SEIU's Anna Burger with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Recent video of former Kansas Governor and now HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter in front of a group of concerned citizens in Philadelphia has been cited as “orchestrated outrage” by some such as Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.
Possibly to avoid any confrontation with concerned citizens who have read the proposed health care legislation in Congress, HHS Secretary Sebelius will hold a conference call on Friday with health care activists and SEIU members.
Yesterday L. Toni Lewis, MD from SEIU Health Care sent the following E-mail letter encouraging participation in this conference call:
You’re invited to join Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this Friday, August 7th at 2:30 pm EDT, for an exclusive ‘myth-busting’ conference call with SEIU members on health care reform.
RSVP for the call by clicking here.
Right now, opponents of health insurance reform are spreading lies, fabrications and blatant distortions to scare the American people.
The myths seem to multiply daily. You’ve probably heard them yourself, or fielded questions from concerned friends and family about whether health care reform would “kill Granny” or result in “rationed health care.”
Can you join our Friday 2:30 pm ET call? RSVP here. You’ll receive an email later this week with all the information you need to join the call.
We won’t win the debate unless we’ve got the facts. This Friday, you’ll hear from the nation’s top health care official – HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius – on what’s really in the health care legislation before Congress, and what President Obama will and won’t do when it comes to fixing health care.
Do you have a question for Secretary Sebelius? She’ll be answering your questions on the call, too. To be considered, submit your question by 9 am ET Thursday by clicking here.
Finally, what you’ll hear on this call is what each of us can do to ensure that we achieve quality, affordable health care for all this year. It won’t be easy, but with each of us pitching in, I’m confident we’ll win.
Looking forward to Friday’s call!
Thanks for being involved,
L. Toni Lewis, MD
SEIU Healthcare
Last October before the elections, SEIU gave $100,000 to Kathleen Sebelius’ Bluestem Fund PAC for her to spend on various elections in Kansas.
SEIU's Verified Statement filed in Kansas signed by Anna Burger for giving $100,000 to Sebelius
During the final reporting period before the election last year, Sebelius’ PAC received $100,000 from SEIU (Service Employees International Union) , $100,000 from AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), and $100,000 from the AFT (American Federation of Teachers). Eleven other contributors gave $115,000.
SEIU gave $60.7 million to elect Barack Obama President.
With such past financial support from SEIU for President Obama and Secretary Sebelius, the conference call on Friday will likely be orchestrated to present only President Obama’s health care plan. Concerned citizens worried about how millions can be added to such a plan without additional tax dollars or without additional doctors may submit their questions, but will any opposition be allowed?
There will be no spontaneity in the interactions with the questions submitted more than a day in advance.
Sebelius won’t see or hear anything like this on Friday, which she recently experienced in Philadelphia:
Some like MSNBC’s Maddow see “orchestrated outrage” in the above videos when concerned citizens speak up.
Yesterday, DNC’s Executive Directory Jen O’Malley Dillon circulated “5 facts about the anti-reform mobs.” But how factual are these five “facts”? Both Maddlow and Dillon should get out a bit and talk to those at Tea Parties, 9-12 events, or other rallies.
Multiple groups have formed in our area, and they are largely unaligned with political parties. The majority of the people at these events have not been political activists before. The majority of these people know facts about the proposed legislation they oppose — many have read all or parts of the bills. They are at protest rallies because they are both angry and scared about what is happening in the country. Most at these rallies see Liberty and Freedom diminishing in our country.
Sometimes there are more women than men at the rallies.
Dillon claims these protesters are trying to shut down legitimate conversation. But what can be done in our area to get congressional representatives to listen? Congressman Jerry Moran from Western Kansas had to courage to speak to a town hall meeting in Johnson County in June — something Dennis Moore refuses to do.
Dennis Moore declined to give any information about the number of calls for and against the “Cap and Trade” bill in early July.
Dennis Moore left his “community office hours” at a grocery story in Olathe in March when one person in an Uncle Sam costume and a few people with signs showed up. He told those in line that his staff would contact them for an appointment at his office. His staff seems to have forgotten to have called several that were still in line. Perhaps DNC Exec Dir Dillon should encourage Democrats in Congress to speak with their constituents instead of ignoring them.
Dillon and others have accused the Republicans of organizing these events? At one event in March some of the participants admitted they didn’t even know the name of the Republican candidate in Nov 2008 that they then wished they had voted for. Many at these events have few connections to the Republican Party — or any political party.
The disconnect between government and the people is growing as the government ignores the people.
Related:
- Conference Call with HHS Secretary, SEIU
- Both sides of health care debate meet briefly in Overland Park, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 1, 2009.
- Government Health Care Protest at Congressman Dennis Moore’s Office (video), Kansas Meadowlark, July 18, 2009.
- SEIU’s money in Dan Glickman’s future?, Kansas Meadowlark, July 13, 2009.
- Treasurer for $100,000 SEIU donation to Sebelius’ PAC likes her for HHS Secretary, Kansas Meadowlark, March 4, 2009.
Tags: Anna Burger, Health Care, Kathleen Sebelius, SEIU, SEIU Health Care, Service Employees International Union
