Can Dick Durbin Respond to His Constituents? Is The Media Asking for a Response?
The Senate’s majority whip, the pantingly liberal Dick Durbin…(who in this column has carried the same appellation as Donald Trump’s The Donald)…has been out of the line of fire recently-which suits him just fine. The last time he expressed himself was to rule out his participation at Town Hall meetings because the Nazis (i.e. those who oppose Obama’s health initiative were in control. He escaped editorial criticism on that stand. The papers like Dick Durbin because in fair liberal weather he is always available for a close-up. In fact, the papers have really surrendered their so-called objectivity on him. They cover for him regularly and don’t chase him for a quote when they know it would not serve his career well to expostulate.
Now Dick Durbin is either on vacation or back in his Washington sancto sanctorum…but it would be good to hear what he has to say about the anomaly that is occurring on the CIA front. Leon Panetta has reportedly tossed a mother bear of a tantrum and has threatened to resign: no word of that in the current papers and no comment from Dick Durbin. Barack Obama has taken a most unusual step…probably the most elusive one in the history of the presidency. He has actually said that he prefers not to rustle up sleeping dogs on the CIA water-boarding issue because it might interfere with future anti-terrorism efforts…but–. But he has allowed his attorney general to do what he wishes, and if “Eric the Red” Holder wants to probe the CIA it’s entirely up to him!
Brother, those who said Calvin Coolidge was a weak president ought to reflect on this one. Obama is the man elected president but he will not raise a finger to direct his attorney general. It’s a classic Good Cop/Bad Cop strategy: and of course the local media are letting him get away with it. It would be fun to see how Durbin defends this, how Durbin sanctions steps that may well jeopardize the security of the United States. But of course as Durbin has ruled out Town Halls, no one from the media will bother him and get him on the record. That’s so lovely: how thoughtful of this lip-synch Chicago media!
Dick Durbin is thus off the hook and is free from speculation on one of the most tempestuous issues facing the country-just because he has decided to shut down his public appearances. And the complaisant Chicago media allow him to do it. So thoughtful! But even though he has made himself unavailable for questioning, where are the media now? Carol Marin who could be counted upon to weep circa `60s tears for the poor, rights-deprived terrorists who were captured trying to blow our heads off, is on vacation until the heat blows over following her bombastic and egregious false charge that the NRA has throttled the Center for Disease Control from releasing the free flow of information on kid shootings.
Where is Mike Flannery, the fawning Channel 2 CBS-TV serf who wrote Obama in a commercial supplement distributed by The New York Times with its Chicago edition the manner of the Good Thief: “Lord, remember me when you get to Your kingdom”? Where is Clarence Page on this issue–the man hired by The Tribune to tell us how it feels to be a black man? Or Dawn Turner Trice hired by The Tribune to tell us how it feels to be a black woman? Oh, and the world’s greatest libertarian, Steve Chapman, should be able to write a column about how free we really are from governmental usurpation now that the vindictive old Bush curtailment of captured terrorists will be changed. But not a word from him either.
Nor a musing from Eric Zorn or his steady heartthrob, Mary Schm–. Mary Schm–. Aw forget it.
Over at the Sun-Times, we have heard zilch on this issue from the man hired by earlier editors to act like an obnoxious Brooklyn street peddler/ hustler who never fails to remind us he’s a liberal Jew in favor of civil liberties for those who try to kill us (and who hates Catholic thought) Neal Steinberg…or the aging kid who’s long in the tooth but who still writes as an immature one: Richard Roeper. Can’t Mary Mitchell dredge up a racial protest against whitey on this one? Over at the immaculate heart of liberaldom, WTTW-TV, can’t the Cardboard Cutout Phil Ponce run a panel, stacked leftward as it would be by Dan Schmidt? Can’t Nurse Ratched (ok Elizabeth Brackett) be brought in to grill a lone supporter of anti-terrorism?
All’s quiet out there because the liberals know this is an issue that will end Obama-dom. Let there be another attack and he won’t have to worry about running for a second term: he’ll be liable for impeachment and justifiably so given his Pontius Pilate-like acquiescence of Holder’s prosecutions on those who defend us.
But most of all…more than any of the above…I want to hear from Dick Durbin on this issue. Oh if only he would show up.
**
Tom Roeser is the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Chicago Daily Observer
image Collinsville Ave in East St. Louis, hometown of Sen. Dick Durbin
Editor,
A deluge of irate letters regarding Dick Durbin have appeared in only one Central Illinois newspaper, the Decatur Herald & Review, in the last few days. (And, of course, these are only the most literate letters that this one paper chose to print.)
One has to wonder, with this level of dissatisfaction so high, how is it that Durbin is repeatedly reelected? It is increasingly becoming illogical to believe that the American system of Democracy is not just as “rigged” as it is in the countries we are supposedly striving to make safe for democracy.
Stephen Bone
Bethany, IL
IL-15
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**Durbin not fair to Illinois residents**
Senator Durbin, you are not being fair to the people of Illinois. Don’t put us in the same category as others out there shouting. They have to shout because no one is lis-tening. You said on TV it’s not worth your time. By the way, you work for us and you should want to know what people think.
I called your Springfield and Chicago office and was told you or your office would get back with me, guess what I’m still waiting. Mr. Durbin if the health plans are so great why don’t you sign up for it yourself?
It’s time people get more informed about what’s going on and vote against some of these Senators who have been in office too long and don’t care about what the people of Illinois want.
