Free Speech is a Right, as Long as Betty McCollum Agrees

When the Obamacare debate was heating up in early March, I started doing research on my rep, Betty McCollum.  I called her office to voice my displeasure with Obamacare, even sent her an email with different topics.  In return, I received a generic email that didn’t even address what I wrote (oh well, at least pampered pro athletes respond to every fan mail they get, ie. Joe Mauer).  I then discovered Betty had a Facebook page; actually three pages.  Betty, Betty for Congress and Betty the Rep. So I became a friend or fan of all 3.

First of all, Betty doesn’t really use the pages; she never posts anything of value on them, and on 2 of them never made a post. The only things that were posted were on her Betty 4 Congress page, and it’s the parades she is attending, as well as her press releases.  There were the occasional post from one of her fans/friends, but they were typical along the lines of “You are doing great” or “please pass Obamacare”.  In reviewing her friends/fans, most weren’t even from her district.  There was never a post that contained a critical thought; till I came along on 21 March 2010.  

I started asking questions, posting articles I found related to Obamacare and how it was bad for the economy and not what was promised, as well as questions on the economy.  Additionally, I would ask when she would hold a townhall or meet with her constituents.  I never received an answer, or response from Betty or her team (now that isn’t surprising; when was the last time she talked to a constituent or held a townhall).  Not even from her fans/friends; though I did receive several comments that did agree with me.  My comments/questions filled up her wall on all 3 pages.

Once I started with my dissension and critical thinking questions, I knew that my FB relationship with Betty would one day end.  I am sorry to say, Betty de-friended me recently a couple weeks ago.  She shut down her Betty page, and de-friended me on her Betty 4 Congress page.  Betty, it hurts; hurts down deep that you de-friended me.  We had a good 3 1/2 month run, but without warning you ended it.  Life goes on and I have found someone else.  I support Teresa Collett.  Now this is a woman that will do our district some good!!!

Because she had three pages, I didn’t know which one she used, so in order to ensure my message was received, I would post it on all 3 pages.  Below are some samples; unfortunately the rest are now in the bit-bucket, but I am still a friend on the Betty the Rep page (for now; I am sure they will figure out who I am once this is posted and delete me there too).  In fact, when I joined, I declared exactly why I joined.

Actually, I am not your fan, but I am a constituent. Way to go on your vote tonight. Can't wait to help elect anybody but a democrat to your seat. Heck, I won't vote for any democrat for that matter.
March 21 at 11:56pm · Comment · Like · Flag

I love this country!!! And I served in the military protecting our freedoms; I think I will exercise my first amendment right to free speech. If you want to sign a repeal the bill petition, you can do so on the Tea Party fan page...http://www.facebook.com/teapartypatriots?ref=ts&v=wall

Will Betty censor me by deleting...

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March 25 at 10:24pm · Comment · Like · Flag

This is good insight into the healthcare bill...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G44NCvNDLfc

April 6 at 10:43am · Comment · Like · Flag

Tax Shock from the new healthcare bill...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/90136182.html?referrer=facebook

April 9 at 10:46am · Comment · Like · Flag

Feel bad for those that are going to lose their healthcare because it is cheaper for companies to pay the fine than the healthcare costs, but it is a decision I understand. This wasn't supposed to happen though, the selling point of the bill was everyone could keep their insurance...guess nobody thought this would hap...
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May 7 at 9:08pm · Comment · Like · Flag

Last week a bill to reform Freddie and Fannie was put to vote. This reform would save us taxpayers over $30 Billion. Betty, you voted against it...Why? Haven't we spent enough? When are we going to start cutting?

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/fnm_luetkemeyer-votes-to-reform-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac-will-save-taxpayers-billions-977155.htmlJune 13 at 8:20pm · Comment · Like · Flag

All this spending, and you couldn't pass a budget? Unbelievable; record debt, and now with no budget, how do you plan?

http://gopleader.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=191653June 22 at 6:41pm · Comment · Like · Flag

I understand it is Betty’s page, and she can regulate who posts, and what is posted; I have no problem with that.  I am not even going to holler about Free Speech.  What I will say is, this is typical Betty McCollum.  She is hiding, and she won’t face her constituents.  Free speech is ok, as long as Betty agrees.

