All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a powerful business lobbying group, will begin airing a 30 second TV ad today criticizing the current health care reform plans in Congress and "calling for responsible health reform."

The ad will air in about 20 states, including Arkansas, Colorado, and Nebraska, and is targeted to areas where lawmakers are undecided on reform efforts.

The ad shows a balloon being inflated with words "tax increases, swelling deficits, government control" written on it. A voiceover notes that the Congressional Budget Office predicts the deficit will grow $239 billion if one form of health care reform is passed.

The balloon eventually bursts, as the voiceover says: "Tell Congress, 'Let's slow down and reform health care the right way.'"

A swastika was spray-painted on a sign in front of Rep. David Scott's office early this morning, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports.

The graffiti, which was discovered by an aide in the early morning, was placed directly over Scott's name. It included racial slurs and read, "Death to all Marxists! Foreign and domestic!"

The Democratic Georgia congressman, who is black, suggested that the swastika did not come from any of his constituents. He said he has received racist mail in recent days and is working with local and national law enforcement.

"That was a strong message to be sent," Scott told the newspaper. "We all have to be very careful. This is a warning sign."

Smyrna Police Det. C. McDuffie told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that the act will most likely be treated as a hate crime.

"We can't let racism and hate win," he said.

President Obama released a statement earlier today on the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of John F. Kennedy who was known for being an advocate for the disabled.

"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver," said Mr. Obama in the statement . "Eunice was many things to many people: a mother who inspired her children to serve others; a wife who supported her husband Sargent in the Peace Corps and in politics; and a sister to her siblings, including brothers John, Robert, and Edward."

The president went on to praise her work as an activist for the disabled.

"But above all, she will be remembered as the founder of the Special Olympics, as a champion for people with intellectual disabilities, and as an extraordinary woman who, as much as anyone, taught our nation – and our world – that no physical or mental barrier can restrain the power of the human spirit," said Mr. Obama.

He added that his prayers are with the entire and Kennedy family. Shriver died at the age of 88.

Also of note, Sen. Ted Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, released a statement on the passing of his sister. He said that "Eunice is now with God in heaven" and will be dearly missed by the remaining Kennedy clan.

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President Obama hit back at critics who say the U.S. not doing enough for Honduras following a trilateral meeting with President Calderon of Mexico and Prime Minister Harper of Canada in Mexico today.

Mr. Obama said those complaining that America has not done enough following the military coup that resulted in the overthrow of the government of President Manuel Zelaya on June 28 "can’t have it both ways."

"The same critics who say that the United States has not intervened enough in Honduras are the same people who say that we're always intervening and the Yankees need to get out of Latin America," said Mr. Obama.

The president said the U.S. has done everything it could, including condemning the coup and calling for an immediate reinstating of President Zelaya.

"If these critics think that it's appropriate for us to suddenly act in ways that in every other context they consider inappropriate, then I think what that indicates is that maybe there's some hypocrisy involved in their -- their approach to U.S.-Latin American relations," said Mr. Obama.

Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper supported the statements made by Mr. Obama, suggesting that "If I were an American, I would be really fed up with this kind of hypocrisy."

"You know, the United States is accused of meddling except when it's accused of not meddling," Mr. Harper said. He went on to say that the latest criticism of the U.S. not doing enough in Honduras comes from the very same people who would condemn a long standing cooperation between Colombia and U.S. for "legitimate security and drug trafficking reasons."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, have written an op-ed for USA Today discussing the latest town hall disruptions, which they argue should not impede health care reform.

Deeming the protests "un-American" because they disrupt meetings between congresspeople and their constituents, Pelosi and Hoyer both expressed their unfavorable views of the incidents.

Protesters at some town hall meetings have drowned out congresspeople and caused unrest and even violence. They have offered slogans such as "Tyranny!" "Just say no!" and "No Obama Care."

Congresspeople home for their August recess have been confronted by protesters around their homes and offices. The Washington Post reports Rep. Baron P. Hill had so many incoming calls and visitors that his phone lines became jammed. He has been holding clandestine meetings with constituents to avoid any major disruptions and allow everyone to speak freely without protesters shouting over them.

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In a message sent to supporters of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, former President Bill Clinton, who failed in his own efforts to reform health care, pressed for success this time around and called for donations to support the Health Care Reform Now campaign.