R.J. Collins
Bethany
**Durbin should be willing to listen to constituents**
The people of Illinois would really appreciate the oppor-tunity to hear Senator Dick Durbin, our elected Senator, explain what the Obama Healthcare Reform Plan is all about, to ask the questions many of us have about it, and to hear his explanations to our questions. By not providing his constituents this explanation, question and answer opportunity, it makes many of us feel like the Obama administration is trying to force a plan on the American people that per-haps may not be the most beneficial to the majority of us American taxpayers, especially for older people, people with existing health problems, or for those with problems in the future. Does this plan include the President, Senators, Representatives, their families, and others in government positions, or is it just for “the rest of us Americans?” And if so, what is wrong with the plan, that it is not good enough for everyone? Would he want his family and relatives to be covered by the Obama plan?
I hope he will hold needed public town hall meetings all over Illinois, to let his constituents ask our ques-tions, and hear his answers, in order to put our minds at rest once and for all about the Obama Healthcare Reform Plan.
I pray that each member of the Obama Administration will ask God to guide them in making their decisions, deci-sions which will affect the American people for years to come.
Pat Benson
Lincoln
**Durbin made no attempt to have an open dialogue Is U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin avoiding his constituents? **
We read with interest the article of Aug. 13 concerning Durbin’s visit to Decatur. According to the article, Durbin came for an “open dialogue” with the citizens of Decatur and Central Illinois about health care. His so-called “open dialogue” was held at one table in one classroom at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Apparently, to Durbin, a handful of carefully selected individuals are all he needs to have an “open dialogue.” Had Durbin scheduled a town hall meeting, he could have had a genuine open dialogue. Of course, that could have resulted in tough questions, something the senator is clearly unable to handle. After calling and e-mailing Durbin’s offices requesting notification of a town hall meeting in the Decatur area with no response, it was very disheartening to learn of his visit from an article in the newspaper a day after the visit. So much for Durbin being available for his constituents! Durbin could have answered many questions at a town hall meeting. He could have explained the composition of the so-called 47 million uninsured Americans. Durbin could have explained how you cut $500 billion over 10 years from Medicare, as 36 million new people are added to the Medicare rolls, and still not have to reduce services to the most in need. He could have explained the rationale behind reducing Medicare benefits by $500 billion for senior citizens, yet still finding the money to cover millions of illegal aliens. If Durbin and those promoting health care reform truly wanted reform, the solution is simple. Simply allow every American to enroll in the exact same private health care plan every member of Congress enjoys.
Jeff Leucal
Brian Shepard
Decatur
**Credibility is lacking for government to run system **
So, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin thinks town hall meetings are not serving their purpose. That’s because he apparently thinks a town hall meeting is for him to tell us what he thinks, not for us to tell him what we think. He also parrots the White House line about all the opposition being coordinated and controlled by opponents. I am controlled and coordinated by no one. The current plans are too overreaching and give the government too much power. The government already runs five health care plans and all are ridden with scandal or nearing bankruptcy. They are the Defense Department hospitals, VA hospitals, Medicare, Medicaid and, worst of all, the health care system on the reservations. Clean those up first, and maybe the government would have some credibility.
Glenn Portwood
Decatur
**Durbin’s job is to listen to our fears and concerns**
I was furious when I read U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s statements in an article regarding the health care debate and town hall meetings. Durbin stated, “[t]he people who are showing up at these town meetings are not looking for dialogue. They’re looking for diatribe. I don’t think that’s a productive use of my time.” Apparently, Durbin has forgotten his role as a U.S. senator. Senator, let me remind you that you work for us; we do not work for you. Your job is to come home from Washington, D.C., and listen to our fears and concerns, then take those fears and concerns back to Washington. If I told my boss that I would not meet with him because it’s not a productive use of my time, I would be fired. It is not that Durbin doesn’t get it, it is that he cannot sell it!
Linda Hassinger
Oreana
**Politicians give public only platitudes on health care**
”Durbin finds no merit in meetings” with his constituents on health care because other such meetings were contentious. Why were they contentious? The health care conflict arose when politicians, such as U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, could not give reasoned and rational answers based on the bills they were proposing to pass. Instead, the politicians, from the president on down, have given us nothing but platitudes and other generalities to justify government control of our health care. High-ranking politicians didn’t help to smooth over the angry populace when they classified the dissenters as mobs, being paid to protest, etc. Then there are those who point to Medicare as an example of successful government health care. In reality, Medicare is bankrupt, as is Social Security, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and a large number of state budgets. In addition, it is my understanding that the VA health care system is a disaster. These are all government owned and operated. What reasoning leads one to conclude our health care system would be better off in the hands of government bureaucrats? As for private insurance providers, there is little competition. Two immediate decisions that would begin to resolve some of the complaints about private insurers would be, first, to remove barriers to where these insurers can do business. Secondly, allow employee health coverage to be portable from job to job. Portability would continue coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. By giving folks options such as these, they can “fire” any private provider that is difficult to work with or too expensive. On the other hand, we can’t “fire” the health care bureaucrats who will behave in a similar manner.
Robert Mooth
Decatur
**Durbin doesn’t want to hear those who disagree**
After reading the front page article about U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin deciding not to hold any more town hall meetings about health care reform, I felt compelled to comment. Durbin is–;using the excuse that town hall meetings are disruptive as a reason not to have them. If he were being honest, he would admit he does not want to have public meetings with those who actually have opinions that differ from his. By refusing to have public forums with those who disagree with him, he is, in fact, telling us he only wishes to hear from those who share his views. Unfortunately, that’s not the sign of a good elected official. Mary Jane Kefalas Decatur
Durbin’s office said he wasn’t having a meeting I recently emailed Sen. Dick Durbin my concerns regarding health care reform. I received a response from his office stating that he had no town hall meetings scheduled. The same day, he was at Decatur Memorial Hospital, hosting a town hall meeting concerning health care reform. I bet he would even deny being there!
Kelly Jenkins
Decatur
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