Now if you go to her Betty 4 Congress page, she has blocked fans from making comments, other than on Betty’s posts.  In other words, Fans can’t make a comment.  Was I the reason?  I don’t know; maybe, but it doesn’t really matter.  Al Franken doesn’t let his Fan’s make comments on his Wall either.  Senator Scott Brown shut down comments on his wall last week after he made the decision to support the Financial Regulation Bill; but until he did that, his Fans were making hilarious comments about the RINO.

We hear about the Teaparty every day and how it is filled with Republicans, Independents and disenfranchised Democrats.  I know many Democrats that are now going to vote against Democrat incuments, and Independents that will vote against Democrat incumbents.  I don’t know of any Republicans or Independents who say, “Gee, I like what is going on, I think I will vote Democrat incumbent”.  You see Betty, America is pissed off!!!

In the meantime, Betty will continue to ignore her constituents, and hope they vote her back in.  Meanwhile, there is a significant percentage of unhappy voters that will be making a decision.  Betty, your constituents aren’t ignoring you; blogs are popping up like this one, a Facebook page has been setup, Dump Betty McCollum and Tweets about you abound.  

Betty, I think you forgot who you work for; you don’t work for Nancy Pelosi (though 97% of your votes are inline with her, which makes one wonder).  You work for me, my neighbor, the people across town and all of MNCD4.  

You owe it to your constituents to hold a townhall and answer our questions.  

You owe it to your constituents to debate Teresa Collett.  

You owe it to your constituents to just talk to us!!!

Betty, you can run and hide, but you will have to come out and clear out your office for Teresa.  Feel free to comment Betty, I see the House of Representatives is on my blog everyday!!!

Conscientiously Conservative: Betty McCollum, Where Are You?

Conscientiously Conservative: Betty McCollum, Where Are You?

An awesome post from my friend at Conscientiously Conservative. Betty McCollum can't be found with a searchlight. If you haven't heard Betty speak, save your time. When she is interviewed, she either had the questions ahead of time and it sounds like she is reading from a script, or stumbles all over herself. Either scenario is painfully grating on your intelligence. She hasn't debated in the past, so why would that change when this time she is facing her stiffest challenge to date, from soon to be MNCD4 Rep Teresa Collett.  Teresa is a St. Thomas Law school professor; and I am not biased because I went to graduate school at St. Thomas. Teresa is a great candidate, and SHE can formulate and articulate an argument on the fly.

Betty McCollum, Where Are You?

Betty is avoiding using the "D" word... no, not Democrat. Debate.

Minnesota District 4 voters are still anxiously awaiting a "Yes" answer from Congresswoman Betty McCollum-D, on the question, "Will you agree to debate Teresa Collett?". So far, nothing but silence from the McCollum campaign.

Perhaps because she is a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, i.e."Card Check"? See if you like the idea of losing your right to a secret ballot during union negotiations, from The American Spectator:

Union officials are working in concert with their allies in the Obama Administration to implement an electronic version of "card check" that would jeopardize voter confidentiality and open the way for coercive anti-democratic tactics, according to free market groups.

Under the card check scheme included as part of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) would be required to certify a union without a secret ballot election once labor representatives obtained signatures from 51 percent of a company's workforce. In practice, this means workers would no longer have the opportunity to debate the merits of a particular union and to cast their votes in private. Moreover, union bosses would be in control of the cards and would know who signed for and against representation.

Kind of hard to convince voters about the benefits of being forced to share how you vote -- knowing that if you don't vote the way the union wants you to vote, you're going to pay for that, one way or another. I'm sure it won't be pleasant.

Is she avoiding debate because the question of abortion would most assuredly come up? The debate would certainly be lively on that subject, given that Betty supports Partial Birth Abortion and Not Restricting Interstate Travel for Minors Seeking Abortion vs. Teresa Collett, who is a committed Pro-Life candidate, and the first Minnesota candidate to sign the Defund Abortion Pledge.

