston, W.Va. - West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Nick Casey issued the following statement to recognize the Obama Administration's early accomplishments and highlight upcoming efforts by the President and Congressional Democrats to move forward the Administration's agenda on health care reform, a new comprehensive energy policy and education:
"Since his inauguration, President Obama has passed an economic recovery package that gives a tax cut to 95 percent of Americans and will save or create three to four million jobs across the country, including 20,000 right here in West Virginia. He signed a law that makes it illegal for men and women to be paid differently for the same job, which means parents in our state and across the nation will finally receive equal pay for equal work. He passed legislation to enhance the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and expand coverage to an additional four million children, covering 19,400 more West Virginia kids. He also worked with Democrats in Congress to pass a budget blueprint that invests in America's future by making bold investments in healthcare, education and energy - including $3.4 billion for clean coal from the stimulus bill.
"The Obama Administration inherited a terrible mess: a $1.3 trillion deficit, two wars, rising unemployment and an unprecedented fiscal crisis. What President Obama and his team have been able to accomplish since taking office just three months ago is nothing short of remarkable.
"Here in West Virginia the President's economic recovery package is already putting people back to work on important projects that are being completed faster than originally anticipated. For instance, $210 million was allocated for highways, $84 million to weatherize homes, and $9 million for airport upgrades.
"Democrats in West Virginia are proud of President Obama's progress, but our pride is tempered with realism and recognition of how much more needs to be done. Our health care system is bankrupting individuals and businesses alike with skyrocketing costs, too many of our kids aren't getting the education they'll need to be competitive in the global marketplace, our dependence on foreign oil has made us less secure, and too many people are struggling to pay their mortgages and put food on the table.
"If the last three months are any indication, we can anticipate Republicans won't be much help in bringing about the change voters called for so overwhelmingly last November. Not one Republican in Congress supported President Obama's historic budget. Republicans in Congress continue to put partisanship ahead of progress and politics ahead of what's best for our country.
"We look forward to working with President Obama, our state leaders and legislators in Washington to make sure the progress we're recognizing today is a first step - a down payment - on more substantive action to come that will put W.V. and our country back on the road back to long-term economic prosperity."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Supreme Court Justice and former longtime legislator Joseph P. Albright died late Friday in Pittsburgh where he was undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. He was 70.
Albright had been on leave from the court since July 2008 when he was diagnosed.
Retired Justice Thomas McHugh, who had been serving on the court during Albright's absence, said, "Justice Albright was an exceptional public servant. He devoted most of his life to the service of the citizens of West Virginia. It was an honor for me to serve with him and to sit in his place during his illness."
Our condolences to his family and friends.
From an email:
Gov. Joe Manchin released this statement today after learning of the passing of West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Joseph P. Albright:
"I served with Joe Albright in the West Virginia House of Delegates and, throughout his career, he fought feverishly to make our state a better place. I am honored to have known him and to have called him my friend.
We had spoken recently and I know that he was eager to return to the Court. His desire to serve the state and its people was unparalleled.
"Our hearts go out to his wife, Nancie, and the entire Albright family.
West Virginia has lost one of its finest public servants."
Charleston, WV - Tom Vogel, Executive Director of the West Virginia Democratic Executive Committee, announced today that he will be leaving the position on March 31 to pursue other opportunities. Vogel stated, "I've enjoyed my four years with the Party. It was a great run with many successes, but now it's time to move on." Vogel also served as State Director for the Obama for America Campaign in West Virginia.
Democratic Party Chair, Nick Casey stated, "Tom has done an outstanding job: revitalizing the State and County Parties, getting the State Party on solid financial footing, and leading the Democratic Party to victories in 2006 and 2008." "Whatever Tom decides to do in the future, I'm sure he will continue to produce positive results. We wish Tom all the best."
Casey will be announcing his pick for Vogel's replacement in the coming days.
Tom did a great job for the state party. Looking at the statehouse races in 2006 and 2008 is just one sign. The growth in registered Democrats is another. While he was not successful with the Barack Obama campaign in the state, it certainly was not from a lack of effort on his part and better support from Chicago and Obama campaigning here himself could have made a difference.
Eight County Southern West Virginia Democratic Bus Tour
Saturday, October 18
With:
Governor Joe Manchin
Auditor Glen Gainer
Treasurer John Perdue
Attorney General Darrell McGraw
Sec. of State Nominee Natalie Tennant
Supreme Court Nominee Menis Ketchum
UMWA President Cecil Roberts
WV AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue
State Party Chairman Nick Casey
Schedule for Press Conferences and Rallies:
8am Charleston; AFL-CIO HQ; 501 Leon Sullivan Way
9:15am Lincoln County Veterans Memorial; Intersection of US 119S and WV Rt. 214
10:15am Boone County; Lick Creek Park; 726 Lick Creek Drive; Danville
12pm Logan Mall; 77 Norman Morgan Blvd.; Logan
1:30pm Williamson Fire Hall; 104 E. 4th Ave.
