Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is gearing up for another demonstration at the Capitol building tomorrow, protesting in advance of President Obama’s State of the Union address — and to mark this occasion, she’s been rolling out a “Declaration of Health Care Independence.”
Politico obtained a leaked copy of Bachmann’s Declaration, a petition signed by herself and supporters. It borrows language and turns of phrase from America’s two key founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, to declare that the current Democratic majority in Congress has “been deaf to the Voice of the People.” By contrast, the signatories declare of themselves that they are “We…the People and Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and make their demands of what principles health care reform must be founded upon.
Bachmann held a press conference yesterday at the Minnesota state Capitol building, to unveil the petition. “We are rejecting politics as usual in Washington D.C. in dealing with this health care issue,” said Bachmann, also adding: “All we are saying is let’s at least agree on the rules of the road going forward, and then let’s sit down together and negotiate what would be good for the American people.”
As the Star Tribune points out, however, Bachmann did not discuss specific details of what health care reform should be. It should also be noted that the “Declaration” itself is phrased in most negative terms, against the Democratic health care proposals. It contains two numbers lists — the first one plainly presented as a rejection of the Democrats, such as one point that the Democrats’ plans “Deny fundamental personal and economic liberties and indisputably violate the Principle of Limited Government as established by the Constitution.”
The second list, however, of saying what health care reform must be, still contains negative points, such as “Reject any addition to the crushing national debt heaped upon all Americans,” or “Reject all new mandates on patients, employers, individuals, or states.” Even its positive positive points are very much generalizations, such as, “Guarantee Equal Protection under the law and the Constitution,” and “Empower, rather than limit, an open and accessible marketplace of health care choice and opportunity.”
Bachmann’s event tomorrow — officially a press conference, not a political rally –Â will be held at 2:30 p.m. ET, at the Capitol Visitors Center. Unlike her previous Capitol Hill Tea Party event from last November, however, the public will not be able to make it. As her press release notes: “Due to security for the State of the Union, the Capitol Visitor’s Center is closed to the public at noon. Only credentialed media, congressional staff, and Members of the House and Senate will be permitted.”
Bachmann’s office did not return our call for comment.
