Arcuri Needs To Figure Out Who He Is

D.C. Democrats are scrambling to figure out how to hold onto their majority in the Senate and House after this year’s midterm elections. Beltway consultants are no doubt giving them a hundred different reasons why their popularity is low. Unfortunately, from Mike Arcuri’s actions, it seems they are all wrong.

Arcuri ran against a staunch Conservative in 2006. He ran against him based on healthcare (Universal), ending the war in Iraq, and standing up against the unbelievable spending by the Bush administration. Suddenly the political mantra is all about being a “Centrist.” All that means is you live in a district that could swing to either side. So the conventional wisdom is that you have to stay in the middle. We say hogwash!

The Democrats aren’t unpopular because of what they’ve done in Washington, but rather what they haven’t done. How could it be any other way? At last count, Obama had nearly 70 unconfirmed appointments compared to just 4 at the same time during Bush’s administration. Healthcare has been a complete mess. The country knew full well that the Democrats were going to push for Universal Healthcare if Obama was elected. You promised it, now deliver. We are the only industrialized country without healthcare for all. Stop allowing the fear mongering politicos to dictate public policy. And when they point to Canada, point to the numbers that show 96% of Canadians are happy with their healthcare and say it’s better than America’s. That includes both Conservatives and Liberals.

This isn’t about Left or Right, though. I hate to break it to the Congressman, but the far right isn’t voting for him even if he resurrects Jesus. It’s that simple. But he is alienating the left and his own Democratic base. He’s also pushing away moderate Republicans that voted for him twice, knowing that he was in favor of Universal Healthcare.

To Arcuri’s credit, he did vote in favor of the public option in the House, but suddenly he has changed course. Of course the Senate version is much different and doesn’t include the public option, but it’s better than nothing. And to those that complain about “reconciliation”, Bush used it regularly and we never heard a peep from you. Actually, Bush never had the majority that the Democrats have now, but he and his war profiteering VP got whatever they wanted passed. That’s how he won re-election despite his low approval ratings. People knew where he stood and knew he would fight for his beliefs. We need just a little Bush in our Congressman.

As the commercials are already displaying, no matter what he does, the opposition is going to attack him. And when they do, ask them what their solution is! Somehow Arcuri is allowing his opponent to take a huge chunk of his own Democratic base in an already majority GOP district. Stop!

You can’t allow your opponent to keep you on the ropes until November. Come out strong and say that this is what you promised the people. Tell Mr. Hanna that although he may be able to afford health insurance with his multi-million dollar bank account, the majority of America can’t. Ask him if he has a solution to the healthcare crisis, or does he plan to just criticize anything you say? Ask him when was the last time he had to decide whether to pay his power bill, buy his kids food, or take his prescriptions to stay healthy – because most people can’t afford to do all three.

Do the right thing and stick to your principles. You’re a Democrat. And if making sure that every American has a right to see a doctor without filing bankruptcy, makes you lose an election, then that’s the 24th district’s loss.