Saturday, January 2, 2010
Cohen Gives Congress an 'A' for 2009
Posted by Jackson Baker on Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 2:07 AM
- JB
- Cohen at prayer breakfast
Among the achievements listed by Cohen were: the Lily Ledbetter Law, mandating equal pay for women in the marketplace; hate crimes legislation, and credit card reform. Cohen said that Congress, acting with the White House, had “kept the economy from going off the precipice” with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Though he acknowledged some dissatisfaction with the Senate’s version of pending health-care legislation, the congressman devoted some time to toting up what he regarded as the better points of the likely bill, including the elimination of prior-illness restrictions on health-insurance coverage, provision for more community health centers, and extending coverage for dependents to the 27th birthday.
Cohen lashed out at congressional Republicans for their virtually unanimous opposition to the health-care bill. “The Republicans want to beat Barack Obama, They want to do anything they can to beat this president,” he said. “They want the White House, and we are not going to give it to them.”
While Cohen offered praise in general for the first year of the Obama administration, he said he had reservations about the degree of support he should give the president’s policy in Afghanistan and asked for guidance from his constituents so he could “make the right decision” for his district. “It’s difficult to put money into war when you’ve got problems at home,” he said.
Among his personal initiatives during the last year, Cohen listed his sponsorship of a bill authorizing a study of infant mortality and his proposal for a Fair Employment for All bill which would prohibit using credit scores to deny employment. He promised that appointments of a new VA administrator locally and a new U.S. attorney were imminent.
Cohen also said coyly that he had a “suspicion” that President and Mrs. Obama would be visiting the district in the near future. That, of course, would be a boon for his reelection bid, though he did not say so. When asked after his speech, the congressman was also somewhat reticent about making forecasts concerning his forthcoming primary contest with former Mayor Willie Herenton.
As usual, the Cohen wit got a workout. At one point, commenting on the fact that Senate was “working” on its version of a labor bill, the congressman cracked, “I know that sounds like an oxymoron,”
And, early in his remarks, commenting on Thursday’s victory by the University of Tennessee basketballers over the University of Memphis, Cohen said, “UT may have beat the University of Memphis at Memphis, but when they play the University of Memphis at Lexington, they’ll get beat.” That, of course, was a reference to the mass migration of Tiger recruits to the University of Kentucky along with former UM coach John Calipari.
On a more serious note, Cohen paid tribute to “my friend” John Wilder, the venerable former Tennessee lieutenant governor who died at Baptist Memorial Hospital East early Friday after suffering a stroke. In addition to his tribute to Wilder as such (see story), Cohen said that Wilder’s death, at 88, had in one respect been a blessing.
“After his stroke, he would not have been John Wilder,” Cohen said. “He would not have been able to walk. He would not have been able to talk. He wouldn’t have been able to ride his bike. That wouldn’t have been John Wilder.”
Comments (7)
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Hmm...a man had a stroke, and so he would no longer be the person he was, and so he's better off dead. I can't think of a better sentiment to encapsulate the Democrat approach to health care.
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Your comment is typical of today’s conservative faction. You have taken a statement by Mr. Cohen, honoring a college and a dear friend that truly impacted his career and twisted this comment to portray Mr. Cohen as insensitive, without understand the meaning of the man he was honoring.
Governor Wilder’s (as those in is inner sanctum referred to him) stoke was so sever, that he was in a vegetative state upon arriving at the hospital, and his death was eminent. Out of respect it wasn’t reported as such. One would also have to understand that Governor Wilder was more active at age 88 than most men in their 20’s. If you would read the other articles written about Mr. Wilder, he himself was eagerly awaiting his own death 2 years before his stroke occurred. These are things that Mr. Cohen knew and understood about the man, and although the news didn’t quote him verbatim, you uncaringly criticize Mr. Cohen.
Governor Wilder’s Death was a blessing to Governor Wilder, was how I understood the meaning of Mr. Cohen’s statement, but you would have to had known Mr. Wilder as Mr. Cohen did to understand that, or perhaps you should have read or researched the issue (there are two more articles about Mr. Wilder in this issue for which you could start) a little more before defaming one man for honoring another, in the typical hypocritical way that you did. And if your reply shall be that you couldn't you have known the meaning from Mr. Cohens statement, then I would think that an objective person would have just kept the comment to themselves.
Mr. Cohen needs to look over his shoulder during the next election cycle. Tell all the unemployed people in his district that 2009 was a good year for them. Make no mistake...Cohen is like any other greedy hands-out, spend-your-tax-dollar politician. Let's get these nefarious semi-crooks out of office during the next election. Maybe the congressman would like a socialist government. Worked well for Germany didn't it?
An "A"????
I like Steve, but to say congress did a great job is a bit of a fantasy.
Cohen stopped just short of saying what he should have.
Obama has some great plans for our great-great-grandchildren's money.
The only objection the republicans seem to have is spending all of it on us. They are obviously not forward thinking progressives like Cohen is.
Democrats, Republicans, and politicians in general are all to blame for the messes we are in. You morons who always blame the 'other side' are ignorant. Your poo stinks too.
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