Jackson Day 2009 was certainly a great event had by all. From an electrifying speech by Harold Ford Jr., introducing former Vice-President and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore, to stirring words from both Mr. Gore and former President Bill Clinton about the need to stay true to the core values, ideals and beliefs of the party, to embracing old friends and meeting many new friends, truly a great day. Much thanks also to Chairman Chip Forrester for his leadership in putting this together and for Governor Bredesen for his insights we move forward. It was also great to see so many of our District 7leadership in attendance with their friends and family.
I also would be remiss if I did not give a big Thanks to my friends and sponsors Attorney Pete Olson and Attorney Mike Williamson of Clarksville for making the event possible for my campaign team and myself!
As for myself, I was invited to and did address all of our 95 county chairpersons and their executive committees, our gubernatorial candidates,party chair and staff, and all of the distinguished guests present during the day. You all will be hearing much more about the many issues and discussions which took place at this wonderful event, but permit to again make one of the points I made during my address;
Do not allow yourself and your friends, your family, your neighbors, your loved ones to fall victim to the politics of fear, of distortion, of half-truths and full-lies so often voiced by those who would seek to simply give a full-throated “No” to progress, to cooperation, to bi-partisan efforts. We must address the many challenges we face as Americans, as Tennesseans not just as Democrats or Republicans. Do not accept the mere soundbite, the mere talking point when it comes to your future and those you care about. Go ahead, ask questions, engage the other side in actual debate,challenge the other side to stand up and deliver when it comes to moving our nation and state ahead. It’s easy to cast stones at those who are trying to tackle the tough issues and then to stand in judgment of their efforts but much harder to be part of the solution than simply shout from the sidelines.
Former President Clinton and Vice-President Gore reminded us all of the need to reach across the aisle to seek solutions to problems which affect all Americans. Let us take that advice to heart, let us go forth with courage, with energy, with a renewed sense of purpose, always open to extending an open hand rather than a closed fist, but friends, let us also remember who we are and be proud. We are the party of hope, of opportunity, of unity rather than division.So get out there and let’s together remind all we interact with that as Americans, as Tennesseans, there is nothing we can’t do if we seek common ground and meet each other from a place of respect and basic dignity, a place far too brightly lit to allow the shadow of fear and division to ever find a home.
See you soon along the campaign trail!

