Re-elect Not-Rob-Steele (The Michigan View 10.29.10)

Posted by hpayne on October 29, 2010

You are the universally-recognized hero of universal health care. You inherited the mantle from your father who first introduced socialized care legislation in 1943. You spent 55 years in Congress as Captain Ahab chasing his Moby Dick. You introduced every session of Congress since 1957 by submitting a nationalized health care bill. You are so revered that even your Medicare gavel, first pounded in 1965, is an icon. You were cheered on the House floor when Obamacare – finally, the universal health care solution – passed October, 2009. You were given the podium by Speaker Pelois herself to pound your iconic gavel in a “vindication” celebration, as The New York Times itself called it. You sat next to the President Change himself in a packed, East Room signing ceremony to acknowledge your achievement. You thrust your crutch in the air when the air when the crowd gave you a standing ovation. You were booked by The Daily Show so that you and Jon Stewart himself could celebrate the arrival of universal health care by breaking open walnuts with your iconic gavel. You would be running this fall to celebrate your victory – and you had the photo album to prove it.

You are John Dingell. Your campaign victory lap has arrived. And now you want everyone to know. . . that your Republican opponent is a China-outsourcing, Social Security-stealing mega-rich fraud?

In an election when Democrats are running from Obamacare, perhaps the most extraordinary tale is that the one man who never gave up hope on socialized medicine refuses to claim his Great Victory. So reviled is the Democrats’ health care power grab, that not even John Dingell will acknowledge its existence.

“Imagine Steve Forbes getting himself elected, ramming through a flat tax, and then clamming up about what he’d done,” says a media colleague.

As Dan Calabrese of The View’s Campaign Buzz blog catalogues, Dingell hasn’t used one frame of the carefully choreographed footage from Obamacare victory party last spring.

Instead, his ugly campaign has tried to drown cardiologist-turned-Republican candidate Rob Steele in the gutter. Just this month alone, Dingell’s – er, Not-Rob-Steele’s – campaign has consisted of, in order:

– A TV ad that claims Rob Steele “opposes workers” and supports “tax breaks for companies that ship jobs to China and India.”

– A press release claiming Rob Steele “supports tax cuts for companies that ship jobs to China and India.”

– A radio ad that claims Rob Steele supports “tax cuts for the mega-rich,” billions in borrowing from China, privatizing Social Security, “gambling your retirement money on Wall Street,” and being “just another vote for special interests.”

– A TV ad that claims that Rob Steele supports China outsourcing, “tax breaks for himself and the mega-rich,” and gambling your Social Security on Wall Street

– A TV ad claiming that Rob Steele just stole grandma and is selling her to Chinese slaveholders.

(Okay, just kidding about that last one.)

No ads touting Obamacare. No ads with Big John and his iconic gavel. No pictures signing health reform – crutch thrust in the air to thunderous applause! – at the White House. No justification for Dingell’s 55 years in the House except that he can bring home pork.

Somewhere under that gruff, tough, 80-year-old exterior, John Dingell must be weeping. This is it? This is why he got into public service? This is why he carried his father’s torch? This is what he wants people to know about him? To respect about him?

John Dingell, the shrunken, embarrassing, symbol of the 2010 Democratic majority.

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