Friday, June 10, 2011
Arkansas Politics Demonstrators get a promise from Tim Griffin
Posted by Max Brantley on Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 6:39 AM
Neil Sealy with Arkansas Community Organizations sent the photo along with a note about a dozen Arkansans who drove to Bryant to greet U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin at a campaign fund-raiser at Luigi's.
The demonstrators want to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Griffin's vote for the House budget plan was a vote to dismantle the country's medical safety net for older and poorer Americans. Sealy said the demonstrators were unhappy that Griffin is not holding public meetings to hear their concerns. They also wanted him to oppose new Republican legislation by Rep. Pete Sessions to privatize Social Security. Griffin said in 2010 that he didn't support privatized Social Security, but since he's voted to privatize Medicare, demonstrators were interested in getting a new commitment on Social Security from the Republican congressman from Little Rock.
Sealy said David Arellanes, a retired Southwestern Bell employee living in Bryant, and Albany Bailey, president of the Steelworkers local for the Bryant area, went inside the fund-raiser to deliver a letter to Griffin that called on him to meet with all of the people in his district and to oppose efforts to weaken Social Security by raising the retirement age and creating private accounts. Said Sealy: "The two met with Mr. Griffin and a nervous staff member. They reported that Mr. Griffin said that he opposed the SAFE Act sponsored by Representative Sessions."
Write that down.
PS — Can't get enough beating down on Tim Grifin? You might want to tune into Pat Lynch's latest podcast on that very subject.
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Comments (9)
Showing 1-9 of 9
You give the Republicans control of the Senate and White House and watch that "no one over 55 loses any benefits" disappear. Ryan doesn'r like ANYONE getting SS , Medicare, or Medicaid. Just how much did the Founding Fathers actually get paid and what were their benefirs since we want to return to their image of America?
Remember that most members of both houses are millionaires so they aren't worrying about where their next meal comes from. Now take the money out of the elections by government-sponsored campaigns, take away all of their benefits, and maybe, just maybe, someone in Washington might just give a damn.
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I'm betting that members of Griffin's staff are already hard at work figuring out a way to 'cage' the votes of those disloyal Commies.
You notice that when Republicans speak out it is called "free speech" and when Democrats speak out t, they are "communists, socialists, etc". At least they don't call us Reaganites which is a curse lower than whale s--t.
Its my opinion that Timmy G has held Town hall meetings in only the friendlist of areas to Republicans.
I am glad some folks took the hard issues to him.
I did have a healthy email exchange going with either Timmy or someone from his staff earlier this year - just after the 30 Mil cuts. Timmy said he cut funding to 40 inneffective programs from the Department of Education. I asked for an elaboration of what programs those were and why he thought them ineffective. That's where the email exchanges stopped. Still have not heard an answer.
Stump the Congressman: Timmy G - 0; Me - 1
Don't raise the retirement age? It's already been raised to 67... Lower it now! The fact D's are not relentlessly forcing vote after vote - 'til they win to put it back says SO much. And demand D's quit chipping away at the fund with payroll tax holidays/breaks. And move out of the ditch... into Griffin's front yard. It's way past time we take these demonstrations into the rich/oligarchs own turf. They don't care when you stand in a ditch or among other victims. Embarrass them, shame them... that has to happen in their neighborhoods. Establish demands which will work, not half measures...
Do not pretend to be willing to negotiate with Rove's bestest buddy... a gang of pathological liars if ever there was one. Which is saying something in a society based on denial, triangulation, looting it's own, war crimes, patriot acts, deceit.
You really should check to make sure that the people quoted aren't paid hacks, because you know you would if they were Republicans talking to their Democrat congressman.
Griffin, gone in 2012. Now who's Demo central looking at to replace him? We don't need another Marion line-my-pockets Berry.
My response to "ProCarry" post on 06-10-2011 @10:19AM
Even though I know the answer to his question concerning Albany Bailey,
I will let Mr. Bailey speak for himself. I am David Arellanes; living in
Bryant, Arkansas. I have not, will not, and am not being paid for participaiting
in the above described demonstration. I was at this demonstration as a
citizen, enjoying my freedom of speech, and using my free will as a private individule. I have not taken any money or received any other benefits for my participation in this event or any other that I have attended. I want Rep. Griffin to know how the other people within his district that he isn't meeting with stand on these issues, and what we think about his position on Medicare and Social Security. Also, to let Rep. Griffin know we support his original stated position of NOT supporting the privatization of Social Security. I am not and will never be a "paid hack" for anyone or any party. I am involved to make a positive difference within our political and social systems. Period.
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