Notable quotables from the ’emergency House call’

I knew I would have a long pictorial post yesterday so I omitted a lot of the quotes I thought were notable.

In opening the program, Rep. Tom Price of Georgia (who also spoke at the 9-12 rally) called H.R. 3962 “legislative malpractice.”

The program began after Price, serving as master of ceremonies, spoke. Before beginning the Pledge of Allegiance. Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri referred to the Pledge as something which “drives liberals crazy.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota was one of three featured speakers. She had several good lines.

Referring to the gathering she helped organize, she exclaimed, “You came! And you came to your House!”

Being on Capitol Hill: “You stand with us on the hallowed ground of freedom…we are the privileged generation.”

While Republicans are the minority, “your voice of persuasion is unlimited.”

Even Jon Voight called Bachmann “a true American patriot.”

Actor John Ratzenberger called the Democratic leadership “Woodstock Democrats” as opposed to earlier party members like Tip O’Neill and John F. Kennedy, and noted that it was the National Guard who came to help build the Woodstock stage, even as most of the attendees didn’t support the military.

Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey called the crowd “awe-inspiring” and reminded us the first passage of the Hippocratic oath is to “do no harm” – yet the bill does serious harm.

“There is no greater fight than the fight for freedom,” Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona reminded us, “and with your help, freedom will win.”

Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was more direct: “Your voice is critical today…(Pelosicare) is the greatest threat to freedom I’ve seen in my 19 years in D.C.”

Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia: “Your efforts to stop this bill are being heard loud and clear.”

Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra pointed out the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were 39 pages combined, while the Pelosicare bill was over 2,000 pages: 39 pages to grant freedom and 2,000 to take it away.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council: H.R. 3962 is “radical social policy dressed up in a hospital gown…and we all know that a hospital gown doesn’t cover everything.” Perkins blasted the “radical anti-life agenda” of the bill and called it a “bailout for the abortion industry.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee (who also spoke at 9-12) called the bill “bad medicine” and wanted the GOP to be known as the “party of know.”

Texas Rep. Mike Burgess told the crowd they “have to keep being heard this weekend” and categorized this gathering as a “booster shot” after the outcry in August and September.

Congress is “on a collision course with freedom” if they pass this bill, said Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.

Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina was a crowd favorite. He pointed out that H.R. 3400 is the GOP alternate plan. By the way, it’s only 230 pages.

Since he’s running for Governor of his home state, Rep. Zach Wamp of Tennessee is aware of H.R. 3962 and its possible affect on states. He called this “the mother of all unfunded mandates.”

Finally, Rep. Paul Fleming of Louisiana, sponsor of an unsuccessful resolution to remove the exemption Congress will enjoy from any health care fill, told the crowd that he “underestimated the arrogance” of Congressional Democrats when he arrived earlier this year.

I’m saving the best for last. According to the latest whip count (updated at 9:45 this morning) in The Hill, Frank Kratovil is a “firm no.” This jibes with what I was told by those who met with Kratovil after Thursday’s rally, so obviously either Nancy Pelosi didn’t put enough sweetener in the bill to buy his vote (like was done on cap-and-tax) or Kratovil is fearing for his electoral life given the sentiment of the district outside the limited confines of those who contribute to Progressive Delmarva. Maybe those folks can see about a Green Party challenger to Kratovil.

So let me be the first to congratulate and appreciate Frank’s vote. However, he’s certainly not out of the electoral woods by any stretch of the imagination, nor are we assured of victory. Remember, Nancy can sacrifice a goodly number of votes and still pass this over unified GOP opposition.

Finally, a little video. I skipped my usual FNV for the week, but here are three videos I took at the event.

This man was encouraging protestors to have a good old-fashioned sit-in at Nancy Pelosi’s office.

And we were having fun calling out Nancy Pelosi.

Best of all was getting to hear Mark Levin off the radio.

I tell you, it was a fun day. But to be honest I liked the 9-12 rally better because it didn’t seem to be as self-serving politically. Had they limited the speakers to maybe 6 to 8 and the program to an hour, I think it would have been more effective as far as the main goal of engaging recalcitrant Congressmen. Given the extremely long security lines, I’m certain a number of people who stuck around to hear the entire program probably didn’t stay to engage their representative, particularly if they had to return home on a bus.

But as long as we win on this bill, it can serve as a template for further activism in the future – even for those on the other side. Perhaps this is the end of political complacency – at least I hope so.

Update: From USA Today (h/t Michelle Malkin):

“After months of thoroughly reviewing legislative proposals and speaking with constituents and stakeholders, I am not satisfied that this bill before us is a sustainable solution,” said Rep. Frank Kratovil, D-Md. Alert readers will remember that he was the congressman hung in effigy during the height of the August town hall meeting uproar.

Maybe it wasn’t the most appropriate means of expressing opposition, but looks like it worked!