send to a friend | print | comment

Dahlkemper ready to defend health care vote

Never underestimate the anecdote.

That’s what Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) is keeping in mind as she prepares to defend a challenge from Republican Mike Kelly, in a race that will surely hinge in part on whether constituents accept her vote in favor of the recently-enacted health care law. Dahlkemper is one of several self-professed, pro-life Democrats who voted for the legislation, and in a recent interview with pa2010.com, Dahlkemper pulled out an anecdote to explain why she is not afraid to be linked to health care—even as a freshmen Democrat in a conservative-leaning district.

“A 29-year-old woman came into my office not long ago,” Dahlkemper said. “At 27 she had a great job, great insurance, two savings accounts and a 401K. She was doing everything right, until she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She lost almost everything when she had to leave her job. That’s why health care was the right vote in this district, for her and so many others.”

Of course, Republicans have their own anecdotes, particular one that stems from a news conference shortly after the House passed the first version of the legislation last year. Dahlkemper stood with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that day, and Pelosi praised her role in shaping the controversial compromises that sought to ensure no federal funding would go toward abortions. For months, Republicans have spoken of taking an enlarged photo of Dahlkemper with Pelosi that day, and carrying it around the northwest Pennsylvania district as a rallying cry against her.

Dahlkemper said that prospect doesn’t concern her.

“I’m a pro-life Democrat who helped to eliminate federal funding for abortion in the health care bill,” she said. “I think my constituents support that vote, and those who don’t at least understand why I cast it.

“My voters aren’t concerned as much with what a Representative from California is doing,” Dahlkemper added. “They want to know that I will cast votes in an independent way, and I have already proven that. If a vote is good for [the 3rd District] than I will say yes. If it’s bad, no.”

June 14, 2010 at 1:42 pm

--John Manganaro

Tags: Kathy Dahlkemper, Mike Kelly, PA-3

comments

comments [2] | post a comment