Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) in Independence and
Harrisonville, Missouri - July 2, 2012

"...One of the most conservative chief justices in decades has upheld the law. And now the Republicans are busy spinning distortions and lies about what this legislation is and what it will do..."

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) continued her campaign swing across Missouri with afternoon events at campaigns headquarters in Independence and Harrisonville.

Three Things. Senator Claire McCaskill (D) in Harrisonville, Missouri on July 2, 2012.
The Republicans want to privatize Medicare, privatize Social Security, and end
federal involvement in student loans.

Signing in to the Independence campaign headquarters.

Before the start of the Independence headquarters event there was a media availability outside with Senator McCaskill. The transcript:

[....]

Question: ...Okay, so, no RV, huh?

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): Yeah, well, it's on its way, we had a little air conditioning problem. So, um, we had to get the air conditioner fixed today. It's a little hot to be, um, driving in an RV with no air conditioning, so.

Question: But wasn't that supposed to be your good luck charm, 'cause you took Blunt's?

Senator McCaskill: Yeah, it is. It is. We were in it all weekend. We were, uh, with, this is our second time out with it. We'll be in it the rest of the week, so.

Question: Um, last week, of course, the big news was the, uh, the health care ruling and, um, had a couple days to reflect on that. Uh, your statement before didn't say a whole lot about the law itself. I mean, where are you on this 'cause some of your opponents already saying you're trying to really back off from your support of that and calling it, uh, now hitting you with the idea you voted for a tax increase since the Supreme Court is calling it a tax increase.

Senator McCaskill: One of the most conservative chief justices in decades has upheld the law. And now the Republicans are busy spinning distortions and lies about what this legislation is and what it will do. If Missourians will give it a chance they'll find out that it's gonna be a way, uh, that if you have insurance you'll keep it, if you don't, you'll have a place you can shop with private insurance companies to get affordable, accessible health care. It's not any more complicated than that.

Now, if you can afford insurance and you refuse to buy it and you want all the rest of us to pay your bills for you? Then you're gonna have a slight penalty. And that's what the law has been from day one, that's what it still is, and I hope Missourians give it a chance 'cause they're really gonna be pleasantly surprised...

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) at the Independence headquarters event.

The press availability in Independence.

...Question: You're on board, individual mandate and all?

Senator McCaskill: Yeah, I mean, it is, it is important. We have a mandate now. The mandate is through the emergency room. So if someone decides to buy a new Harley Davidson instead of paying for health care we pay their bills when they show up at the emergency room. That's why our insurance rates keep going up. And the goal here is very simple and very straight forward, affordable, accessible health care for everyone in this country. And to do that we've got to make sure that the freeloaders, the ones who can afford it and just say, let somebody else pay the bill? Um, that's the first time I've seen Republicans so anxious to defend the freeloaders.

Question: Senator, do you think Democrats need to do a better job of selling this plan because even last week in the wake of the ruling the silence or the sort of the non comment comments from Democrats was amazing to us.

Senator McCaskill: I, I'm not sure that there was a non comment comment. I think, um, I think, frankly, we were startled that they would, that they would, uh, lie like they are. Um, they're, it's as if they're trying to convince everyone that the Supreme Court changed what it is into something different than what was passed. Of course the Supreme Court can't do that. The Supreme Court, uh, upheld the notion that if you are going to the emergency room and getting health care then you need to share in that burden of paying for the health insurance that covers that health care. And that's all this is. And it's not a government takeover, it's all private insurance companies, and it's gonna be accessible and affordable. And, for the first time, we're gonna see insurance rates stabilize in this country, because as people remember, they've been going up ten percent a year for a long time to cover all those freeloaders that are showing up at the emergency room.

Question: And we're standing here in Independence [Missouri] . How important is this city to your reelection efforts this year?

Senator McCaskill: Well, every city is important in my reelection efforts. And I think one of the reasons the Republicans are lying about the health care bill and distorting what the facts are, is they're trying to distract people from what their plan is. And their plan is very clear, and all three of my opponents have said, we're down. And that is to privatize Medicare, privatize Social Security, and do away with the federal government's involvement in student loans. And those are three big non starters with Missourians, it doesn't matter what city they live in.

