Excellent points Arthur. I would have much preferred Akin said something like a baby is a baby no matter how that child is conceived but will support anyone running against McCaskill. She has a proven pro-abortion record and her support of Obamacare when the voters in her state did NOT support it, was a very bad decision--one I will remember when I go to vote in November.

I don't see why your against McCaskill when she vote for children right for healthcare. The health care law is giving families more affordable options for health care and health insurance coverage. You need to learn more about Families with Children and the Affordable Care Act is helping since Sept 2010. Also learn about coverage options for young adults under 26 and children under 19. Thank you Claire for helping so many find coverage and pricing options for their families.

I hope the children of tomorrow have healthcare like my Medicare, but without the profit seeking insurance industry. For example, my Coventry dental coverage was fine this year, until late in January they changed the rule for getting service outside the network. I'm sure a government program would not have rejected my claim to see my dentist that I have been seeing all my life. The problem is not putting government between me and my doctor. Its putting insurance companies between me and my doctor. I'm looking forward to drop Coventry and find a new Missouri exchange. When I brought this up with Todd Akin during a telephone town hall meeting, he ignored my concerns because his people muted my phone. And I too, will remember this when I go to vote in November.

BTW,
Conventry did not change to their new policy until after they had OK-ed my January visit. Then when my doctor made a claim, they denied it for going out of network. If the government was in control, I would have only had to pay my deductible amount.

Arthur

Don't you have enough problems in Calif to write about? I would also like the names of the hospitals that have closed because of Obamacare.

How much were you paid to write this article?

I've never understood people's , including politician's, over-emphasized concern with women's reproductive rights & LGBT rights. Of more importance are the economy, inflation, jobs, education, environment, fracking, Oil-production peak, ice-caps melting, .. Actually, every thing is more important for global survival, then women's reproductive rights and LGBT rights.

Politicians and their parties care mainly about one thing -Getting elected, and the power that it brings. Sure some of them are true believers in the wedge issue causes like abortion, but for the most part they are just playing to emotion and fear for votes. Logical people work to reduce abortions (which is the goal afterall), without the political venue and gamesmanship

If Roe vs. Wade were overturned, the right wing would have to come up with another wedge issue call to incite the single-issue voter mindset. And surely it will be a doozy....

Arthur, Akin also has said "Liberalism really is hatred of God." probably the most demonizing statement one could make--and at least a few people on these forums agree. Sounds like something Bin Laden would say about America. Are we missing the debate there too?

Controversial, no. Rep. Akin's statement was wrong. It just gives us some insight into his thinking, or lack thereof.

I have corresponded with both candidates. From Akin, I get the kind of blather that he displayed this week. From McCaskill, I get explanations. Like them or not, she works hard, and I get the impression that she considers what I have to say.

"From Jan 2001 to Aug 2012, Akin missed 387 of 8465 recorded or roll call votes, which is 5.0%. This is worse than the median of 2.4%." http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/todd_akin/400005] Akin has missed a LOT of votes recently. Perhaps if he was doing what we pay him to do, he wouldn't be in his colossal mess.

"From Jan 2007 to Aug 2012, McCaskill missed 44 of 1777 recorded or roll call votes, which is 2.0%. This is better than the median of 2.4%."[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/claire_mccaskill/412243]

Quiz question: who has sponsored 70 bills, including "Stop Wasteful Federal Bonuses and Conferences Act of 2012" in her first 6 year term? Hint, the same senator who sponsored "repeal the provision of law that provides automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress". Of those 70, 4 have been signed into law. One of those names a specific post office building. All 3 of the others had bipartisan support.

Who has sponsored 52 bills, 4 of them "Pledge Protection Acts" over the last 12 years? Of those 52, 3 have been signed into law. Each of the 3 names a specific post office building.

Many of the PA hospitals that closed in PA were due to economics (The state of the economy in PA where steel and other manufacturing jobs have left towns (Homestead, Aliquipa, Braddock, etc) leaving much smaller populations. Also, UPMC - the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - acquired many hospitals and closed some due to overlap with newer hospitals they own. In terms of the California closings, please read the article that was posted. The reasons given were a stalled economy, increasing dependence on government health care programs, losing outpatient business to retail clinics and physician-operated ambulatory care centers , the inability to access capital (borrowing) AND implementation of the federal health reform law.

Have you read the bill? I managed to get through 200 pages before I was ready to bang my head against the wall. Even though it was only a portion of the bill, it was still enough to decide that I don't want unelected bureaucrats like the HHS secretary deciding what benefits will (or won't) be covered.

I've also read dozens of articles (if not hundreds), medical journals, and portions of the bill itself. I also have 1 doctor and 2 nurses in my immediate family who have to deal with the repercussions of Obamacare every day. A lot of this bureaucracy hasn't even yet gone into effect, and won't until 2014--can't wait!

I too have have many personal dealings with McCaskill on this. Besides speaking at one of her town halls, I have had three face-to-face meetings with her staff. One day when I called urging the Senator to oppose the bill her chief of staff started an argument with me on the phone and hung him up on me! So much for "listening" to constituents...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d30WeztgXHo I also will not soon forget handing the same man a petition with 300+ signatures of registered voters who signed against the bill. Mr. Burns tossed the petition aside and said "These don't matter"...I just beg to differ...

For the personal reasons why I oppose Obamacare you can listen here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dARsbLGp1I&feature=relmfu My portion starts at 4:30 This was the first time I've ever spoken in public--I was nervous but just couldn't remain silent any more.

Sorry the 1st link in the first comment didn't work. Here you go, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d30WeztgXHo

Hey Elizabeth - In order to give us all an idea, what was the most offensive part of the bill?

I read the House Bill HR3962. Sect. 223, the forming of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee is the most "offensive" portion of the bill to me personally. I believe what is or isn't covered should not be determined by panel of individuals selected by the government. I oppose the bill in it's entirety based on Article 1 section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. This is the part of the Constitution that lists the less than 20 enumerated powers of the legislative branch. If you read our Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (called the Father of the Constitution) you will learn that the "general welfare clause" (which many used to justify their vote on healthcare) was only to be used within confines of the powers listed in Article 1 section 8. http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec8.html

I have three children with pre-existing conditions and had premature twins with a hospitalization that totaled nearly 1 million dollars--so I think I am "qualified" to have an opinion on healthcare. The way to solve our healthcare problems should not be an "all or nothing" type of approach. Also, "Medicare for all" doesn't make sense because Medicare won't cover everything. I worked at a Credit Union where we sold supplemental insurance for things that Medicare wouldn't cover. According to our data Medicare covered about 80% of procedures.

I prefer the plan from John Mackey from Whole Foods http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html My family has had a similar HSA and it worked well for us, even with five dependents.

How does one from Torrance, CA get to voice an opinion under the heading "Local voices"? Are the tea baggers in Missouri having trouble finding someone local that can put together an intelligent well written opinion?