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Dec. 6th, 2010 03:36 pmI thought I had previously discussed the Republican hypocrisy of accepting a government health care plan while campaigning on a platform of repealing health care reform for their constituents; apparently I did so on FB and not LJ.
Let the record show that I approve of the few Rs who are refusing Congressional health care, and that I'd mentioned in my FB post that I expected they had private insurance that was better (so that it was a gesture, but at least it was one that was principled).
Today, I received an email from a political advocacy group that is concerned with this issue, stating that Congressman-elect Bill Johnson of Ohio, who was mentioned in the article I referenced at FB as refusing Congressional HC, is doing so because he has coverage due to having retired as an Air Force officer. They claim that his consequent refusal of Congressional coverage is hypocrisy.
I have to disagree with them. The Air Force coverage was earned. Whether he served in peace or war, he completed the requirements to enter, acquire an officer's rank, and retire with coverage (hence, not just a term). Yes, I know that the Air Force Academy is. as are all the military academies, largely a patronage mill. Yes, I understand he probably had connections. Yes, I know that the AF Academy in particular has been a cesspit of religious persecution and failure to separate church and state. That does nothing to diminish the fact that this man earned his health coverage, and that he, almost alone among the wealthy privately insured Republicans elected to Congress this year, is refusing the coverage they campaigned against.
Sorry, Health Care for America Now, I'm not able to support you in this instance.
Let the record show that I approve of the few Rs who are refusing Congressional health care, and that I'd mentioned in my FB post that I expected they had private insurance that was better (so that it was a gesture, but at least it was one that was principled).
Today, I received an email from a political advocacy group that is concerned with this issue, stating that Congressman-elect Bill Johnson of Ohio, who was mentioned in the article I referenced at FB as refusing Congressional HC, is doing so because he has coverage due to having retired as an Air Force officer. They claim that his consequent refusal of Congressional coverage is hypocrisy.
I have to disagree with them. The Air Force coverage was earned. Whether he served in peace or war, he completed the requirements to enter, acquire an officer's rank, and retire with coverage (hence, not just a term). Yes, I know that the Air Force Academy is. as are all the military academies, largely a patronage mill. Yes, I understand he probably had connections. Yes, I know that the AF Academy in particular has been a cesspit of religious persecution and failure to separate church and state. That does nothing to diminish the fact that this man earned his health coverage, and that he, almost alone among the wealthy privately insured Republicans elected to Congress this year, is refusing the coverage they campaigned against.
Sorry, Health Care for America Now, I'm not able to support you in this instance.
