Pullen for the Party

Bruce Ash on SCHIP and Rush

RNC National Committeeman, Bruce Ash, tackles the pressing issues of the day.

This week's commentary: Democrats' folly on SCHIP and Rush

Click below to listen: Download bruce_ash_on_schip_and_rush.mp3

Hillary's Health Care Scheme

PULLEN TO MOVEON: “BRING IT ON”

PHOENIX, AZ – “Who does MoveOn.org speak for?” questioned Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. “They certainly don’t speak for a majority of Americans. They certainly don’t speak for any Republicans, nor do they speak for mainstream Democrats or independent voters. So who does MoveOn.org speak for?”

Pullen’s comments come as MoveOn.org prepares to hold rallies across the country in protest of President Bush’s veto of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 of SCHIP. The Democrat bill called for a massive government expansion of the program giving socialized healthcare coverage to children of households that make nearly $83,000. President Bush and Republicans opposed the bill and called for legislation that allocated an additional $5 billion to be directed towards America’s neediest children.

“MoveOn is plain wrong if they think taking people off private insurance and putting them in a government program is the solution. Ask any senior struggling to live off Social Security and Medicare how that’s working for them and then go ask a middle class family to trust the government with the well-being of their children.

“The fact is, SCHIP is designed to provide health insurance for our poor, not government health care to trick people into giving up good health coverage for free bad coverage… What we really need to be talking about is how to create the quality jobs and educational opportunities needed to get the Americans who today qualify for SCHIP into better jobs with not just health insurance, but a chance at the American dream.”

“When is MoveOn and the liberal left going to realize that they are out of touch with mainstream America?” continued Pullen. “When are they going to understand that Americans are smarter than to fall for their smoke and mirror tactics? When will they admit that they are using America’s neediest kids as a political prop for universal socialized healthcare?

“To MoveOn.org I say: Your rhetoric is old, your ideas wrong and your 15 minutes are up. Bring it on Moveon!” quipped Pullen.

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PULLEN WARNS OF DEMOCRAT HEALTH CARE TAKEOVER

Presidential veto will save children, save lives

Phoenix, AZ—“President Ronald Reagan once quipped that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I'm from the government and I'm here to help’,” said Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. “It’s never been more terrifying than lately with what Democrats are trying to do with children’s health care in America.”

Pullen’s remarks followed President Bush’s veto of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, or SCHIP, which sunset earlier this year. Democrats rewrote the legislation to move children from private insurance coverage to government coverage by shifting the program’s emphasis from low-income families who can’t afford insurance to families earning almost $83,000 per year.

“Under the Democrats, this has become a program to buy votes from the middle class instead of a legitimate program to provide health coverage for low income families who can’t afford health coverage,” Pullen said. “President Bush’s veto today will force Congress to focus on those who have no coverage, those children who have no insurance, those kids for whom a serious illness might mean bankruptcy for their families, or losing their house or a parent losing their job.

“While President Bush is working to get honest health coverage to American kids who need it, Democrats are just playing political games with the election year right around the corner,” Pullen warned. “The victims here are easy to see because low income children should have gotten a health insurance bill today, but instead they will have to wait until this joke of a Democrat Congress gets serious about doing serious work.”

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NFRW Convention Wrap-Up

Seventy-eight Arizona Federation of Republican members and guests were among the more than 1800 members and guests who attended the 34th Biennial Convention of the National Federation of Republican Women in Palm Springs, California. The Arizona women received many accolades and awards. Rae Chornenky was elected 4th Vice-President of the organization; President Noreen Thomas was one of 5 State Presidents nominated for the prestigious Ronald Reagan Leadership Award; the AFRW was only one of 5 states to receive the top award for excellence; Lake Havasu Republican Women and Palo Verde Republican Women received the “Diamond” Awards”, top awards for individual clubs.

In addition to addresses by Republican leaders, national security experts, authors, political experts and other notables such as Congresswoman Mary Bono and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, the delegates also participated in a Presidential straw poll. Giulani’s stirring speech earned him 50.2% of the 765 eligible delegate votes cast; Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney were well represented by active volunteer groups which resulted in 20.94% for Thompson and 14.42% for Romney. Arizona Senator John McCain came in fifth behind Mike Huckabee with 1.8% of the vote. Note: all Republican Presidential candidates were invited to speak to the group

The National Federation of Republican Women does not make endorsements during Republican primaries, but supports all GOP candidates during the general elections.

The Arizona Federation of Republican Women will be holding their Biennial Convention at the Fiesta Inn in Tempe, October 25-27. For further information, visit their web site at www.azfrw.org

Submitted by:
Leona Johnston, AFRW 2nd VP

AZGOP ON HILLARY’S TUCSON FUNDRAISER

For a mere $2,300, you can meet her too

PHOENIX, AZ – “It’s always great when Hillary Rodham Clinton shows her face in Arizona. It gives us the opportunity to talk about some of the pressing issues on the mind of the voters. Issues such as her socialized healthcare scheme or her $5,000 taxpayer giveaway scheme. Or how about talking about tax hikes or surrendering to terrorists? Those are certainly issues on the mind of the voters, said Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.”

Pullen’s comments come as Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Tucson today for a $2,300 a head fundraiser.

“It would be nice if Mrs. Rodham Clinton would take some time in Arizona to address our pressing issues, to spend some time speaking with the voters of our state, rather than the Democrat fat cats who are shelling out $2,300 a plate at this private and exclusive fundraiser. But I guess Rodham Clinton needs to get back some of the $850,000 she had to give up from fugitive fundraiser Norman Hsu.

“With only spending time in Arizona to raise money, rather than meeting the voters, it’s no wonder that the latest Cronkite/ Eight Poll showed that in Arizona, 55% of respondents have a negative impression of Hillary Rodham Clinton,” concluded Pullen.

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MECUM TO BITTNER: LEARN YOUR FEC LAWS

PHOENIX, AZ - “I can’t fault the Arizona Democrats for continuing to focus on potential congressional candidate and State Senate President Tim Bee – if I were them I’d be terrified of a Bee candidacy,” said Brett Mecum, communications director for the Arizona Republican Party. “But every time the Democrats wade into campaign finance matters, either they’re breaking the laws or proving they don’t know them.

“In this case, it’s the latter,” Mecum said. “If and when Senate President Bee decides to run for Congress, I’m sure he’ll disclose his donors, just like federal elections law says he’d have to. But people who aren’t candidates for office don’t have to make quarterly filings with the Federal Elections Commission.

“Miss Bittner was doing her job and simply toeing the Democrat Party line, but she ought to consult with Democrat lawyers about campaign finance laws before she speaks to them. After all, her credibility is at stake if she gives misleading and wrong information while attempting to score a few cheap political points.”

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