Best Wishes,
Dr. Greg Rabidoux

The legacy of Ted Kennedy, like his brothers Robert and John before him is a mixed one. Rare is the public person, the politician who has spent his whole life in the public eye who leaves a completely unblemished or unquestioned legacy. Ted, the youngest of the Kennedy boys, born into wealth, privilege and a family expectation of public service,was of course not just another well-known or closely watched politician. He was to be forever linked into the media-driven hype that had become known as Camelot. Based upon the literary tragedy, our nation’s fascination with all things Kennedy really took root first during brother and former President John F. Kennedy’s successful run for President against the even better known, if not quite so charismatic or attractive Vice-President Richard Nixon.
This fascination was well documented and fed by historians, journalists and scribes who admired JFK, his family, his sense of style as well as his lovely wife Jackie, and who, back then, before TMZ.com and other such 24/7 news outlets, were able to overlook, JFK’s many dalliances, infidelities and serious medical condition.
This sense of Camelot, of some type of inevitable Greek, heroic tragedy, being cut down in the prime of one’s life, while still young, dashing and full of hope, was all-too quickly transferred from President John F. Kennedy unto his younger brother, and then presidential-hopeful, Senator (D-NY) Robert”Bobby” Kennedy. Not quite as dashing or polished or politically smooth as John, Bobby had a different type of reputation, more ruthless, more confrontational, but every bit, maybe even more, committed to tough reform in the areas of civil rights and race relations and breaking up organized crime.When RFK was gunned down during his campaign in an L.A. hotel kitchen, the nation’s focus turned to the last brother, the last hope to recapture and rekindle this sense of Camelot or hope, unto Teddy.
It was a lot for any man or woman to live up to, and in many ways Senator Kennedy, especially early on, just wasn’t up to the job. We may never know exactly what happened on that fateful night on the Chappaquiddick bridge, but we do know a young woman died tragically and Ted was at the wheel of the car.Whatever literary ending certain historians and family scribes and myth-makers had in mind as a proper ending to the Kennedy saga was simply not to be. For years, the youngest Kennedy was as famous for his notorious partying, drinking and personal issues as he was for his political achievements.
But here is the twist of the story which even the most die-hard Kennedy apologistor worst enemy probably didn’t ever see coming, at least not for many years.Teddy the young, wild kid brother who never went on to become President went onto become one of the most effective senators of either party in our nation’s history. He had the natural, effusive Irish charm that brother Bobby never had and he mastered the legislative nuts and bolts of political horse-trading his brother John never had the patience, temperament or stomach for. Teddy somehow became Senator Kennedy over the years. He earned the respect of legislators like Orrin hatch, and John McCain and the grudging respect of Presidents like Reagan.
But to many, as flawed a man as Teddy may have been, his legacy is unquestioned. Historians will be hard-pressed to find any landmark piece of legislation that came out of Congress in the past nearly four decades which did not bear the mark and imprint of Ted Kennedy. Civil rights, labor relations,working class support, equal pay, judiciary reform, education, you name the area and the downtrodden, the disenfranchised, the forgotten and the voiceless found in Senator Kennedy a strong, booming voice, a tireless advocate and a true friend.
A mixed legacy to be sure. But today, when we see so many of our leaders in Congress practice the politics of division, of shrill, partisan rhetoric, of a type of leadership that seems fueled by hate and not love, it is hard to not stand back and wonder, who will take his place? Who will try to build bridges and reach across the political aisle to try and do what is best for the many and not just for the few?
May he now find peace and what he caused “the cause of his lifetime,”true healthcare reform not be abandoned though its greatest champion has now left the public arena.

