Dem Congressman Calls Blue Dogs "Braindead"

Apparently this is what some people think about Gene Taylor.

A key House liberal suggested Thursday that party moderates who've pushed for changes in health care legislation are "brain dead" and out for insurance company campaign donations.

Moderate Blue Dog Democrats "just want to cause trouble," said Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who heads the health subcommittee on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

"They're for the most part, I hate to say, brain dead, but they're just looking to raise money from insurance companies and promote a right-wing agenda that is not really very useful in this whole process," Stark told reporters on a conference call.

Right, Gene Taylor loves insurance companies. I'm sure people believe that. It could be, just maybe, that most Americans oppose this health care plan. Most Republicans, yes. Most independents, yes. Many Democrats, including some like Gene Taylor. For liberals, you must be either "brain dead" or profiting from insurance companies if you oppose them. That shows how out of the mainstream they are.

Gene Taylor Rejects ObamaCare; Suggests He Will Not Again Vote for Nancy Pelosi

Gene Taylor faced off close to a thousand people at his town hall last night, with more unable to get in the door.

A line the length of a football field had formed by 4:30 p.m. Monday as people waited for Pelican Landing to open for Rep. Gene Taylor’s 6 p.m. town hall meeting, deputies said.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office dispatched more than two dozen units to handle crowd and traffic control as hundreds of people either waited outside or in the lobby for a chance to get in.

Others left after being turned away.

Capacity for the building is 1,000, and a sheriff’s reserve officer estimated that between 1,500 to 2,000 came.

Even though deputies took signs from people who entered and kept them at the door, “everything was peaceful,” said Cliff Miller, chief of the Sheriff’s Reserves.

Miller said there was no room for signs and the seating was too close. It was a safety issue.

“There were no arguments,” he said.

Civic leader Harry McDonald left early because it got too hot inside the packed building.

He described the atmosphere inside as tense at times.

“Nothing he says comforts you,” McDonald said. “Most of the people are over 65 and are in turmoil.”

--Sun Herald "Hundreds turned away from meeting"

Taylor is opposed to ObamaCare.

“The health care bill is projected that even with the changes that are coming out, if they are able to get them out of it, it is costing us maybe $900 billion tax dollars more, $900 billion of new debt,” Taylor said. “We just don’t have that kind of money.”

“I thought it went about as good as it could, given the passion of the (health care) issue,” Taylor said.

--Sun Herald "Overflow Crowd Grills Taylor"

And he believes health care reform will not pass this September.

"If I'm going to be there, I like a big crowd, and I thought they asked some great questions and I thought it went really well," Taylor said about the meeting.

Taylor opposes the President's plan, including the "public option" idea for insurance. Instead, Taylor wants to see more competition among the insurance companies.

He said several times Monday night he will stick to his position and vote against health care reform in September.

Taylor assured him and others that no change in the plan will convince him to vote in favor of it.

Taylor said he understands the frustration people are feeling about the possible reform.

"When it comes to the healthcare of a loved one, there is no budget," Taylor said. "It's that intense of an issue, say emotional issue."

Although plenty of people spoke out at the meeting, Taylor said he believes it went well.

"I thought it was fine," he said. "There was some intensity on people who were for it, people who were against it. People had the opportunity to ask good questions. I'm glad they came out, we had good discussions."

Taylor said in the meeting he does not believe health care reform will be voted into law this September. President Obama's deadline for reform is September 15th.

--WLOX "Taylor's town hall meeting draws big crowd in Moss Point"

(Photo from Sun Herald, for this and more: OVERFLOW CROWD GRILLS TAYLOR)

The town hall has gotten a lot of responses. Andy Taggart posted the difference in two Mississippi Blue Dogs.

Last night, Democratic Congressman Gene Taylor rolled up his sleeves during a tough, public and open town hall meeting in Moss Point and discussed issues with a contentious crowd that at least one reporter estimated at 1,000 folks. Upon announcing his opposition to ObamaCare, Taylor got a standing ovation from the crowd.

Tonight, on the other hand, Democratic Congressman Travis Childers is having a "tele-town hall meeting", which, I guess, means, you can call in if you want to, but your congressman will be in an office with a speaker phone.

Really, Childers? A phone call? If this is how government does democracy, wait until they do your health care. Really?

But Y'all Politics has the real scoop in sharing that Gene Taylor indiciated he would not again vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House.

Then he opened the question and answer period by saying:" Under no circumstances will I vote for any Health Care Bill". That brought down the house with applause, cheers and whistles.

His comments about being adamantly opposed to National Health Care was quite a change from his town hall meeting three weeks ago in Waynesboro or on previous appearance on WLOX TV News shows when he said he would not vote for Nationalized Health Care unless he could be assured it would not increase the deficit!

He also said he would not support Cap and Trade legislation calling it a Ponzi Scheme!

It was obvious that the anti-Obama people outnumbered the Democrats 5 or 6 to 1 and Taylor, when confronted with remarks from the local head of the NAACP, Curley Clark who wanted to know what Taylor would do for
The "hard-working Mississippians who don't have health care, Taylor responded: " We have only agreed to guarantee health care for our Veterans and that's all."

Taylor was questioned about his vote to install Pelosi as Speaker of the House and said she had promised him she would support his efforts on catastrophic insurance coverage, which he said she did not. He strongly suggested he would not vote for her again as Speaker of the House.

Sun Herald Video: Overflow crowd at Taylor meeting

Sun Herald Video: Gene Taylor town hall meeting (Go to the 1:13 mark to see Taylor say he will not vote for the health care plan to cheers and get a standing ovation)

WLOX: Congressman Gene Taylor is in Moss Point to talk about healthcare

Mean Gene Ripping Obama Machine

Congressman Gene Taylor (Maverick-Coast) continues his appraisal of the President Obama's fiscal policies. Unlike other so-called Blue Dog Democrats in Mississippi, Taylor always puts his mouth where our money ought not be.

He says of President Obama's budget:

“I don’t like it…change is not running up even bigger deficits that George Bush did.”

“That’s what George Bush did very well. Apparently that’s what President Obama is doing.”

As a member of the Armed Service Committee, Taylor noted the budget only gives the Defense Department a “small increase,” which he said would barely cover the cost of living adjustments for the military.

Taylor pointed to President Obama’s inaugural address that called for Americans to make sacrifices, saying “It’s certainly not reflected in his budget.”

Thanks to Mississippi Congress Blog for this response.

Gene Taylor Responds: Obama plan "is nuts"

Thanks to Y'allPolitics for this one.

Mississippi's maverick Democrat on the Coast, Congressman Gene Taylor, has called out President Obama.

"President Obama ran on change. This isn't change...this is just more of the same, in my opinion...In one vote, the nation's going to borrow another 800 billion. This is nuts" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," CNN, 1/28).