The campaign is part of the DCCC’s agenda and is aimed at obtaining financial support for the Obama administration's health care reform. The DCCC is trying to raise $250,000 in donations by midnight Aug. 4, 2009.

Titled "1993,” Mr. Clinton's message discussed the health care campaign in time of his own presidency. The former president noted that President Obama is facing opposition to his own health care agenda similar to what Mr. Clinton faced in 1993. He argued that Mr. Obama is going up against special interest groups and their Republican supporters who have "launched a furious campaign to preserve the status quo."

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Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the police officer who arrested him at his home both actually share the same line of Irish heritage, according to a report on the Web site Irish Central.

Niall O'Dowd writes that Gates' Irish ancestry dates back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, a famous Irish chieftain who conquered much of Europe in the 4th century AD.

Similarly, the police officer who arrested him, Sergeant James Crowley, is also of Irish decent, with his heritage tracing back to the very same chieftain.

As is well known by now, the confrontation between the Harvard professor and Sgt. Crowley has sparked the nation's latest debate over racial profiling after Gates was arrested at his home two weeks ago. After a controversy in which even President Obama got involved, the two will meet for beers with Mr. Obama at the White House on Thursday.

According to the aritcle, which has been reprinted by ABC News, Gates discovered his roots during a PBS series back in 2008 and shares 11 out of 12 DNA matches with offsprings of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discussed the essential need for health care reform today in an op-ed column for Yahoo News.

Echoing arguments made by the president and other congressional and administration officials, Sebelius argued that the cost of health care for state and local budgets has risen 30 percent in the past 20 years and represents the "single largest contributor" to the national deficit. The secretary stressed the need to find a system that does not add to U.S. deficit over the next ten years while extending coverage to millions currently uninsured.

The current system, Sebelius explained, leaves 46 million Americans uninsured. Even more are under-insured and skip necessary medical visits because they cannot afford it.

"For decades, Washington has talked about fixing a broken health care system," Sebeluis writes. "And for decades Washington failed to act – allowing the special interests to stall reform while the cracks in the system turned into crevices, then craters."

Sebelius reiterated President Obama's assurance that the overhaul will not affect the coverage of happy, insured Americans.

"Millions of Americans are happy with the coverage they have now, so let's be clear: under any plan the Obama administration will support, if you like your health insurance you can keep your health insurance; if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor," Sebelius writes.

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), at left, has announced, in a press release, that the Senate Armed Service Committee will hold a hearing this fall on the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Signed into law by former President Clinton, the policy forbids openly gay and lesbian personnel from serving in the military. According to the press release, an estimated 13,000 service members have been removed from duty since 1993 based on their sexual orientation.

According to a report from the Center for American Progress, 265 people have been discharged since President Obama took office.

"This policy is wrong for our national security and wrong for the moral foundation upon which our country was founded,'" Gillibrand said. "'Don't ask, don't Tell' is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women. By repealing this policy, we will increase America's strength - both militarily and morally."

Gillibrand also said such measures are costly, saying that it takes $95.1 million to replace gay personnel with new recruits.

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The Republican National Committee launched an offensive against President Obama's government-run health insurance option, with a television ad that will be broadcasted in select markets in Arkansas, Nevada and North Dakota.

Titled "The Grand Experiment," the 30-second ad labels Mr. Obama's proposed reform as a “risky experiment with our health care,” saying that such a program will drive up the nation’s debt while unemployment rates remain at historic highs.

Dubbing the stimulus package as the "the biggest spending spree in our nation's history," the ad claims that the next generation will be forced to pay for new health care spending.

Children are seen in the background of the video with a voice-over stating, " they’ve loaned Barack Obama their future, without even knowing it. Trillions for rushed government bailouts and takeovers, banks, the auto industry.”

In addition to the ad launch, RNC Chairman Michael Steele strongly criticized the president's health care plan at the National Press Club this morning today, calling Mr. Obama's plan "socialism."

"Obama-Pelosi want to start building a colossal, closed health care system where Washington decides. Republicans want and support an open health care system where patients and doctors make the decisions," Steele said.

The video is accompanied by a RNC Web site, the Barack Obama Experiment website, aimed at raising opposition to Mr. Obama's health care reform. On the Web site, Steele describes the president's plan as proposing "more debt, more risk, and more experimentation."

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