Best Wishes,
Dr. Greg Rabidoux

Let’s face it, Healthcare reform debate has dominated the news recently. It’s been hard to miss it even if you tried. Talk radio, town-hall meetings, telephone surveys, cable news shows, in short-media coverage wall to wall, 24/7. But has it truly been a debate? An exchange of ideas, opinions and differing visions for the future of healthcare in this country?Well, sort of. There has been a lot of shouting, fist-pounding and generally angry people, some rational, some seemingly not so rational. Some of this anger certainly seems to have been orchestrated by well-funded lobbying and special interest groups who don’t want any type of healthcare reform. For such groups,healthcare may simply be a nearly unlimited source of profit, a golden HMO goose, far too valuable too be plucked or reformed, now or at any point. And while we are not kidding ourselves about the state of our healthcare, let’s be frank about some other facts.
First, for quite some time now, a majority of Americans polled have responded that they do support reforming our system of healthcare, that number has been consistently well above 65%, and just recently was at 72% according to a Pew Research Institute poll. Second, the numbers I just cited have also been decreasing as the impact of counterattacks by opponents to healthcare reform,far too much of which has been distortions and fear-mongering, have been increasingly, well, frightening off would-be supporters.Third, the quality of debate that we have, as a nation, been engaging in about this critical issue of healthcare reform has been rapidly deteriorating.
Lately, this debate seems to be about such utter nonsense as “deathpanels” and enough doomsday projections from both sides, one if reform is enacted, one if it is defeated, to fill an Edgar Allen Poe greatest works compilation. Not so much talk it seems about the nearly 50 million Americans who are uninsured and face every day with fear that something may happen and they simply cannot afford to visit a doctor or even have routine preventive care visits. Not so much talk it seems about the millions of Americans who are uninsured and pray they don’t have anything serious happen to them that requires medical care or continue to work dead-end or low-paying jobs due to fear they cannot afford to lose their healthcare coverage. Not enough discussion about the roughly 870,000 Tennesseans who are uninsured and the many more who greet each day being under-insured. We have also not heard even close to enough about making real reform address the very real problem of healthcare choice and access for far too many of our citizens who live in rural areas, work on farms, or who simply can’t travel many miles to get the care they need. We need to be fight on their behalf and ensure there are enough incentives to get enough doctors and facilities to practice right in the communities of our rural neighbors and friends. I know I will continue to keep trying to call attention to this issue even if opponents to reform seem like they’d rather just talk about “rationing care” and “keeping government hands off of Medicare.” Yep, think about the logic of those last two phrases for a moment or two, you’ll be glad you did. Here’s a hint-try convincing your HMO to not “ration” your access to care based on the plan you can afford and secondly, is it actually possible or preferable for Government to keep its hands off a government-run program like Medicare? See what I mean, sometimes the question is the answer!
Overall, here’s my simple request for the healthcare debate in general and specifically tomorrow right here in Clarksville when my opponent Marsha Blackburn holds a townhall meeting at 4:00pm at Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza-let the discussion be an open, frank and civil affair. As our President has asked, let’s talk to and not at each other. Let’s dial down the shouting and ramp up the reasoned exchange of views. Passion is vital to effecting change or if one is not so minded, keeping the staus quo. But passion unchecked can simply poison informed debate.
I would also challenge my opponent to be frank and open about the fact that when she calls for, as she has repeatedly done, “reform” to be patient-centered and market-driven, she should also explain just how that will come about without genuine reform. As it has not yet happened in our current,private-sector, market-driven and at least promised “patient-centered”system why would it then somehow occur on its own? Without real competition,just how will a system that is currently dominated by monopolistic giants like Blue Cross Blue Shield, a system where in virtually all major markets is controlled by one and at most two large private insurers, just how will they all of a sudden not make profit and the creation of executive bonuses their goal as opposed to say, quality and affordability of medical care and access their reason for doing business? And really, is it fair to expect that afor-profit system dominated by healthcare giants who have no real reason to be patient-centered for fear of serious market-share loss will, out of the goodness of their hearts not control a system where some insurance risk-agent comes between you and your doctor?
A recent study by the Urban Institute reported that a public plan option could save taxpayers between $224-400 billion over 10 years by lowering the cost of proposed subsidies for the uninsured, while preserving private coverage for most citizens. What happens in an unchecked, relatively unfettered market-driven healthcare system? Well, about what you’d expect-the big keep getting bigger, the huge pharmaceuticals keep putting more and more money into marketing than in R&D for cures and ever-higher premiums keep getting passed onto the consumer. Meanwhile, as Republican Senator Olympia Snowe has said, there is a serious problem with the lack of competition currently among insurers. So much for any magic hand that will somehow drive down premiums,increase quality medical care, control skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs all while addressing the current obstacle of pre-existing conditions that so many Americans find terminal when it comes to coverage. And let’s not forget what opponents like Congressman Blackburn are always fond of giving lip service to but apparently not truly caring about when it comes to healthcare reform and that is American small business. Healthcare reform, especially with a public option, will allow small businesses across America to no longer be crippled by their inability to ensure their employees will be covered. I am a believer in capitalism and the marketplace but I appreciate the monopoly-busting that Teddy Roosevelt did back in the day to also make sure there is healthy competition in America. It just doesn’t seem like we have healthy competition in ironically,the healthcare industry and too many American lives depend on our leaders making it happen and not simply continuing to be the mouthpieces for the healthcare giants.
But wait, we may need to address the so-called “Death Panels” in the news of late and so I now shall. It is a deliberate attempt to use inaccurate and inflammatory rhetoric to stir up fear and provide misinformation among many Americans, especially the elderly, in an attempt to make the debate about this and not about more genuine, though perhaps less dramatic issues. “DeathPanels” is also a term favored by the no-longer Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and apparently by my opponent, who recently referred to this term in one of her town hall meetings and has, to my knowledge, refused to refute this characterization of the end-of-life counseling provision in some of the proposed legislation. This, despite folks in Palin and Blackburn’s own party saying things like, “It does us no good to incite fear in people by saying that there’s these end-of-life provisions, these ‘death panels’-quite honestly,I am so offended at the terminology because it absolutely isn’t in the bill.There is no reason to gin up fear in the American public by saying such things…” (Republican Senator Lisa Murowski). Blackburn’s colleague,again in her own party has said, “How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as (death panels) is nuts” (Senator Johnny Isakson R-GA).
Well, I am also offended by such fear-mongering and purposeful distortion when it comes to such an important issue like the health of my fellow Americans, and I, too, think that it is indeed nuts. Enough fear-mongering and distortion and more reasoned debate. Let’s have representatives like Blackburn stop pandering to the extremes and work in a bi-partisan way to craft a common-sense bill that provides genuine reform without breaking the bank. In fairness though, since healthcare special interests continue to be one of her top sources of campaign contributions asking this of her or some of her similarly positioned colleagues may not be realistic.
By the way, are such distortions I’ve identified and those that have been refuted by more moderate Republicans than Blackburn as nutty as the”Birther bill?” Well, tomorrow, when it comes your chance to speak,why not ask Congressman Blackburn herself? In addition to this whole”death panels” nonsense, she is also a co-sponsor of the “Birtherbill.” But most of all, let the debate tomorrow and to the future be open,be frank and let’s try and ensure that whether you are genuinely angry or not we actually have a debate and not just a lot of shouting. Let’s save that for football season.