Last month, Betty paid a visit to Minneapolis with her "big sis", Princess Pelosi. Betty took great care not to interact with "the small people" as Bill Jungbauer notes on his blog:

As usual, and in predictable Betty McCollum fashion, she was not available to the public, or to address the concerns of us gathered outside. She refuses to debate Teresa Collett or any past opponent running against her and survives as a candidate by wearing the "D" after her name.

What is Betty afraid of? As the 4th Congressional District candidate, Teresa Collett once said, "Come out and play Betty." This is what the people want, to see and hear the candidates so they can have the ability to judge and decide for themselves.

Betty is afraid to debate. Why? Because she is not very good at it. Take 2008. Ed Matthews put her to shame at a League of Women Voters forum. This should have gone well for Betty but it didn't. However "non-partisan" they try to be, they generally come up short in their attempt. So does Betty as a debater.

So it's obvious why Betty does not debate. But in the end it's we the people, the voters, who come up getting short changed with her lack of participation in public debate.

So when will Betty agree to a debate? We're hoping that she's agreeing to it right here! (Rondo Days Parade Photo from Teresa Collett's Facebook Page)




Maybe all Betty needs is a little encouragement from her constituents. Why not contact her today, I'm sure she'd love to hear from all of us! Let her know how much you're looking forward to a good healthy debate between both candidates!

Betty's Washington Office: 202.225.6631
Betty's St Paul Office: 651.224.9191

Minnesotants from District 4 deserve the opportunity to make an honest comparison between the two candidates. Debates allow us to do just that.

Betty Voted to Keep Funding ACORN

This was a shocker; Betty McCollum voted to keep funding ACORN.  This was after several video scandals and voter fraud allegations had already come to light.  So in light of these allegations, Congress took funding to a vote, and YES, Betty voted to keep funding them.  Thankfully the bill was defeated 345-75.  I am sure Betty voted YES by accident because Nancy Pelosi voted to defund.  You know Betty, she is Nancy's YES girl.  (click the link to see all 75)

House votes to cut off funding, but 75 stand by ACORN

By: David Freddoso
Online Opinion Editor
09/17/09 2:30 PM EDT

The House of Representatives just voted overwhelmingly to de-fund ACORN, 345-75. The vote came on a Republican motion to recommit the educational loan bill. As a result, the anti-ACORN provision made it into the House-passed bill.

Below are the names of all 75 congressmen who voted to preserve ACORN's stream of funding.

The biggest surprises on the list: Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., and the two Democrats from West Virginia, Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall.

Notable for not voting: Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., a staunch defender of ACORN.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/House-votes-to-cut-off-ACORN-funding-59647917.html#ixzz0uI57TCOi

Betty bumper lemmings are at it again! Sigh! « Miss La Presents

Stumbled across this blog tonight from Miss La. Haven't seen the bumper stickers yet, nor the yard signs, but when I do, I am sure my blood pressure will elevate. Betty's name irritates me, and her voice makes me cringe.

Betty bumper lemmings are at it again! Sigh! « Miss La Presents

MISS LA grows weary. This is the 6th election cycle that she has to put up with the obnoxious ‘Vote Betty!’ signs. The only thing more obnoxious about it is the guy who has the Betty bumper sticker on his Toyota in the parking garage next to Miss La’s automobile. (See Miss La’s post of April 12, 2010).

NOW, for those of you who don’t know Betty, she is the ultra-left U.S. Congresswoman in Miss La’s Minnesota district. She has already been in office for 5 terms and was elected shortly after Miss La moved to St. Paul.

BETTY’S top donors to her campaign committee are building trade unions, law firms (plaintiff, of course), transportation unions, industrial unions, health professionals (nurse unions and SEIU) and lobbyists.

PRO-ISRAEL groups gave her $4,800, but hopefully these folks are wise to the anti-Israel comments that Betty made in reference to the recent flotilla that broke through a blockade, claiming to transport ‘aid’. Miss La heard that this flotilla was supported by Bill Ayres, among others.

POOR BETTY. She has no mind of her own and is generally a Pelosi Parrot. Case in point: Pelosi was in St. Paul yesterday to attend an event at the historic St. Paul Union Depot. This depot is getting $35 million in stimulus funds and will be refurbished as a central corridor for the controversial light rail transportation project.