Question: You're in fighting form, Senator.

Senator McCaskill: Yeah, well, it, it's a fight. But, I, I'm used to this. I'm used to people distorting my record and lying about my record and we now have, uh, over seven million dollars in anonymous money, uh, that is flooding the TV, uh, airwaves with, uh, lies about my record. Um, I think if people knew who was paying for these ads they'd be pretty proud of me. They'd say, you know, she's made the right enemies in Washington. Um, she's looking after us because the big guys, uh, want to take her out. And I've got to get that message, uh, not only here in Independence, but I gotta spread it to every small town, doesn't matter if it's red territory, blue territory, or somewhere I'm gonna be working.

[....]

Question: ...Speaking of money, um, second quarter, uh, just wrapped up. How are you doing?

Senator McCaskill: Uh, remarkably well, remarkably well. I'm, I would get in big trouble if I told you how well we did. But, um, and we still get mail that is dated, the check's dated before, uh, the end of the quarter. There should, there could be some checks in tomorrow's mail so the number's not final yet, But, um, you know, am I gonna have the most money? Gosh no. I can't compete with the Koch brothers and these anonymous billionaires that want to be masters of the universe and make sure the tax code keeps them fat and happy. Um, on the other hand will we have enough to get our message out? Uh, yeah, I think we will, because I think there's a lot of people that are sending in small amounts of money that get what's at stake here. It's, it's the control of the United States Senate.

Question: Speaking of message, um, one of your opponents said that, you know, based on something you said over the weekend, I think it was in Columbia when you launched your tour, uh, the idea that you were criticizing Missourians for not understanding what was in the health care. I mean, do you feel that Missourians, when they voted for it two years ago, against it two years ago, did not understand what they were voting for?

Senator McCaskill: No, I, I wasn't criticizing Missourians. I, I was saying that the Republicans are lying about what's in the bill. I was criticizing them, not Missourians. Um, I understand that Missourians don't like to be told that they have to do anything by the government. Uh, we don't like the government, it's kind of in our DNA in Missouri. So I get why the mandate on its surface is unpopular. But if you think about the fact that we do mandate health care now, unless we want to become a country where you show up at the emergency room dying and we say, I'm sorry, we're gonna let you die if you don't have insurance - we have mandated health care. The question is, how can we pay for that in a way that's fair to everyone? It shouldn't just be a burden on those people who are buying health insurance and paying the costs of that health care. It should be a burden that is shared by everyone, especially when some people are gonna be in a position that they can afford it now and they just choose not to and let somebody else pay for it. That's not the way we should do this.

Question: Do you think this will fade by November and other issues will become more important, or do you think that this is gonna continue on all the way through.

Senator McCaskill: Well, I think jobs are pretty important. I think continuing to make progress on the jobs front is pretty important, our overall economic health is very important. But I tell you what I think will end up being most important in this race. Do you want someone who is more interested in pleasing the tea party and shutting down Medicare as we know it, privatizing Social Security, and getting rid of student loans in this country except for the wealthy? Um, or, somebody who's proud, uh, to be, uh, a middle of the roader, somebody who welcomes compromise. I mean, just in the last two months, two of the leading candidates for Vice President have asked me to work with them on legislation in Washington. And those aren't candidates for Vice President on the Democratic side. That would be Marco Rubio, who I'm working with on a bill to make sure that the UN is not in control of regulation of the Internet and a bill with, uh, Rob Portman to make sure that we have tariffs in a position that are fair to our manufacturers. Uh, I don't think that those Republicans are coming to work with me because I'm some kind of left wing whacko and unreasonable person. They're coming to work with me 'cause they know I'm someone that will work across the aisle.

So, it's gonna be a pretty stark contrast in this election and I think that's what it's gonna be about for Missouri.

Speaking inside the very crowded Independence headquarters.

Senator McCaskill took time to greet everyone in attendance after she spoke in Independence.

Cass County Prosecutor and 4th Congressional District candidate Teresa Hensley (D) at the Harrisonville headquarters.

With a Democratic Party mascot outside the Harrisonville headquarters.

