Leave it up to someone who claims to not be a "typical politician," to dance around yes or no questions in a recent Hispanic Republican assembly in Detroit, and afterward with a total opportunity to redeem himself, yet cannot muster the courage to do the right thing.
Dennis Pittman, while collecting signatures for the health care freedom initiative at the event yesterday had an opportunity to ask Snyder:
"If you were the governor today what would you do to fill the deficit?"
Snyder true to the RINO way apparently could not commit to any particular plan, but apparently danced like they all do with a coverall like: "it must be a multifaceted approach" while really saying nothing new or revealing. There was No "I'm Going to Reduce departments," or "I will renegotiate with the unions, but still left plenty of room for "leave the door open to new taxes."
But even that was not the best example of what Rick Snyder is, or what he stands for.. In fact its kind of normal for the type of Republican Snyder represents. One that is willing to cave on issues of the public trust and constitutionality for the sake of being in power, apparently being afraid to take a stand.
As I had mentioned, Pittman was collecting signatures for the health care freedom initiative and after Snyder's presentation to the group he approached the candidate for a signature.
Snyder refused. He not only refused, but was quite firm in his resolve, and I quote:
"NO.. ABSOLUTELY NOT"
Not a "no thanks, I haven't looked at it," or a "Not right now, till I look at it," but an unequivocal "Get out of my face with that trash" kind of answer.
So lets take a look at that petition..
Amendment Language
INITIATIVE PETITION
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
A Proposal to Amend the Constitution of the State of Michigan by adding Article 1, Section 28 as follows: (new language below is in CAPITAL letters)
ARTICLE I, SECTION 28.
(1) EVERY PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO PROVIDE FOR HIS OR HER OWN HEALTH CARE.
(2) NO GOVERNMENT ACTION SHALL COMPEL, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY PERSON, EMPLOYER, OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
(3) NO PERSON OR EMPLOYER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PAY PENALTIES OR FINES FOR PAYING DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY PENALTIES OR FINES FOR ACCEPTING DIRECT PAYMENT FROM A PERSON OR EMPLOYER FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY PENALTIES OR FINES FOR PERMITTING A PERSON OR EMPLOYER TO PAY DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR FOR PERMITTING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO ACCEPT DIRECT PAYMENT FROM A PERSON OR EMPLOYER FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
(4) NO GOVERNMENT ACTION SHALL DISADVANTAGE A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR PERMITTING A PERSON OR EMPLOYER TO PAY DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR FOR PERMITTING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO ACCEPT DIRECT PAYMENT FROM A PERSON OR EMPLOYER FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
(5) SUBJECT TO REASONABLE AND NECESSARY LAWS AND RULES THAT DO NOT SUBSTANTIALLY LIMIT A PERSON'S OR EMPLOYER'S OPTIONS, THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH COVERAGE IN PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS SHALL NOT BE PROHIBITED BY ANY GOVERNMENT ACTION.
(6) THIS SECTION DOES NOT DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(A) AFFECT WHICH HEALTH CARE SERVICES A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM OR PROVIDE.
(B) AFFECT WHICH HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE PERMITTED BY LAW.
(C) PROHIBIT CARE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO, OR PROHIBIT PARTICIPATION UNDER, THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION LAW OR AUTOMOBILE NO-FAULT LAW.
(D) AFFECT GOVERNMENT ACTIONS IN EFFECT AS OF JANUARY 1, 2010.
(7) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
(A) "COMPEL" INCLUDES PENALTIES OR FINES.
(B) "DIRECT PAYMENT" AND "PAY DIRECTLY" MEAN PAYMENT FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES WITHOUT A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE THIRD PARTY, NOT INCLUDING AN EMPLOYER, PAYING FOR ANY PORTION OF THE SERVICE.
(C) "HEALTH CARE SYSTEM" MEANS ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ENTITY WHOSE FUNCTION OR PURPOSE IS THE MANAGEMENT OF, PROCESSING OF, ENROLLMENT OF INDIVIDUALS FOR, OR PAYMENT FOR, IN FULL OR PART, HEALTH CARE SERVICES, HEALTH CARE DATA, OR HEALTH CARE INFORMA- TION FOR ITS PARTICIPANTS.
(D) "LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES" MEANS ANY HEALTH-RELATED SERVICE OR TREATMENT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SERVICE OR TREATMENT IS PERMITTED OR NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION, THAT MAY BE PROVIDED BY PERSONS OR BUSINESSES OTHERWISE PERMITTED TO OFFER THOSE SERVICES OR TREATMENTS.
(E) "PENALTIES OR FINES" MEANS ANY CRIMINAL OR CIVIL PENALTY, FINE, TAX, SALARY OR WAGE WITHHOLDING, SURCHARGE, OR ANY NAMED FEE WITH A SIMILAR EFFECT ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNMENT ACTION, THAT IS USED TO PUNISH OR DISCOURAGE THE EXERCISE OF RIGHTS PROTECTED UNDER THIS SECTION.
(F) "GOVERNMENT ACTION" MEANS ANY EXECUTIVE, JUDICIAL, OR QUASI-JUDICIAL ACT, INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMPACT, STATUTE, ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION, OR RULE MADE BY ANY GOVERNMENT-ESTABLISHED, GOVERNMENT-CREATED, OR GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AGENCY.
Is there anything here that would run afoul of a conservative stance? How much of this is contrary to true Republican philosophy?
Perhaps the better question asked, should be: "Is there anything in this petition that should scuttle a campaign if signed? One must wonder about a man who wishes to be the top candidate for the Republican party when the icing on the cake is a decidedly negative attitude towards our constitutional rights. A minor gesture, a simple request, a small test, FAILED.
