Americans United for Change Statement on the Massachusetts Special Election
Americans United for Change Statement on the Massachusetts Special Election
“A Referendum on Health Care Reform This Was Not”
- Rasmussen Reports: “56% of Massachusetts voters named health care as the most important issue. That suggests it was a big issue, but Democrat Martha Coakley actually won among those voters by a 53% to 46% margin.”
- “Fifty-three percent (53%) approve of the way that Barack Obama has handled his job as President.”
Washington D.C. – Tom McMahon, Acting Executive Director of Americans United for Change, released the following statement in response to the results of Tuesday’s special election in Massachusetts:
“As much as Congressional Republicans wish it to be true, Scott Brown’s electoral victory was not a referendum on President Obama or on health insurance reform. The reality they conveniently ignore is that the individual components of reform continue to receive substantial levels of public support – in Massachusetts and across the country – like putting an end to the insurance industry’s unscrupulous practices of rescinding policies when people get sick or refusing coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. And that is why we have complete confidence Congress will move full speed ahead and deliver the President the strongest bill possible that holds the insurance industry accountable and guarantees the American people the quality, affordable health care they deserve.
“However, there’s no ignoring the anxiety and frustration expressed by many in Massachusetts over an economy still struggling to regain footing since entering the worst recession in generations. While this administration’s actions helped pull the economy back from the brink of a depression and the President’s economic recovery package continues to create new jobs every day, progress can’t come soon enough for so many hurting families.
“But if Congressional Republicans believe the American people’s frustration can in any way be interpreted as nostalgia for the failed economic policies from the Bush era that got us into this mess – and if they think this electoral victory was a mandate to continue voting to protect the bottom line of the insurance industry, Wall Street, and energy companies – they would be sorely mistaken.”
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