MISS LA saw no information regarding this event on Betty McCollum’s website. An article published yesterday in the Pioneer Press did not report the time of the event. Maybe Betty did not want the time known so conservatives would not show up to protest.

NANCY PELOSI would no more take mass transit than flyin’ to the moon. But, for us little fly-over people — well, we can ride our bikes downtown, catch the light rail at the depot to take our burned-out mercury lightbulbs to the haz mat dump.

WAKE MISS LA up November 3rd!

Read more at http://misslapresents.wordpress.com/

Teresa Collett at Manitou Days Parade in White Bear Lake

I was at this parade.  When the Dem's went by, people just sat there.  When Betty McCollum's group went by people didn't move, but I yelled where is Betty; one of her lacky's carrying her banner said, "She is in Washington working for you".  My response, "Doubt that; Tell her to repeal Obamacare".  A few people later, someone shouted something to Betty's group, and they gave the same response, and Betty's team received a bunch of boos.  It was classic!!!  Teresa Collett is the solution for MNCD4!!!

Now there is a Facebook page setup in homage to Betty McCollum

Join the FB group to dump Betty McCollum.  An avalanche starts with a snowflake; the snow has started people.  We need to speak up, spread the word and vote out Betty!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dump-Rep-Betty-McCollum/117086385005801?ref=ts

This Is My “Representative”

This was written by Mitch Berg at Shot in the Dark. Very nice writeup Mitch...

This Is My “Representative”

Written by Mitch Berg

Monday, 19 July 2010 09:44

Do I envy people in places like the Second District, where John Kline will win by forty points over whatever hapless stooge the DFL puts forth this November? Or even the Sixth, where Michele Bachmann will endure a full court press from the national (also local) Democraticicicic party to win by (I predict) eight this fall? Heck – I envy people who live in districts with functioning two-party systems. I do not live in a place with a functioning two-party system, of course. I live in Saint Paul; Ramsey County; the Fourth Congressional District. The place is controlled with Cominternish efficiency by the DFL; so much of city and county is either employed by or dependent on the government, its unions, its contractors and its social welfare that it really is a company town. And so we are “represented” by Betty McCollum. I have in the past said things about Rep. McCollum that have been less than flattering; “the dumbest person in Congress” and that sort of thing. And as I’ve attacked that sort of ad-hominem when directed against conservative women (although, to be fair to me, ad-hominem is the first and largely only tactic most liberals have against conservative women), it’d be disingenuous of me to do it myself. So I won’t. I’ll just let you listen to the person who “represents” me yourself : She’s right in the thick of the BP disaster, doncha know: “We need to be doing due diligence so that the taxpayer isn’t cleaning up British Petroleum’s mess, and we don’t have more job loss, more environmental loss in the Gulf that goes un-cleaned up…” Ah. So BettyMac opposes the Administration’s various demands for moritoriums on drilling, then? On the economy, Esme Murphy – who isn’t a DFL hack in the sense that Lori Sturdevant is, but whose sympathies seem generally pretty clear – asks about the economy. I’m not going to “fisk” McCollum – address each point in line – but rather let the full trascribed glory of her oratory stand on its own and answer each point afterward: Murphy: There’s been some criticism from Republicans that the recovery isn’t enough, and what the president has done with the stimulus package, while it did make some improvements in thers of the economy, it’s pust us in the position of a trillion dollar deficit. Your thoughts about whether or not there needs to be second wave of stimulus spending.” McCollum: ”Well first, the defiict was caused by the un-paid-for Bush Tax Cuts, by two wars, both Afghanistan and Iraq, being put on a credit card with no shared responsibility for the American public to pay for the wars, as our servicemen and women have given their all and maxde huge sacrifices . So that’s the big bulk we inherited that mess. and then you add the Wall Street crisis, being unregulated for all those years, andt the failure of our financial institutions to protect consumers investments and peoples retirements and the rest. So if you look at that, that is the big part of our debt. Now what do we do in the meantime? Well, stimulus, finunding to keep Americans working and keep the economy moving forward and create confidence is what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was about, that’s what I voted for, and we’re going to see some big things happening for instance in Saint Paulfor example with Central Corridor being the largest work project in the state of Minnesota , with state and local and government funding, investing in our community um so I’m very pleased that people’re going to see more of those projects moving forward there’s a lot of the traffic inconvenience we’re all suffering, our investments make putting Minnesotans to work through the recovery act and um I’m not gonna be apologetic for making sure that americans have a chance get up annd go to work in the morning peole in Minnesota do, there’s still too many people without jobs. Rep. McCollum: I wasn’t aware that FDR fought World War II on a cash and carry basis! Oh, wait – he didn’t. In the interest of national security, he ran a deficit, like Wilson and Lincoln before him, during wartime. Of course, FDR institutionalized deficit spending for peacetime “emergencies”, although it was LBJ that made it a regular feature of peacetime life. But you didn’t know that, Rep. McCollum. Did you? Be honest. Well, thanks for noting the troops’ sacrifice (although never, ever their achievements). Now – how many more would have died had the US followed your spectacularly uninformed advice in Iraq? No, Rep. McCollum; leaving the financial sector “unregulated” (by, for instance, compelling them to make sub-prime loans and then subsidizing the lending) did not cause the debt or the deficit; believing that any financial institution is “too big to fail”, and then subsidizing the non-failure, and finally pretending that “stimulus” subsidies and rampant socialization and higher spending can revive an economy (even ignoring the higher taxes to pay for it all) is doing it. Thanks for nothing. The Central Corridor is “putting people to work”, all right – your union constituents, anyway. Not so much all the little businesspeople up and down the street. But they’re non-union, so they don’t count, do they? Murphy on the potential Dem losses this fall, asking how many Bettymac thinks Dems will lose: Well, I don’t have a crystal ball in front of me, I don’t know what’s going to happen, I’m working really hard for my seat, I take nothing for granted, I’m out doorknocking, visiting with condsitutients and heaging the direction they wan tot see the country go in, and what I’m hearing is that they don’t want to go backwards, they don’t want to to the failed policies uh that got us in this economic jam we’re in, that got us in the war we’re in in Iraq unjustifiably, they want to see our country moving forward. So what Democrats have to do here and nationally is talk about how we’re still on a road to recovery, we have a plan to put America first, to make America competitive, to educate our children to be the best and brightest in the world, and the voters will judge us on those messages. I’ve heard nothing from our colleagues about going forward, it’s all about going back, repealing health care, going back and putting the Bush tax cuts in place and we need to be moving forward, not backward. Rep. McCollum: Since you’re working so hard for that seat of yours, perhaps you can take me up on my two-year-old invitation to come on the Northern Alliance Radio Network to defend all your claims? You have a “plan” to “put America first?” Really? Excellent! Let’s see it! You have a plan to educate our children to be the best and the brightest? Wow! So since the Minnesota Federation of Teachers and Education Minnesota are two of your biggest supporters, by all means tell us – why they haven’t been doing that all along? Listen. And compare her to the smart, articulate Teresa Collett (whom Ed and I interviewed last Saturday – after the halfway point of this hour), running her underdog battle against McCollum in the Fourth. It’s what “moving forward” really sounds like. (Gary at LFR pointed the appearance out out to me, and hammers it too) Cross-posted and comments welcome at Shot In The Dark.

McCollum's Disastrous Interview

Truenorth blog does a great job of recapping Betty McCollum's disappointing interview with Esme Murphy on WCCO. I won't say much, other than I feel dumber for listening to her talk. Guess the new mantra is to blame Bush. I don't know how she will be able to debate Teresa Collett when she could hardly hold a conversation; it really seems like it was scripted.

