I normally stay clear of paying any attention to political candidates and issues for a few weeks before the elections, preferring instead to spend the last few days before I vote going over what everyone has said, where they stand, and deciding then how I will vote. Most of the tongue flapping that happens the last few weeks before voting day is just so much poo flinging anyway. It’s not worth paying attention to all of it and does little to encourage me to vote one way or the other. Fling poo all you want. I’m an issues person, and all I want to know is where you stand on the things I care about and whether or not I believe you will do what you say. Beyond that, I usually don’t care. Even an asshole can get good things done. I don’t have to like the person, I just have to like their ideas and plans.

Which brings me to Kinky Friedman’s healthcare plan for Texas (PDF file, suggested reading only for Texas voters). I am not thrilled with it, especially the fact that childless couples and singles would yet again pay more for less.

The Texas plan would include four tiers of coverage, with the poorest children getting the most benefits for the lowest price and childless adults paying the most for the fewest benefits. Source: If elected, Friedman vows to offer subsidized healthcare for Texans

If there are 5.5 million people in Texas without health insurance (Lin and I being two of them), and of those people, 1.6 million of them are children, what group seems to be most lacking in health insurance? Could it be single people and childless couples? Why yes, it could, but Kinky seems to think we should pay higher premiums for lower benefits in order to Save the Children. While I wouldn’t consider this a total deal breaker as far as winning my vote goes, because I am so used to not having health insurance and not getting proper healthcare that my life will go on the way it always has no matter what stupid plan gets put in place, something else has come to my attention, and it’s bent my nose so far out of shape I am taking time away from making dinner to rant about it.

It all started with an email sent to Kinky’s campaign by a friend of one of my Livejournal friends, an email that wasn’t politely worded and a little course. What I would expect in response from a political campaign to such an email is either silence or a form letter explaining the issue that prompted the frothing email. The response from John Jordan, apparently the head of Field and Operations for Kinky’s campaign, was short and to the point … “fuck you.” That is pretty much uncalled for. I get emails from people who disagree with me on things, and sometimes they are quite rude. I use that handy little thing called a delete button, or I send out my own form letter that basically states we can discuss the matter when they are willing to discuss it rationally. I would expect someone working for a political campaign to be at least as dignified and diplomatic about it. I guess my expectations are too high.

Rob has been having a bit of a back and forth with emails from Mr. Jordan and others, and the responses have been quite revealing. You can read them, and Rob’s responses back at these links:

Two Words, Two Votes: Rob explaining why Kinky will be two votes shorter.
And the first (non-automated) response: Really a must read. John Jordan is no diplomat.
Second Response: Laura Stromberg, Kinky’s Press Secretary, becomes involved.
Third Response: Laura Stromberg stays involved and changes her tune and Rob responds.

Now like I said, Kinky’s healthcare plan aren’t by itself a deal breaker. The asinine and arrogant behavior of his campaign staff, also by itself, also wouldn’t be a deal breaker where my vote is concerned. The two together? Yup, that’s starting to look like an enormous blot on my desire to Vote Kinky, which is a real shame, because I agree with him on most things and there isn’t anyone else I currently approve of more than I do Kinky. It’s definitely going to make me do some thinking about how I feel giving my vote to someone who as asses working for him and wants to shaft me and my husband on healthcare. I guess I’ll have to look at the Democrat that is running, though there’s something about him that makes me shiver in a bad way. I can’t quite put my finger on it yet, but something about him doesn’t sit well with me. Who knows, maybe for the first time since I have been able to do so, I will cast no vote at all in the governor’s race. That would be SO weird.

Anyway, I just wanted to get that out there for more eyes to see. I really need to go work on dinner now, and the kittens are awake again, so I better squeeze in some playtime too.