Best Wishes,
Dr. Greg Rabidoux

Hi to all my Campaign blog readers,

Several of you have been asking us how things are going and wanted more detailed updates as to what we have been doing lately. I appreciate your interest and enthusiasm! Recently, two of my campaign staff, DJ Luciano and Kelsy Holliday, and I visited Perry County. As many of you may know this area,and Linden, TN in particular, has been hit especially hard by these tough economic times. With the closing of a major auto manufacturing plant there the unemployment rate at one point hit about 27%. What you may not know is that the current incumbent Congressman (yes, she prefers “Man”) Marsha Blackburn, has made several negative statements about economic stimulus efforts and has derided such efforts by saying “Where are the jobs” and that the stimulus is “a cancer” on our state.
Well, I responded back to Blackburn that the jobs, if she bothered to actually take a moment from her scripted “talking points” and look, were right in our state of Tennessee, right in her own district 7 in areas like Perry County. In fact, as a result of stimulus dollars and the efforts of leaders like Governor Bredesen, there have been about 350 or so jobs created in Perry County and the unemployment rate has dropped from that 27% figure to about 22%.Now, that figure is still way too high and unacceptable but it’d be real hard to call such progress and job creation “a cancer.” In fact, when we visited there recently, no one, certainly not the Mayor John Carroll, whom I had the pleasure to meet with and discuss strategies to revitalize that county,called it a cancer. Far from it, he applauded such federal and state efforts to help his constituents.
Not shockingly, everyone I met and spoke with there, including local leaders,teachers, small businessmen and women, government employees, environmental activists, even retirees, did not mention Marsha Blackburn as having made any effort to help Perry County through these tough times! They did mention her in other contexts but it sure wasn’t positive.
Some of what we discussed are ideas that I am sharing with folks and getting their input on, including; 1) greater collaboration at an early point betweenacademic institutions, government and private sector for practical educational training with jobs already in mind upon graduation or program completion, 2) a”community care” program that would provide direct incentives for students to stay and remain in their hometowns like Perry County upon graduation so that areas like that don’t always lose many of their “be stand brightest” to other areas, even out of state, and 3) innovative ways to attract investors to their area, like using stimulus money forinfrastructure development and even commuter type railway link-up systems.
All in all, it was a productive day and we thank the good people of Perry County for sharing their concerns, ideas and insight with myself and my campaign staffers present. I don’t pretend to have all the answers but with my background, both academically, legally and having worked in the corporate sector, I do know some real good questions to ask and some programs and successes we can learn from and apply right here in Tennessee. Right here in District 7. But unlike my opponent, leadership through tough times is not about reading scripted talking points some talking head wrote for you in between your next TV appearance, it’s about connecting with people at the grassroots level, rolling up your sleeves and asking how you can help people get back on their feet.
We are doing just this throughout the district. If you want us to visit your neck of the woods please contact Kelsy Holliday at kelsy@rabidoux4congress.com and we will get you on the schedule, or if you’d like to set up an interview or other media event please contact Stephanie Coward at stephanie@rabidoux4congress.com. Thanks!
Best Wishes
Dr. Greg Rabidoux, PH.D, JD
Candidate, US Congress, District 7, TN

