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Last Saturday I attended a Health Care rally in Santa Ana, organized by the local chapter of Bernie’s inspired organization, Our Revolution. It was part of nationwide demonstrations to stop the repeal of Obamacare and to affirm the need to guarantee health care to all as a right.
While we were listening to the speakers, regular folks giving testimony of their personal experiences with ACA, a stocky person looking like one of the characters of the “Men in Black” movie, wearing dark glasses, was walking towards the crowd. He approached the organizers. His presence was announced as Congressman Lou Correa, and he was given the megaphone.
As he started to speak, I was wondering how Correa had decided to participate in this event, taking into account the rally’s main message, a Single Payer health care system. Had he finally come around to support an initiative he had opposed when he was in the California Assembly? I was hoping that he did, and I was waiting for him to say so.
The OJB had extensively covered the fight for that single payer bill that was within the reach of being enacted until Correa, and another Dem, voted against and killed it. This video, in a post from those years, describes the influence of the insurance industry and big money on the legislative process and political careers.
If his presence was kind of surreal, like in a fiction movie, also was his speech. He began referring to his roots in the barrio, to how remarkable is for a homie to end up being a member of a prestigious political institution, the United States House of Representatives. He then went on talking about the importance of voting, of not staying at home during elections, giving a stern lecture about not doing enough to elect Hillary. I don’t recall a word about Health Care.
I was not the only one thinking what the heck he was talking about. A young person standing next to me felt insulted, considering that Hillary had won in California anyway. When I mentioned Correa’s history opposing the previous single payer bill, this person concluded that Correa had wanted to change the focus of the rally and just blew hot air once he realized he had attended the wrong event.
A new bill for a Single Payer system in California has been presented by State Senator Ricardo Lara. This LA Times article “ Thanks to Trump and to the GOP, a California single-payer healthcare system is now possible” is an interesting analysis of this bill. The debate between Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz on the video below offers a good overview of contrasting opinions on how to improve the health care system.
My hopes that Correa had evolved and joined the movement did not last long. The other speakers, the chants, the cheers for the passing motorists blowing their horns in support, the commitment of the people attending the rally, reinforced that there is indeed an active resistance to Trump’s plan to roll back advances in basic rights such as health care.
The organizers of the rally are holding a meeting today: ” Our Revolution Santa Ana will have our second monthly meeting on Saturday at 7 PM at Alta Baja Market. You can get event details and information using the following link” : https://go.ourrevolution.com/page/event/detail/volunteeractivityormeeting/gplr2g
Second LA Times column : “Fixing healthcare: Which single-payer system would be best for California?
Equally ironic is the fact that this meeting is being held at Alta Baja market as it’s owned by Gustavo Arellanos wife. I’m assuming he has claim to half of it as he is her husband. Gustavo has no love for democrats but he loves to sell gringo bandits hot sauce for 15-45-and 75 dollars respectively. Gringo bandits is made by dexter holland of The offspring he’s a white Huntington Beach republican.
And as far as Lou is concerned he has always been a bandwagon type of guy. So if he is following the pack on the progressive movement then I’m happy about it. We have to keep our eyes on him very closely as he has tendencies to go the route of conservative ideology.
I would sure like to hear what he has to say about the off duty cop pulling a gun on a 13 year old kid.
He would say let the investigation proceed. Don’t rush to judgement. We weren’t there. We can’t know.
Or Cunningham who would also blather on about disrespectful “thug” junior high kids just to froth up the Kring/Trump voters.
I think youre spot on there.
Great article Ricardo.
You know another place Lou recently dropped by quickly and incognito in shades (but not without us noticing him rushing through the crowd) was the initial APD press conference on Lawngate (closed to anyone without “proper” press credentials.) He wouldn’t say anything to me beyond “hi.”
The lawyers for young Christian Dorscht were the only ones to actually come out to the front and have a press conference for the people. We never saw Lou again – did he sneak out a back way, just like at that last Rackauckas “Victims’ Rally” when he promised us he’d get us in”? http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2016/04/orange-countys-other-victims-rights-rally-and-lou-being-lou/
With all due respect and seriousness Vern, why the heck would Congressman Correa say anything to you, other than F.U.?
At every turn you and your co-bloggers have worked against him, calling him names, issuing baseless attacks and undermining on of the few bright spots for liberals in an otherwise dismal election cycle.
You don’t get it, do you?
Me and Lou talk plenty. Especially when he comes by Anna Drive. He knows what we disagree on and what we agree on, and I congratulated him for being our next Congressman for Life. He’s doing good work, as far as I can tell, on defying Trump on immigration.
When he avoids me there’s always a reason specific to the event. As in last week’s Lawngate Presser. He didn’t want anyone to notice him there, at least no “justice warriors.”
(I missed this comment when it was posted. My response is aimed up there, not at Vern.)
Go pound sand up your cloaca, coward. The attacks aren’t “baseless.” You probably “get it” as well as we do; you just embrace it. When Correa backs away from the rest of the bad positions he’s taken — like stuffing the state prisons as full as possible to make the prison guards’ association happy — then I’d be happy to celebrate his accomplishments. Unlike some like Solorio, he’s not an absolutely hopeless cause — he just sometimes acts like it.
I retrieved that comment from the trash file or I wouldnta seen it. Sometimes I enjoy fencing with an anonymous fucktard. They go home whining to whoever their daddy is.
In fact I think I will go get another one out of the trash can and whack it around. I do not know how they end up there!
Think of it this way: if I can punch out dickwads here, I won’t have to waste my time on Dan’s and Matt’s blogs.
Lou has held a healthcare town-hall and an immigration town halls in his district. I would not write him off on these issues. He also will talk to his constituents and not hide out.
“He also will talk to his constituents and not hide out.”
Ha ha. Oh, dear me. A comedy program, is it?
He has not updated his website : For more information concerning work and views related to Health, please contact our office.
https://correa.house.gov/issues/health
Lou held meetings at 2 SA high schools, both focused on immigration but a large number of people from Indivisible- a coalition of groups- kept the heat on health care… he dodged Anaheim questions.
Lou is a glad handing professional pol DINO whose “NO Buffet Left Behind” policies led to a long period of unemployment.
Barnie Bros revolution was also present at a massive, 300 person meeting of Indivisible two weeks ago at the IRWD. MSM and even the OCJ seem to be out of the loop on all this, too bad because many of the town hall meetings -or non meetings- are organized thru coalitions.
Barnie bros and others, Steiner whiners even, are participants at these meetings. They have been seen in the corners playing with action figures, but are still welcomed by the adults.
*The Eddie Munster (Paul Ryan) American Health Care Act.. plan….is ridiculous!
Second LA Times column on Single Payer:
http://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-single-payer-california-choices-20170307-story.html