The following is a statement I submitted in hopes that it would be read at yesterday’s Health Care Rally in Omaha Nebraska.  Despite my best efforts and those of other supporters it just was not possible and the voices of the disabled were left unheard yet again.  That is why I have decided to publish thbe statement for the entire world to see.

Good afternoon fellow Patriots!

My name is Brian Donegan. I am the Chairman of the Can-Do Conservatives of America, a grassroots organization dedicated to giving a voice to the least represented group in the Conservative movement, the disabled. I am sorry I can’t be with y’all this afternoon but it is a long way from Georgia to Omaha on such short notice.

Just as this event was planned on short notice, the entire Health Care debate has been on short notice. Senator Reid’s attempt to ram this bill through as quickly as possible has prevented the American people from considering its ramifications. For example, though the provision to require insurance companies to cover all people, regardless of preexisting conditions, would seem to help people like me the most who cannot get coverage, we would ask a simple question: how can you cover an additional thirty million people with the same number of doctors and at the same time and spend less? Isn’t it more likely that when the money runs out, it will be the disabled and those with serious medical conditions who will be the first to have our benefits cut? We believe this bill actually holds down the very people it is supposed to give a hand up!

The health care debate has been of great concern to me because it is extremely personal to me. I was born 27 years ago legally blind, with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, and many other birth defects that I call “blessings.” My doctors and nurses tested me for every disease and disorder known to man back in 1982 but despite the fact that all of those tests came out negative, I was given six weeks to live, at best. They told my parents that if I did happen to live past six weeks that I would be a “vegetable.” At two months I developed pneumonia and my heart began to fail. I had to have emergency surgery but thanks to skill of my doctors, the love of my family, and the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ, the surgery was successful and I am still here defying the long odds that I faced back then.

During the August recess I was able to attend a town hall meeting and I asked of my representative the same question I ask today. My burning question is that if we went “Back to the Future” and this bill that Pelosi, Reid, & Co. are trying to ram down our throats was law would the Government have deemed my life worth saving? The answer to that sobering question is sadly in the negative. That is why this issue is as personal as it gets to me.

We find ourselves aligned with Americans of all political persuasions: from Howard Dean, Keith Olberman, and the Daily Kos to independents and centrists to Rush Limbaugh and conservatives everywhere. The American people have spoken loud and clear: start the process over with open and honest debate. Any legislation that dramatically affects the life of every single American deserves at least as much, and legislation that risks the lives of society’s most vulnerable should be handled with the greatest care. That certainly doesn’t include “Dashing through the snow in a one (donkey) open sleigh” to pass the Senate version before Christmas, let alone on the eve of the most sacred of holidays.

Senator Nelson, please reconsider. 66% of Americans are opposed to the current bill. Voting for this monstrosity would not only be selling out your state, but your country as well. To my fellow Patriots, come what may we must not give up our fight! WE THE PEOPLE are in control. If not now, than at the ballot box next November!

Merry Christmas & may God bless the greatest nation on earth, the United States of America!

Brian Donegan
-Founder & Chairman, Can-Do Conservatives of America

Two weeks ago in the dark of a Saturday Night, the House passed their version of the so-called “Healthcare Reform Bill.”  The Bozos on Capital Hill are at it again.  This time in the other chamber.

The Senate’s version of the bill barely cleared its first hurdle.  The measure for cloture on the matter passed 60-39.  This means the bill will be up for debate following the Thanksgiving recess.  This was another vote taken in the dark of night on a day when the switchboards were shut down.  The voices of the American people seem to be facing an incoming gale from the powers that be.

However this is not the time to give up.  Not at all.  Our voices must be and will be heard at the end of the day!  This bill has a long way to go.  We must keep fighting, harder than ever!  If our voices are ignored in this debate, our voices WILL NOT be ignored at the ballot box next year!  Let it be known that if this bill passes and is signed into law we will make 1994 look like peanuts compared to the Revolution we will set into motion next year.

Time to sit back, refresh, and rearm ourselves for the battles to come this week.  WE WILL PREVAIL FOLKS!!!

In the dark of Saturday night, The House barely passed the Pelosi’s bill for the Government takeover of health care.   The Vote count was 220-215.  39 Blue Dogs voted against it, and one Republican (Cao of Louisiana) voted in favor.  Thus ends a longer than expected chapter in the Democrats efforts to Socialize Medicine and health care in this country.  Their goal was to pass this bill through before the Summer recess.  However, Americans citizens rose up and forced them to postpone the bill’s passing.  The Tea Parties, and town hall meetings pushed it back even farther.  Folks we pushed this to the absolute limit!

I sincerely hope the Republicans and Conservatives will take a lesson to heart.  The Democrats are winning these battles because they are arguing on moral grounds and pushing emotionally charged buttons.  It’s time for us to take a page from their playbook and try to beat them at their own game.

This past week I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to our Nation’s Capital to join with tens of thousands to protest this bill and send a strong message to Congress that if you vote for this bill, we will hold you accountable and run you out of town on a rail next November!  The “Emergency House Call” was called by Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman.  We joined her on the west lawn of the Capital building at Noon on Thursday.  The ensuring Press Conference, turned  rally, was emceed by Georgia Congressman, Tom Price.

At this “Press Event” the Republicans had a great opportunity on their hands.  Unfortunately like many opportunities, this one was lost.   I was proud to have attended on behalf of all the disabled Americans who could not attend, and to be their voice as we stormed The Hill.  I am very glad I did because we almost had no voice at all on the steps!  If it was not for Chris Smith (R-NJ) the plight of the disabled by this bill would have been ignored.  It is incomparable to me why this does not seem to be important to Republicans and Conservatives.  If nothing else, everyday American citizens with personal stories should have been front and center instead of two hours of politicians speaking, some of them plugging their candidacy for Governor!

The liberals have won this round but our fight is not over.  Our top priority right now needs to be defeating this monstrosity in the Senate.  You can take it to the bank that we have planted our flag on this and drawn our line in the sand.  We must defeat this bill and demand more common-sense solutions that will expand coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, allow for insurance to be bought across state lines with portability, and other solutions that can be achieved through the private sector without adding to our massive deficit and increasing the size of the Federal Government.

LET’S KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!!  WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE!!!