Listen to interview here: http://www.myfitv.com/videos/400497

McCollum's Disastrous Interview

Written by Gary Gross

Monday, 19 July 2010 06:54

My first reaction after watching Esme Murphy's interview of Betty McCollum was "Does Rep. McCollum really think her constituents are that stupid"? Here's the transcript from the key part of the interview: MURPHY: In terms of the recovery, there has been alot of criticism from Republicans that the recovery is not enough and that what the President has done with his stimulus package, while it did make some improvements in terms of the economy, it has basically put us in the position of trillion dollar deficits. Your thoughts on whether or not there needs to be a second round of stimulus spending. MCCOLLUM: Well, first off, the deficits that we're facing was caused by the unpaid for Bush tax cuts; it was caused by two wars, both Afghanistan and Iraq, all being put on a credit card, with no shared responsibility with the American public to pay for the wars as many of our servicemen and women have given their all and made huge sacrifices. So that's the big bulk. We inherited that mess and then you add the Wall Street crisis and not being regulated for all those years and the failure of our financial institutions to protect consumers' investments and retirements and the rest. So if you look at that, that is the big part of our debt. Now, what do we do in the meantime? Well, stimulus, funding to keep Americans working, to move our economy forward and create confidence is what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was about. That's what I voted for... It's insulting to hear Betty McCollum, or any other liberal, blame President Bush for the trillion dollar deficits that didn't happen until Democrats took control of both ends of Pennsylvania Ave. The last annual deficit from when Republicans controlled both ends of Pennsylvania Ave. was $160,000,000,000. The first deficit from total Democratic control was $1,400,000,000,000. For people who were educated in government schools, the Democrat-controlled deficit is almost 9 times bigger than the last GOP-controlled deficit. Rep. McCollum wants people to think that the budgeting and appropriating decisions made by Democrats like President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are President Bush's fault, that everything is President Bush's fault. That's intellectually indefensible BS. My condolences to the people living in MN-04. My advice, and I don't give advice often, is to elect Teresa Collett and end Betty McCollum's reign of intellectual incoherence. Nobody should be subjected to that level of intellectual dishonesty legislative irrelevance, especially when there's a vastly superior option. Another thing that Rep. McCollum said that's intellectually irresponsible is her saying that the financial meltdown of late 2008 was all Wall Street's fault. That's intellectually indefensible, too. I'm not denying that firms like AIG and Goldman Sachs didn't play major roles in creating the crisis. I'm simply arguing that Fannie and Freddie, the GSEs, aka the government, Rep. Barney Frank, (D-MA), and Sen. Christopher Dodd, (D-CT), played immensely bigger roles in the financial meltdown than did Wall Street. Not coincidentally, the finreg bill that Rep. McCollum voted for exempted Fannie and Freddie from the scrutiny that's heading Wall Street's direction. Shouldn't we expect legislators to spend our taxes more responsibly? Shouldn't legislators be more than Speaker Pelosi's rubberstamp? Betty McCollum voted for Obamacare, Cap and Trade and ARRA. She's also voted for the omnibus spending bill of 2009 that funded government for the duration of FY2009. Rep. McCollum even voted the NEA's wishes to eliminate the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program that takes underprivileged inner city students out of violence-riddled schools and puts them into schools like Sidwell Friends, aka the school for presidents' children like Sasha and Malia Obama and Chelsea Clinton. MN-04, the choice is clear. You can pick someone who cares about the Constitution (Teresa Collett) or you can elect someone who routinely insults your intelligence, namely Rep. McCollum. Comments welcome at LFR.

June 9, 2010--Betty's Letter to the Faithful (with commentary)

June 9, 2010--Betty's Letter to the Faithful (with commentary)

Well, I don't have much to say as MNCD4 did an awesome job with the comments. Betty McCollum, your writing is terrible; and you used to be a teacher? Referring to the other party as "extremists" and Wall Street as "crooks" (you need to go back to your political history and understand it was Clinton who decided to create quotas for home ownership and that Barney Frank helped).

Dear Friends, I am proud to be a member of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and I want to thank the delegation from the 4th Congressional District for their endorsement and support. It is an honor and a privilege serving Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, with the DFL Party united – we start the campaign to elect Margaret Anderson Kelliher governor, and re-elect Mark Ritchie, Lori Swanson, and Rebecca Otto. We stand united as DFLers to fight to keep majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate. I am ready to get to work to elect our DFL endorsed candidates – and I know you are too! The DFL Party "united." Candidates have been endorsed; all except Margaret Anderson Kelliher are incumbents. Anderson Kelliher has two credible DFL challengers for Minnesota Governor in the August primary election. You face a credible primary challenge for your 4th Congressional District seat from DFL'er Diana Longrie, former Mayor of Maplewood. As Longrie said: "If you're happy with the status quo, then continue to back Congresswoman Betty McCollum." This is a united Party? Let's judge the incumbents on their merits. That's why we have elections. Friends, in Washington we have a fight on our hands. We want health care for this country that is affordable, accessible and high quality. We want jobs created on Main Street and our nation’s infrastructure rebuilt. We want basic benefits extended for people out of work until they can find a job. "Affordable, accessible and high quality" health care? What? Do you mean we didn't get these with the health care reform bill signed into law on March 23? And I want Wall Street regulated and those greedy crooks responsible for the economic collapse punished. The last time you spoke the pejorative term "crooks" in a public forum, you were referring to health insurance executives while arguing for the health care reform bill law that now according to you, apparently doesn't provide affordable, accessible and high quality health care. If you really believe that "greedy crooks" are responsible for the economic collapse, you should refer the matter to the Department of Justice and insist on investigation and prosecution. But perhaps the real crooks are too close to home. But we have a fight because Republicans in Washington would rather rally with the Tea Party extremists than work with Democrats and vote for the interests of the American people. Tea Party extremists, another pejorative, and Republicans are synonyms in your DFL dictionary while in the real world, the Tea Party is a conservative movement, comprised of Independents, Republicans and even Democrats. It's not a Party. You should be afraid, very afraid. So we will pass important legislation without their help … Because I would rather have Democrats alone pass legislation that helps the American people than wait for Republicans to break up their little tea party. Betty, understand that the conservative movement wants its Country back before we get to the point that half of Americans, the wealth creation part, produce economic prosperity and the other half, the wealth redistribution part, sits around and regulates us. If you want to see the future of your world, look at Europe's "PIIGS." Socialists, Democrats, liberals, progressives - whatever your appropriate term - the America you would have is "slouching toward Athens." Republicans in Congress want President Obama to fail. That means they want America to fail – your family to fail – and I reject their cynical, selfish, destructive political games. Republicans in Congress don't want President Obama to fail... they want America to succeed. And that begins with the 2010 election. If you simply look to recent election outcomes, the record of which political party engages in "cynical, selfish, destructive political games" speaks for itself. Democrats in Congress have the responsibility to govern, not play games. No Betty... Democrats in Congress do not have the responsibility to "govern." Congress is elected and has the responsibility to legislate. Three co-equal branches, remember? Executive, Judicial and Legislative. The Constitution of the United States: Read it, learn it, live it! We passed the Recovery Act and health care reform without one Republican vote. And Republicans were joined by 10 Democrats in Congress voting no for the Recovery Act and 34 against health care reform. Imagine, the Republican Party’s top legislative priority next year is to repeal health care reform. And in the meantime, Attorney Generals in over a dozen States have filed suits against the recently enacted health care reform law because Congress overstepped its Constitutional bounds. And a May 31st Rasmussen Report found that 60% of Americans want it repealed. Imagine, indeed! In other words their plan for America’s future is to stop 32 million Americans from getting insurance, helping the insurance companies discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, and they want to add $1.4 trillion to the deficit. Add $1.4 trillion to the deficit? Don't you mean save $1.4 trillion? On May 12th, your Congressional Budget Office found another $115 billion more in health care reform discretionary spending that pushed the total cost to over $1 trillion. And when was the last time a Federal program stayed within cost estimates, if one ever has? If you think this sounds like a plan only Michele Bachmann would author... you are right. (H.R. 4903) It is legislation only the insurance companies and Tea Party Republicans could love. Only Tea Party Republicans along with 60% of Americans according to Rasmussen Reports on May 31st. I am going to stand with President Obama to move America forward and keep America strong. After 2010, with providence and good fortune, he will be standing alone. But you will be together again after 2012! And you need to know your Minnesota delegation is leading in Washington. Senators Klobuchar and Franken, Chairmen Oberstar and Peterson, Representatives Keith Ellison and Tim Walz, these are Democrats working for you, fighting for you and your families, and I am proud to be serving with them. Thank you for summarizing Minnesota's "must defeat" list. It is time for us – united as DFLers – to get to work to win in November. Betty McCollum Member of Congress