“take this with perspective…”

Email exchange between me and a supposedly “progressive” male friend. Sent before yesterday’s vote and under the subject line “One More Chance” said progressive sends me this Truthout article and pulls this quote: 

Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 7:50 AM

´The congressman also said he doesn’t accept the decision to remove the amendment from the bill, and he said that there would be one more chance for the American people to push for a single-payer system.

“Once the health care bill passes the House, and the Senate passes its version, the two bills will go to a Conference Committee,” Kucinich said. “It is at this point that we will have one more chance. We need to insist that the Kucinich Amendment be included in the Conference Committee report, since that is what will ultimately become law.”

I’m thinking mebbe, but doubtful.  I write back:

Sent: Sat 11/7/2009 5:26 PM

Lessee – Pelosi wouldn’t even give Weiner the 20 minutes she’d previously promised him but is willing to side with the US Catholic Bishops to disallow any poor woman to get an abortion through any insurance plan that may receive federal funds either directly or indirectly through “subsidies (tax credits)” and delusional Kucinich thinks his amendment is going to get into the bill in conference? Has a bill EVER gotten BETTER in conference?

Stick a fork in it.  This bill is dead. Or should I say, hope for Americans is dead.

I am beyond disgusted.

I also foward him the email from HealthJustice linked in my post below and write:

Sent: Sat 11/7/2009 5:44 PM

Read email below….in light of what I just wrote you about Pelosi and the Catholic Bishops. I highlighted the paragraph.

No debate for Weiner’s amendment, yet she allows debate and vote on Stupak’s amendment. 

Now it gets interesting. He writes back today (my emphasis):

Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 9:26 AM

Pelosi is Catholic…duh? Please take this with perspective. I know HC is a big issue. I, personally, believe that it is being used to deflect debate from issues much more dear to our freedom(s).

1). Warrentless wiretapping

2). Leaving bushco appointed fed attorneys in place nationwide…they dictate what cases are prosecuted.

3). Torture

4). Posse Comitatus/habeus corpus

5). All things financial

6). Anti-trust a la FCC, SEC, FTC, FDA

7). Iraq/Afghanistan

8). Executive orders/signing statements from previous criminals in charge

 Health care has completely sucked all oxygen from discussion of the above…as ‘they’ continue dictatorial endeavors. 

Jus’ sayin’…

As you can well understand, I was a a bit put off (okay, I was pissed) by the condescending “take this with perspective” comment, so I replied (judiciously utilizing ALL CAPS for in hopes of encouraging some reading comprehension on his part):

Sent: Sun 11/8/2009 1:04 PM

Uh no. Obama has no intention of doing anything about those issues either. This is NOT either/or.

For the record: Pelosi voted against the amendment – so her true colors are all about getting enough votes to pass this POS legislation. After saying there would be no vote on Single Payer SO THAT other amendments SUCH AS THOSE THAT COULD RESTRICT WOMEN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE [could not be introduced], she then scuttles single payer amendments and ALLOWS an amendment that RESTRICTS A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE. 

 I repeat. This is not an Either / Or. And frankly, I am fucking sick of women always being told that there is something (ALWAYS SOMETHING) that is more important than their rights, that has to be dealt with RIGHT NOW, so ladies, either get with “our” program or go sit down over there, be quiet, and we’ll get to you after we finish with whatever it is we deem more important than your rights. 

Fuck That.