Virginia’s Democratic governor-elect won by 9 points in an election where he campaigned heavily on expanding Medicaid. The election saw enormous efforts expended by the Democratic grassroots. Now that Northam has won, he’s having some second thoughts.
Outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) tried every year to push the legislature to accept millions in federal money to expand the health program to hundreds of thousands of low-income Virginians. Northam campaigned heavily on the promise of getting more Virginians access to health care.
He said Friday that he remains committed to that pledge, but that he must be careful about obligating the state to escalating costs. Under the program, the federal government pays the lion’s share in the early years but the state contribution gradually increases. “Medicaid is growing in Virginia by 5 to 7 percent, in that ballpark, every year,” he said. — www.washingtonpost.com/...
In his interview Northam also suggests he wants to have Medicaid recipients work as a condition of receiving benefits.
Then his “eyes lit up” and he spent several minutes telling WaPo about his classic car collection and plans to host classic car shows.
“We’ve also had discussions with the Richmond Raceway to bring one of my cars out there and do like an exhibit,” he said. The point would be to show that he was able to do the restoration because he learned the skills in school, “and to really interest or excite children that there’s a future in those things,” he said. — www.washingtonpost.com/...
Let me say this publicly to Ralph Northam from the bottom of my heart.
You can take your classic cars and stick them where the sun doesn’t shine.
You were elected, by Democrats to make their lives better.
Get your head out of your ass.
Stop mentally polishing the bipartisanship trophy you believe you’re going to win, and start working for the people who put you in office.
Perhaps Democrats should’ve chosen someone whose “eyes light up” when they talk about making the lives of the poor, infirm and oppressed better, rather than when they talk about washing a 1971 Corvette.
You can call Northam’s office to let him know. Even better, get engaged with the Virginia Poverty Law Center or Olmstead Rights, both organizations working to expand Medicaid in Virginia.
Maybe a few Democratic activists should walk over to Northam’s office and remind him that while he’s mapping out exactly how he’ll be “reaching across the aisle” and be “fiscally responsible”, the Republican party is about to deliver a $1.5 Trillion unfunded tax cut to their owners. Then, next year, they plan to use the same “fiscal responsibility” excuse to gut social security, Medicare, Medicaid and as much of the New Deal as they can.
And they’re doing all this though Trump lost by 3 million votes.
Northam is, rightfully, already seeing some backlash:
Brian Fallon, is by the way, the former spokesperson for Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.
It’s tough to believe, but we have even more politcally insane statements being made by the Democratic senator from West Virginia.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said early Monday that he won’t call for an investigation into President Trump over sexual misconduct allegations, adding that he has “moved on.”
“I’m not going to make that determination because he went through an election process,” Manchin told CNN’s “New Day” when asked if the president should be investigated. — thehill.com/...
Manchin is absolutely wrong, and a few of his Democratic colleagues should pull him aside and show him the light. Trump needs to be investigated, by Congress, for the sexual harassment allegations, and for the stream of statements emanating from official White House spokespersons who have sought to brand his victims as liars.
This needs to be done because there is an active disinformation campaign against victims of sexual assault and harassment who have come forward to accuse Republicans. Here’s Laura Ingraham leading the charge, assisted by a random Twitter bot, implying the victims who stepped forward were paid.
Talk to a rank and file Republican, or look at the exit polls from Alabama, and what you’ll see is a steady stream of false claims that victims are “being paid” and “lying”. The unconditional surrender Manchin is advocating will simply fuel these false claims.
You should call your senator to let them know you want them to support an investigation of the sexual harassment/assault allegations against Trump.
— @subirgrewal | Cross-posted at NotMeUs.org & TheProgressiveWing.com