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9/3/2010
Kagen ad insincere - smarmy?
So Rep. Steve Kagen is out with his first TV ad of the season – I saw it once during the Packer game last night - was it run any more than that? A friend said smarmy. Yes, it was smarmy (buttery, unpleasantly and excessively suave, falsely earnest, smug or ingratiating in manner or speech).
You know I’m not a fan of Kagen’s politics and policies and I’m not a fan of Kagen’s personality. Discount my words how you might, but you Kagen fans, be honest. What do you see in this drivel?
Kagen leads off with his same old meme of being a hero because he “refuses” health care coverage for himself until every citizen “gets health care.” A gimmick. Could be an expensive gimmick for Kagen, but it’s a gimmick nevertheless. Just as is donating his salary hike to charity. Geeesz. (After his in-district sessions on Obamacare, I dare him to use the ol' "He listens" schtick.)
And then he takes off on Wall Street and the “big banks.” He hates those big banks. Well, and I repeat, evil, evil Wall Street. I think it’s more than just a smug acknowledgement of the polls – this guy is actually bitter about it all. And it shows.
Dr. Kagen doesn’t blink his eyes once. He’s stiff. (How many takes did it take to wrap this one up?) What he is – is worried, really worried. Maybe even scared to death over the prospect of having to fly home with his head hung low. (It's no wonder - Cook's Political Report yesterday moved the 8th district to a toss-up...) Can you see an ounce of sincerity flow through this ad?
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
I have looked on you-tube for the ad and it is not there.
One question Jo. How do you feel about Steve Kagen? Just kidding.
David (Fri Sep 03 09:06:26 2010)
Kagen ad on YouTube
Jo (Fri sep 03 09:13:15 2010)
"Refusing" health care!? Doctors are self-insured, and commonly will treat each other for little to nothing anyway (I know a dr. who NEVER saw a bill from her OB, and OB is a high-risk high-cost(i.e. high malpractice insurance) specialty! What a liar!
And how to we know he "gave his pay rise to charity"? Even if he did, he can count it as an income tax deduction! This is NOT the same as refusing the pay rise outright!
emily matthews (Fri Sep 03 11:29:25 2010)
Jo, I think you should do a little self examination. To call Kagen's ad Smarmy really highlights your partisanship.
I might not vote for him based on his vote on the bank bailout though. As much as I dislike the big banks, without the bailout we would be in worse trouble.
Emily, why do you doubt him as far as the donation to charity? Partisanship again?
Dean Weichmann (Fri Sep 03 13:33:43 2010)
It's the Steve & Russ show, passed bills they never read Steve refused Medicare patients while in private practice, but he wants coverage for everyone. Steve at what cost will you be satisfied, the loss of the finest healthcare ever created, numerous faults and all. Russ & Steve never reached out to the other side, why should we believe they will be there for us. I've gone to their "listening sessions", the definition of oxymoron, you'd think anyone that believes these fellows starts to fit the other side of that definition, not the part you breathe.
Being a part of the "lending world" I'm also not here to tell the tale that banks don't control more than they should in our financial lives, they do. But to my way of thinking, truly effective enforcement would go much further than the dumbing down of consumers and the piling on of yet another layer of governmental "consumer protection." The last layer never enforced the rules, take a deep breath of the first part of that word, and don't become the latter half.
Richard Parins (Fri Sep 03 16:31:37 2010)
Steve voted against the bailout, voted for health care reform, introduced legislation that would force pricing disclosure in health care. He doesn't take the congressional health care plan and donates his salary to charity. And this is bad? My kids will be able to stay on my health plan when they graduate if their jobs don't provide it and this is bad? Come on Jo. If the incumbent was a Republican and doing all these things you'd be fawning all over how he/she walks the walk and stand up for principles. The fact is that you will never acknowledge any accomplishments or positive characteristics of Steve Kagen because he is a Democrat and you don't like him period.
dave allen (Fri Sep 03 18:08:38 2010)
Dave, I disagree with many of Dr. Kagen's policy positions, which means I disagree with many of your policy positions. As I said in my piece, I don't appreciate the continued meme about giving up health insurance. It's a gimmick, as is the business about giving his salary increases to charity. (He can afford it.) It's very unwise of him (and he should know better) to not, at th least, carry catastrophic coverage. He does take advantage of the wide range of health care services offered via the [House] Office of Attending Physician.
I don't appreciate the good doctor playing to the polls by bad-mouthing Wall Street and the "big banks" in one big sweep. Again, a campaign gimmick - and I'm insulted by any candidate who communicates to constituents and potential supporters that way.
Jo (Sat Sep 04 16:49:49 2010)
DIANE SAWYER: But, as this debate over health care continues to rage on month after month after month- by the way, the powerful Senate Finance Committee will have its health care reform bill hammered out as early as Friday. And the rest of Congress will begin to debate it- The question is continually raised, in this land of equal opportunity, should all Americans have, do all Americans deserve the same access to health care that members of Congress have? How good is that? Well, our chief medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, takes us behind some closed capitol doors.
ABC GRAPHIC: Special Health Care for Lawmakers? Unknown Office on Capitol Hill
REP. STEVE KAGEN (D-Wisconsin): Health care costs in this country, are impossible for everyone.
TIM JOHNSON: When Wisconsin Congressman Steve Kagan, an advocate for health care reform, needed knee surgery last winter, he paid for it out of his own pocket. That's because Kagan, a medical doctor, turned down the health insurance options offered to members of Congress.
CAMPAIGN AD: And refused coverage for himself.
KAGEN: I said, I tell you what. I respectfully decline. Until you can make that same offer to everyone that I have the honor of representing, I just don't think it's fair.
JOHNSON: But, while his surgery personally cost him thousands of dollars, Kagen says he paid nothing for the extensive rehab he needed. That was provided by the U.S. government. In fact, Kagen and his hundreds fellow members of Congress receive some of the best health care in the country, without even using insurance. And all right in the U.S. Capitol, at a little known and rarely discussed clinic called the Office of Attending Physician.
KAGEN: They have a small pharmacy. They have physicians and nurses that will see you on the spot, at the beck and call. And they have physical therapy available, which I took advantage of when I had my knee surgery.
JOHNSON: And I assume the members of Congress pays for this somewhat?
KAGEN: It's one of the, quote, benefits of being a member of Congress.
JOHNSON: How much of a benefit? For a flat $503 yearly fee, members of Congress have access to almost all of the care they could ever need, right behind this door. From exams and EKGs to X-rays and minor surgeries All provided by Navy doctors and nurses. Last year, about half of Congress paid the fee. And sources say, if a particular specialist is needed, one will be brought to the Capitol. All of this, for no additional charge.
OBTW..He to told Karl Rove he "Kicked his ass" and Called Laura Bush, "Barbara."Steve is so full of baloney.
Dale McNamee (Sun Sep 05 09:58:37 2010)
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