3:45pm Welch Library; 90 Howard St.
5:30pm Mercer County Courthouse; Princeton
7:30pm Beckley Moose Lodge; 410 New River Drive
West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey asked today, "Why are Republicans wasting time and money dragging out a special session to debate a clean elections bill that almost all of them supported in the past?"
"This is a very simple bill," added Casey. "It merely requires that corporations that spend money trying to influence an election have to report where the money comes from? Who could possibly be against that?"
"This year Republicans are saying that the bill somehow limits free speech. But if that's the case why didn't they vote against the original bill when it was passed a few years ago? Now taxpayers are forced to foot the bill to the tune of $50,000 per day so Republicans can grandstand in an effort to allow big money out-of-state corporations to spend unlimited amounts of anonymous campaign cash to elect their handpicked candidates to office."
"If corporations are allowed to spend unlimited amounts to make anonymous attacks on candidates they don't like the integrity of our election system will be destroyed," Casey added.
I saw Del. Jonathan Miller(R-Don Blankenship) is one of those grandstanding on this. He's carrying water for his new "family values" mentor Vic Sprouse, who cares as much about ethics as he does his marital vows.
It's not surprising that though Jonathan Miller can't bother to show up to represent Berkeley County, he does show up to do Sprouse's bidding. I guess he's got different priorities than representing Berkeley County.
It's funny how many Republicans, like Miller, claim they represent Christian values, except when money is involved:
The Governor, a majority of the legislature, the Council of Churches, Citizens Action Group and the West Virginia AFL-CIO all support passage of HB 219 and are working together to ensure that citizens have all information needed to make informed decisions on Election Day by requiring full disclosure by both in-state and out-of-state groups who would rather hide behind their special interest money.
Gary Zuckett, Executive Director, WV Citizen Action Group stated, "Voters have a right to know who is trying to influence elections in West Virginia."
In 48 hours, the 2008 presidential primary season ends.
Reading the political tea leaves, everything is in place for Barack Obama to declare victory tomorrow evening from Minn. (the site of the Republican's convention) and for Hillary Clinton to declare a suspension of her campaign from New York City.
There's one last question regarding the role of West Virginia in the Democratic party presidential nomination.
We have three undeclared super-delegates remaining. One, Alice Germond, is a DNC party official who as Party Secretary will remain officially undeclared until the convention. (You may have seen her at the Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting over the weekend.)
Will W.Va.'s remaining super-delegates--Gov. Manchin and Nick Casey--play a part in sealing the nomination for Barack Obama?
All of our W.Va. Democratic Congressional delegation--Sens. Byrd and Rockefeller, Reps. Rahall and Mollohan--have endorsed Obama.
Are Manchin and Casey going to sit on the sidelines, abdicate their role as super-delegates, and remain irrelevant to the process by declaring only after the nomination is already secure?
There's a small window--just about to close--for Manchin and Casey to exert some influence with the person most likely to be our next President.
For political junkies like me, this is one of the most interesting stories over the next couple days. Let's see which super-delegates join in the final push to put Obama over the required delegate total to formally secure the nomination.
Over the last two weeks we've attended countless political events all around the state. Collectively, we've communicated with hundreds of people actively involved in West Virginia politics. In the process, a clearer picture is emerging about the status of the undeclared West Virginia super-delegates.
Elected Officials
Obama leaning
All indications are Sen. Robert Byrd is heavily leaning toward Obama. Sen. Clinton's hawkish tendencies are a major tie-breaker between two Senators he respects. We expect her recent statements about bombing Iran did her no benefit with Sen. Byrd.
We have no sense on the timing of an endorsement. It could be any day now... or any week now... or, even, at the convention itself.
All along, we've felt Sen. Byrd was trying not to inject his presidential preferences as an issue in the WV-02 race. Now that Anne Barth has the Dem. nomination sewed up and the primary is behind us, the coast is clear for Sen. Byrd to endorse Obama.
Clinton leaning
All indications are that Gov. Joe Manchin prefers Sen. Hillary Clinton to Sen. Obama. Manchin shadowed Hillary in her final days of campaigning in the state. He's been rumored as a possible VP candidate for Clinton. (Although we find the idea of Manchin as a VP candidate extremely unlikely--his anti-choice position alone knocks him off any serious Democratic Party VP shortlist--it does speak to his potential motivations.) Manchin's governing style fits well with Clinton's DLC roots. Even more lately, we've heard the Manchin's called "West Virginia's Clinton's."
