Film with Obama speech about changes in health care, and about women's choices in their contraception.
 |
| Cecile Richards at the 2011 Time 100 gala. April 27, 2011 by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 Licence) Use maybe restricted due to personality rights. |
8:05 p.m. Elizabeth Bruce has endometriosis, was tentatively diagnosed by a nurse with Planned Parenthood after her doctors thought that her pain symptoms were only psychosomatic, and guided to a doctor who gave her an operation; thereby she was eventually able to have a daughter. Reaffirms importance of Planned Parenthood in providing women's health care for the poor.
8:08 p.m. Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood. Paul Ryan, Todd Akin, etc. focus on denying women's rights even though they are purportedly focused on the important question of the economy, she argues. Points to role of contraception in improving higher education rates and life expectancy since Planned Parenthood was founded in the previous century. Mad Men reference. 3 million people come for Planned Parenthood services annually. Mentions God. Contributes to the compendium of American folksy sayin's. Loud applause for her mother, Gov. Ann Richards, and she tears up a little, as do members of the audience; apparently she (the mother) was friends with Obama. Rather militaristic in her mannerisms, but indubitably staunch in upholding her causes.
8:17 p.m. Representin' elderly white men, although a trifle afflicted with the Boehner-tan (what Silvio Berlusconi might call bronzato), enthusiastically: Representative of Maryland and Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer. Quotes Jesse Jackson, says that Republicans' priorities are out of order: these would rather see Obama out of office than address crucial problems in America. Says that Democrats' stimulus spending averted second Great Depression. Talks about a January where 800,000 jobs were lost — since this is in the wake of the Christmas commercial season where employment can be expected to peak, this is a little of a weaselly statistic, I think. Says that war expenditure is incompatible with fiscal responsibility. Paul Ryan fib mention by inference!!! He is wearing a flag pin. "God bless every American, and God bless all of you!" he concludes. Chant of "Four more years!" in the audience. Hoyer seems like he's a fun conversationalist.
Film: Vietnam War veteran and organizer of charity (Aleethia = 'truth' in Greek?) for wounded soldiers, from Virginia. In his opinion, Obama cares; "you can hear it in his voice when he says: 'Welcome home.'"
8:28 p.m. The veteran, Ed Meagher, speaks, about helping veterans not to feel ostracized for their visible injuries and their military careers generally. Refers to G.I. Bill, which I think was also a Republican initiative (McCain?). Mentions risk of suicide, which I think is kind of brave since it's evidently not a visible and not necessarily a socially accepted injury.
8:31 p.m. Eric Shinseki, General (ret.) and Veteran Affairs Secretary. Admires Obama's "devotion to veterans," says that they bonded over World War II service of their parents' generation. 'Finest military in the world.' Mentions 'warriors,' which always makes me think of Mel Gibson in furs askew and big blue stripes on his face, going "rawrrr" and fumbling with a sword whilst running on a hill with his fellow Celts. Talks about 'historic expansion of treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury.' Probably not enough, though, since I have read articles about how unsupportive the military still is about "shell-shock." "President Obama is determined that we will repay our debt to them. God bless our veterans! God bless our president!", etc.
8:35 p.m. Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper. The intro music really is strange. He talks about the wildfires and the tragedy in Aurora, a trifle too briskly in my opinion. Mentions 'bickering' again. Says that his state's Republicans work with him, unlike federal congressmen with Obama; pokes fun at Mitt Romney's tax return disclosure-lessness. Talks about improvement in tourism and agricultural exports and development of natural gas and environmental energy resources. Also, in beer industry. Says he was laid off in 1986 recession. Co-started a business. 'Like so many other businesses, it was not only me, it was we.' City development loan, investments from friends helped him. An example of communities coming together to help each other. Mother: single mother of four children, said that you can't control what comes at you, but you can control how you respond. Praises Obama for 'finding hope where there was none.' Shout-out for being "fellow skinny Democrat with a funny last name."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment