A look at the race for the office of California Insurance Commissioner is also a look at the very face of partisan politics in today’s United States, and a glimpse into the reality of today’s republican party.
The republican candidate, Mike Villines, has a multi-million dollar advertising campaign, in which he thoroughly criticizes his Democratic opponent, Dave Jones, and in which he promises to be a stern and honest taskmaster over the insurance industry.
What bullcrap!
First and foremost, he is the bought-and-paid-for candidate of the insurance industry, now spending more than $1.5 Million in campaign contributions from California’s insurance industry. Don’t think that will make a difference, don’t think he can’t be independent and enforce strong regulations against the people that bought him the office?
Well, take a look at yesterday’s LA Times article, Assemblyman defends helping RV dealer in dispute with DMV, which tells the interesting story of how Fresno RV dealer Dan Gamel, previously convicted of bribery, and with a history of using misleading advertising and violating state regulations, had been denied a new sales permit from the DMV. He then made a $6,500 contribution to Villines, who then intervened with DMV hierarchy, and got Mr. Gamel his permit.
He did this for $6,500. What would he do for the insurance industry in exchange for $1.5 Million?
Following in the footsteps of republicans across the country, Villines has also, without any mention of the Federal Health Care Reform Bill, endorsed one of its key provisions, and in a manner as if HE were responsible for it being a viable action. He pledges to “keep insurance companies from canceling polices once people get sick”. Well, Mr. Villnes, that became the law of the land on Sep. 23, 2010, when numerous provisions of the Affordable Care Act went into effect.
Also very interesting is Villines’ criticism of his opponent for supporting the most important bill introduced in the California legislature in decades, AB 810, vetoed by der gropenfuhrer, but almost assured to return to the Governor’s desk next year, and hopefully to be greeted by the signature of Democrat Jerry Brown, and thus establishing for Californians the single-payer, NOT-FOR-PROFIT health care system national leaders were too chicken to support.
Finally, Villines’ ads also decry the fact that Democrat Jones is running for this office after being “termed-out” of the California legislature. His ads fail to mention that Villines was “termed-out” of HIS seat in the California Assembly.
A witch, a Nazi, a racist, a fan of beastiality, and Mike Villiness. Aren’t republicans great?