Great to see our two American journalists, Ms. Laura Ling and Ms. Euna Lee, released from a North Korean jail yesterday. Like seemingly everything associated with North Korea, the whole incident was typically shrouded in mystery, media spin and well, outright eccentricity.The latter is in large part due to the fact that ailing leader Kim Jong II, who suffered a stroke at some point a year or so ago (it was kept hidden apparently for awhile before going public) has always been unpredictable and eccentric.However, the journalists in this case, who were both of former Vice-president Al Gore’s TV Media Venture, were accused by N. Korean officials of sneakinginto the country illegally and engaging in various unspecified “hostile acts.” Let’s be frank here, the range of doing something intentionally or unintentionally that can and nearly always will be interpreted by N. Korea ashostile is from what I can tell, unlimited in range and depth.

A colleague of mine shared with me that N. Korean children have been taught starting in their version of kindergarten that Americans are wolves with sharp teeth and want only to rape, rob and destroy all N. Koreans and must be themselves destroyed. Gee, I hope after all of that brainwashing they still have time for other fantasy stories during story time. Anyways, here’s the point, while we should always be ready to embrace nations that are sincerely trying to move towards being part of civil society and as part of a productive international community, we should also be wary that nations like N. Korea who have no respect for human rights and basic freedoms of their own people certainly will have no regard for those rights and freedoms of other nations. Who wouldn’t like to think that this release of these journalists was, as the Korean Central News Agency put it, “a sign of North Korea’s humanitarian and peace-loving policy?” But it will take much more transparency, much less mystery, and awhole lot more visible commitment to the basic rights and freedoms of its people for this N. Korean tiger to change its spots.

Kudos though to all of our State Department folks who worked hard behind the scenes to put this negotiation into motion, Madame Secretary Clinton’s leadership and of course former President Bill Clinton’s skillful negotiation on the spot to help ensure that the eccentric dictator Kim Jong II did not back out at the last moment. President Obama should also be applauded for giving the green light to such extra-official negotiations. He gets the fact that if you don’t care about who gets the credit there is almost no limit as to what a team can accomplish.

No doubt the extremists and pundits will find fault in this instance and engage in Clinton bashing but they will be off-base as usual. The journalists are freed and back on US soil. That is what counts. If you doubt that, just ask the overjoyed families of Ms. Ling and Lee. And President Clinton even has time to rest up a bit before he joins us at our TNDP Jackson Day Dinner August 29th!

Finally, I have always been a big-time sports fan but even I find it hard,actually impossible, to be able to choke down some of the salaries these guys make in pro sports. Eli Manning of the NY Giants just signed a 6 year deal worth nearly $100 million dollars. If you add up the salary contracts of just three of the NY Yankees off-season signings which includes C.C. Sabathia and Mark Texeira, it comes up to nearly one quarter of a billion dollars! Hey, who would say No to that money?, and I am all for the worker getting his or her um,fair share, but, I can’t help thinking of what legendary journalist Walter Cronkite said when he was paid the very handsome sum of $100,000 per year to anchor the CBS News. A reporter asked him if he thought he was worth all of that money, Mr. Cronkite replied, “No one is worth all of that money.” Here’s to all our journalists, and working men and women everywhere who try and do the right thing everyday, earn every penny and do it for a whole lot less than they’d probably like to.

Best Wishes,
Dr. Greg Rabidoux