Social Security and Medicare aren't hand outs. They belong to everybody. You've paid in, so has everyone. In fact every penny the government spends is our money. Branding government dollars as undeserved "entitlements" sure is a convenient way to bash senior citizens, students, the disabled and the poor; it's also a great way to reward the wealthy friends of the GOP. (Anyone who makes less than $200,000 and votes GOP, is voting against their own economic interests.) The only way to stop this BS is to defeat the Congressional Republicans who keep this convenient "lie" going.

In that light, yesterday's vote was an important vote for Frank LoBiondo, the Congressman representing New Jersey's 2nd District. Frank LoBiondo was the tie-breaking vote:

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) gave Blunt the margin he needed, breaking a 214-214 tie. The final tally was 216-214, with all of the Democrats who voted and 13 Republicans voting no.

Think the citizens Frank LoBiondo represents will be happy with his sell-out to Grover Norquist logic?

Not really.  Try this exchange recently reported by a citizen from LoBiondo's district:

....I got to ask about where the money was coming from that would pay for the Medicare drug plan. And I asked how LoBiondo could just have voted to cut Medicare funding by some $12 billion. The question was never answered as LoBiondo's aide rushed over and yanked the microphone out of my hands, and declared that this was not the place to ask that kind of question.

Or try this local reporting how Congressman LoBiondo actually apologizes for the Medicare Drug Plan he voted for:

Frank Dolson on Monday attended his fourth information session about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.  The Millville resident still left confused and frustrated.

"I feel competent that I can understand the different plans," Dolson said, shaking his head. "But I come out of these meetings with more confusion and less answers."

More than 100 senior citizens filled City Hall council chambers on Monday to attend an information session organized by Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-Ventnor.

"The plans are confusing and I deeply apologize," LoBiondo told the crowd. "I'm going to continue to do what I can to alleviate some of the confusion and get some answers."

Ah, he apologizes! Congressman LoBiondo, apologies are nice, but maybe you shouldn't have voted for this plan...or become the deciding vote in gutting Medicare and Student Loans. Maybe, if we Democrats get our act together, the DCCC will actually list an opponent for Congressman LoBiondo in New Jersey's second. (Politics1 lists three challengers:  Robin Weinstein, Jeff Van Drew, and Jim Whelan. Filing deadline is April 10th, 2006.) This is a race, I think we all might agree that we need to keep our eyes on.

Certainly Congressman LoBiondo's links to the Abramoff Scandal, his broken term limit promise and New Jersey's increasing trend towards electing Democrats should make this race one to watch. (When Joshua Grossman and I broke down the Congressional districts of vulnerable Republicans with Starting with the Districts, Frank LoBiondo was one of the districts we noted.) Congressman LoBiondo deserves some netroots attention, especially in light of this vote.

{For more New Jersey politics, try Blue Jersey and definitely visit the local blog dedicated to New Jersey's Second District:  Second Thoughts. This piece also posted at my blog, k/o where I try to "take it" to vulnerable GOP incumbents on a regular basis.}

Poll Frank LoBiondo should be a "Must Focus" race for the netroots Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree No Opinion Votes: 17 Results : Vote Link : Polls