On the other hand, people also see Gov. Manchin as a savvy enough politician to "do the math." He's said he's waiting until at least June 3rd to make an endorsement. It looks more and more like Obama will have the nomination wrapped up by then. So, maybe Joe's just running out the clock to have his cake and eat it too.
Unknown
No one we talked with could indicate how Rep. Mollohan (WV-01) leans. The only conjecture we heard was, he's waiting until his vote is the most valuable to "cut the best deal possible." (For what it's worth, the two people who said this did so as a compliment to his political skills.) Of the undeclared W.Va. super-delegates, he's the biggest mystery.
Party Officials - Obama leaning
W.Va. Democratic Party Chair Nick Casey appears to have a personal preference for Obama. If you read the post-primary interviews carefully, you get the sense he's trying to figure out how other party Chairs have handled endorsing a candidate who did not win the state.
Now that the primary is over he can endorse the candidate of his choice without appearing to influence the primary. One big issue, however, is how a Clinton-leaning Gov. Manchin (for all intents and purposes, his boss) would feel about Casey endorsing Obama. Manchin is not known for sharing the limelight... it'll take a lot of personal fortitude for Nick Casey to come out for Obama before Manchin makes an endorsement.
DNC official Alice Germond holds multiple party positions critical to the nomination process (including Party Secretary). In a recent interview she talked about balancing her personal preferences with her obligation to remain neutral during a contested nomination.
The limited sense we get is she's also Obama-leaning and will only formally endorse him after Clinton drops out. As long as the nomination is contested she will remain neutral.
Your Mileage May Vary
The endorsement process is fickle. We've already seen super-delegates in other states change their mind even after making formal endorsements. We've been able to get multiple opinions about all of the super-delegates and often found strong agreement among far-flung sources. Still, this is but one snapshot of an ever-changing process as the super-delegates struggle with difficult decisions about how and when to make an endorsement.
What do you think? Who and when will the next W.Va. super delegate endorsement happen? Now that Obama has the nomination sewed up, will these influential W.Va. Democrats be eager to show their support for our likely next president? Or, will their eye be on W.Va. public opinion and Clinton's resounding victory last Tuesday?
If you have any additional information about matters super delegate, post in the comments or email us at wvablue@gmail.com
Undeclared super-delegate W.Va. Gov. Joe Manchin and Obama-supporter, super-delegate W.Va. Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
West Virginia will have 11 unpledged delegates (superdelegates) at the Democratic National Convention. There are 10 named super-delegates plus an add-on at-large delegate to be named in June at the state convention.
Three unelected superdelegates went early for Hillary Clinton. They are: Marie Prezioso and Pat Maroney, the National Committeewoman and National Committeeman, and W.Va. Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Belinda Biofore.
Two elected superdelegates pledged since super Tuesday for Barack Obama. They are: Rep. Nick Rahall (WV-03) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
The five remaining undeclared super-delegates are: Sen. Robert Byrd, Gov. Joe Manchin, Rep. Alan Mollohan, W.Va. Democratic party chair Nick Casey, and DNC member Alice Germond.
The final unpledged super-delegate will be named by the West Virginia Democartic Party Executive Committee on June 14 at the state party convention. This delegate is one of two "add-on" delegates awarded by the DNC for holding a late primary.
From Nick Casey, the Chairman of West Virginia Democratic Party, (via email):
We have a real opportunity to make a difference for West Virginia and for the country. Democrats in Congress have a slim majority and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee wants to ensure that that majority isn't lost. That's why they personally asked West Virginia state senator John Unger to run for Congress here in the Second Congressional District.
We're working hard to raise money for John Unger's campaign for Congress before September 30th - this Sunday - and the deadline for this fundraising quarter with the Federal Election Commission. And you can help by making a contribution via the internet or by check to: Unger for Congress - PO Box 11530 - Charleston, WV 25339.
Affordable Health Care. And a solution to the war in Iraq (by one who has spent a great deal of time there himself). Immigration reform. A solid economy. Independence from foreign oil. These are the things at stake in this election.
Click here to contribute to John's campaign before September 30th.
John Unger has been elected three times to the West Virginia State Senate and he's the only Democrat in this race. In his last election, he garnered more votes in his district than Republican Shelley Capito did! In a part of the district which is considered her "strong hold" - John Unger has already proven he is more electable.
Click here to contribute to John's campaign before September 30th.
People from the the banks of the Potomac to the Ohio River are working hard to ensure that John Unger will have the necessary funds to win this election. With your help, we can ensure that although Republican Shelley Capito came into office with George W. Bush and has supported as much as 89% of the time- she leaves with him as well.
Thank you,
Nick Casey
Chairman - West Virginia Democratic Party
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