In Harrisonville.

Previously: Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) in Sedalia - July 1, 2012 (July 1, 2012)

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laire-mccaskill-d-in-independence-and-harrisonville-missouri-july-2-2012

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Open thread for night owls: Manufacturing numbers
take a plunge and look grim for the near future

At Reuters, Ryan McCarthy writes:

It?s a holiday week, which means that you should be doing relatively little. Unfortunately, the world economy seems to be doing exactly the same.

In the US, today?s data from the [Institute for Supply Management] showed ?contraction in the manufacturing sector for the first time since July 2009.? [...] There were two particularly troubling data points. No one seemed very interested in buying things ?new orders fell at the fastest pace in a decade; and people paid less for those things?prices paid fell at the fastest rate since just after 9/11. This is, as one analyst put it to the [Wall Street Journal], a bad omen: ?It is only a matter of time before the service sector mirrors the real goods slowdown and overall employment gains move from sluggish to worse.?

In its own manufacturing index released today, Markit Economics suggested the US manufacturing industry is slowing, but not quite in contraction. But like the ISM report, Markit?s data also showed that new orders fell. And the company?s own economist acknowledged that "the ISM suggests something drastic happened in June."

Not just in America. Seventeen of the world's largest 24 economies show manufacturing PMIs?purchasing managers index?in contraction.

All this adds more shadow to the monthly jobs report coming out Friday. If it's a weak one, and so far almost all data points in that direction, it will be the fourth such report in a row.

---

Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2003:

We are often told that the dKos community is some sort of alternate universe, often at odds with the American people and their love affair with George Bush.
Well, every once in a while, things don't look so bleak:

For the first time since the beginning of the war in Iraq, a solid majority of Americans believe the Bush administration either "stretched the truth" about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction or told outright lies, according to a new opinion survey.

The poll by the University of Maryland found that 52 percent of respondents said they believed President George W. Bush and his aides were "stretching the truth, but not making false statements" about Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's chemical, biological and nuclear programs.

Another 10 percent said US officials were presenting Congress, the American public and the international community "evidence they knew was false," indicated the survey which was made public Tuesday.

The corollary is particularly telling: only 32 percent of Americans believe the US government was "fully truthful" in its rationales for war.

---

Tweet of the Day:

Hey, deniers: After record heat and savage storms, still don't believe in climate change? Really? http://t.co/...
? @Eugene_Robinson via Twitter for iPad

---

Tune in Monday to Friday from 9-11 AM ET for Daily Kos Radio, hosted by David Waldman a/k/a KagroX. You can listen here.

You can hear today's podcast here.

---

High Impact Posts. Top Comments. Overnight News Digest.

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-owls-Manufacturing-numbers-take-a-plunge-and-look-grim-for-the-near-futur

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Open thread for night owls: Manufacturing numbers
take a plunge and look grim for the near futur

At Reuters, Ryan McCarthy writes:

It?s a holiday week, which means that you should be doing relatively little. Unfortunately, the world economy seems to be doing exactly the same.

In the US, today?s data from the [Institute for Supply Management] showed ?contraction in the manufacturing sector for the first time since July 2009.? [...] There were two particularly troubling data points. No one seemed very interested in buying things ?new orders fell at the fastest pace in a decade; and people paid less for those things?prices paid fell at the fastest rate since just after 9/11. This is, as one analyst put it to the [Wall Street Journal], a bad omen: ?It is only a matter of time before the service sector mirrors the real goods slowdown and overall employment gains move from sluggish to worse.?

In its own manufacturing index released today, Markit Economics suggested the US manufacturing industry is slowing, but not quite in contraction. But like the ISM report, Markit?s data also showed that new orders fell. And the company?s own economist acknowledged that "the ISM suggests something drastic happened in June."

Not just in America. Seventeen of the world's largest 24 economies show manufacturing PMIs?purchasing managers index?in contraction.

All this adds more shadow to the monthly jobs report coming out Friday. If it's a weak one, and so far almost all data points in that direction, it will be the fourth such report in a row.

