The Campaign to Waste Time and Money = A Republican Campaign for Treasurer
In a move learned from his national Republicans, yet in a move that was old and discredited three months ago, “Tardy” Colin Bonini, the Republican presumptive nominee for state Treasurer, is demanding that Attorney General Beau Biden waste the taxpayer’s money and the state’s resources, and not to mention, the AG Office’s time (in short supply in the gear up for the biggest prosecution this state has seen since Capano), in a partisan yet unfounded effort to declare the Healthcare Reform Bill unconstitutional.
Yes, it has been several weeks, but the Republicans are back to that old chestnut, and Mr. Bonini is proving himself to be a stalwart follower of the national Talking Point as any other state Republican drone.
You see, Mr. Bonini is “concerned” about the mandate to purchase health insurance if you do not already qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, or if you do not already have your own private or employer based plan.
Mr. Bonini needs to read more. He needs to keep up with the news. And, as a politician, he needs to keep up with popular opinion.
In the months since that bill became law, top Republicans like House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) have called repealing healthcare reform the GOP’s “number one priority,” though Republicans have battled internally over whether they should repeal it in full or in parts.
The Hill reports that a poll from 60 Minutes/Vanity fair shows that effort has failed.
Given the option to name the sections of the healthcare law they would most like to see the GOP repeal, 42 percent [the plurality] said they would leave the bill alone and repeal no parts, a new 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll found.
Bonini seems to be aiming for that 30% that want to get rid of the mandate. I have news for Colin. They are already in your camp. They are called Republicans, or Teabaggers (it is not as if one can tell the difference between the two these days).
Other polling seems to suggest that it is even MORE of a losing strategy to push repeal as an electoral or political strategy:
Would you be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports and will work to improve the new health care reform law, or a candidate who will work to repeal it completely?
Support: 52
Repeal: 41
What’s that, a MAJORITY of Americans do not want repeal??? Oh wait, I forgot, majorities are only what Republicans say they are, and this week, I guess Colin Bonini is a majority of one. And next week it will be 60% or 67% or 75%.
Indeed, we need to ask Mr. Bonini, since he is involving himself in national politics rather than concentrating on the state treasurer’s race, what his opinion is on the Republican Healthcare Bill, which would both repeal the current law but would also reopen the “donut hole” in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug benefit (costing our seniors untold millions), un-insure 29 million people and adds almost $75 billion to the federal deficit. I want Bonini on the record for that. Hey, News Journal, you seem to be waking up recently, let’s see Bonini on the record telling his constitutents what he wants to do to them.
Finally, is the mandate constitutional? Of course it is. Constitutional scholars more learned than myself or Mr. Bonini have debated this issue in multiple forums, and the consensus is that it is constitutional under the commerce clause as Congress has ample Constutitional authority from Supreme Court precedent to regulate the national economy, and given that healthcare is now fully a quarter of our economy, Congress has the power to regulate it.
In fact, since Mr. Bonini has been hanging around with old retired Republican Governors from the east coast recently, he should put a call into former Governor Mitt Romney. Massachusetts has had an individual mandate on the books for a couple of years now, signed into law by Romney. Its constitutionality remains unchallenged.
Interesting, that.
Romney’s been going around bashing the health care reform bill lately. Facts be damned!
Then Romney is bashing himself. And in 2012 when he takes credit for the HCR law (as he will), he will again be a flip flopper.
Whenever I read about Bonini I hear circus music and picture him in a clown costume.
I take it you are referring to the Bradely case when you say, “the biggest prosecution this state has seen since Capano”.
Maybe the Bradely case will have big publicity, but it shouldn’t take up too much of the AG office’s time. In fact the greenest prosecutor they have should be able to have an open and shut case.
As far as the AG looking into the constitutionality of the health care bill, I agree it would be a waste of time and money…if you know what I mean.
Perhaps echoing such talking points is the price Bonini must pay for wooing national Republicans and their money.
Perhaps echoing such talking points is the price Bonini must pay
No, I think he is sincere.
Bonini fits the model of the Young Republican who came of age when Reagan was elected and never knew anything else. During the 80s and 90s, the way to get elected was to be the candidate furthest to the right – for both parties. But that strategy has reached its end.
I’m SHOCKED (not) that supposedly fiscal conservative Republicans want to waste government money on an ideological crusade.
Bonini is definitely trying to position himself as an up-and-comer in Delaware and with the national party. I’ll bet they are asking him to win this race as a test for further viability.
Delaware Dem
First of all, this is not an old chestnut, it’s a brand new one. The health care bill was passed and became law and is very unpopular with the American people.
In November, both the US House and Senate with feel the effects of their exceptional swindle on the American people. I expect with Republicans in the majority come next January, this debacle will certainly not be funded and will essentially be DOA.
I applaud Sen. Bonini for his stand on the health care bill and will be happy to follow his career as he serves as Delaware’s next Treasurer.
Torgue provide no links for his (her?) assertion that HCR is unpopular because it is flat wrong. You have to admire these wingnuts ability to live in thier own reality.
The fact that there was and is serious outcry against HCR should be proof enough for anyone intelligent enough to watch cable news. It was broadcast throughout the vote for HCR as well as the entire month before, even on MSNBC and CNN, both liberal networks. The people spoke nearly in unison against the bill.
If you want links Jason330, google them yourself, there are certainly plenty of them. In short do your own work, you obviously have a computer.
The latest poll I could find was early May: An NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey found the public tilting against the law 44-38…This is far from “spoke nearly in unison.” That would be Fox News viewers, not Americans in general.
Further: But when asked if they would be more likely to vote for a congressional candidate willing to give the law a chance to work and make changes as needed, or one who would repeal it entirely and start over, respondents picked the one who would give it a chance by 55-42.
Peddle your horse manure somewhere else.
A sad example of wingnut-echo-chamber-itis. I prescribe a long walk and three days of no wingnut tv or radio.