---

Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2003:

We are often told that the dKos community is some sort of alternate universe, often at odds with the American people and their love affair with George Bush.
Well, every once in a while, things don't look so bleak:

For the first time since the beginning of the war in Iraq, a solid majority of Americans believe the Bush administration either "stretched the truth" about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction or told outright lies, according to a new opinion survey.

The poll by the University of Maryland found that 52 percent of respondents said they believed President George W. Bush and his aides were "stretching the truth, but not making false statements" about Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's chemical, biological and nuclear programs.

Another 10 percent said US officials were presenting Congress, the American public and the international community "evidence they knew was false," indicated the survey which was made public Tuesday.

The corollary is particularly telling: only 32 percent of Americans believe the US government was "fully truthful" in its rationales for war.

---

Tweet of the Day:

Hey, deniers: After record heat and savage storms, still don't believe in climate change? Really? http://t.co/...
? @Eugene_Robinson via Twitter for iPad

---

Tune in Monday to Friday from 9-11 AM ET for Daily Kos Radio, hosted by David Waldman a/k/a KagroX. You can listen here.

You can hear today's podcast here.

---

High Impact Posts. Top Comments.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/9yFgfAsqwtk/-Open-thread-for-night
-owls-Manufacturing-numbers-take-a-plunge-and-look-grim-for-the-near-futur

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Open Thread

enlargeCredit: Blue Gal

Mrs. Clarence Thomas and her latest drunk-dial, based on the original phone transcript here. More on her lobbying activities against ACA here. Open thread below...

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http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal-aka-fran/open-thread-343

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World of Hurt

Why does the conservative rage at John Roberts run so deep? And why isn't it going away any time soon? TPM Reader JB thinks he has the answers ... I think I understand the virulence of the reaction to Justice Roberts opinion on NFIB v. Sebelius, and[...]

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Late Night: Blogger Ethics! Gatekeeping!

How will we know who?s really writing the stories with all those anonymous people on the Internet commenting under names like DoTheDougie36?[...]

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The Great Investor Purchase of Foreclosed
Properties

So the "stability" in the housing market comes from a new class of investor landlords buying up masses of properties on the cheap - one example in the piece shows a foreclosed borrower willing to pay $300,000 for a house than an investor took for[...]

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Allen West: Every American Should Be Mandated to
Buy a Glock 9mm Pistol

Click here to view this media

Rep. Allen West (R-FL) says that if the government is going to mandate that people purchase health care coverage then they should also require that everyone buy a Glock 9mm handgun.

During a campaign rally in Florida on Sunday, West told supporters that it was "unconscionable" that the Supreme Court upheld President Barack Obama's health insurance mandate as a tax.

"What will be next?" the congressman wondered. "If you don't buy a certain type of green card, they will tax you. If you don't buy a certain type of food, they will tax you."

"Well, I got a great idea," West continued. "I believe for personal security, every American should have to go out and buy a Glock 9mm. And if you don't do it, we'll tax you. Now, I wonder how the liberals will feel about that one."

The tea party darling went on to blast both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate for voting 64-35 to pass a farm bill last week without more drastic cuts to the food stamp program.

"This is not about party, this is about principle," he explained. "This is about understanding what limited government really is and what fiscal responsibility is."

West also ripped Obama's tax proposals, claiming the "president has a sign up that says America is not open for business."

"Obviously he does not understand that small business owners operate from a personal income tax rate," he insisted. "So when you want to raise those personal income tax rates, the top brackets, from 33 percent up to 37 percent, from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, you're talking about affecting the very people that are the economic engine of this country."

"Why? It's very simple. He does not want you to have the self esteem of getting up and earning and having that title of American. He would rather you be his slave."

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Word of Hurt

Why does the conservative rage at John Roberts run so deep? And why isn't it going away any time soon? TPM Reader JB thinks he has the answers ... I think I understand the virulence of the reaction to Justice Roberts opinion on NFIB v. Sebelius, and[...]

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Remember This Little Guy

Do you remember this guy? Back in 2009, 13 year Jonathan Krohn was the toast of CPAC, the annual conservative political confab in DC. He wrote a book a book called 'Defining Conservatism' and talked the conservative talk pretty well for a 13 year old. [...]

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ittle_guy.php

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