May he find himself in need some day, and bump into his own cruel policies.
For nearly a year, the moral outrage has been building. When Tim Pawlenty vetoed GAMC last spring, he crossed a moral line. Pawlenty unilaterally declared that he didn't care about Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens. He sold out 8,000 veterans, leaving those who fought for our country to fend for themselves.
I was outraged last spring and I am offended today. And I turned that outrage into action. For nearly a year, I've traveled the state, talked to people at hopsitals and doctors, listened to those who rely on GAMC for their medical care, and worked closely with leaders in the faith and progressive community to build action from our collective outrage. Yesterday, action that stemmed from outrage earned a victory when the Legislature voted nearly universally to restore GAMC.
The victory wasn't narrow, but it was short-lived. While accepting big checks at a fancy fundraiser in Washington, D.C., Tim Pawlenty ignored Minnesota's moral objections and vetoed GAMC. As Minnesotans, we are rightfully furious with Pawlenty's veto. He is out of touch at best and morally bankrupt at worst.
We have 2 options. We could walk away, let Pawlenty claim victory, and leave the most vulnerable Minnesotans to fend for themselves. Alternatively, we can stand up, we can call legislators - Democratic AND Republican - and demand that they support a veto override, and we can work together to reclaim Minnesota's moral authority.
In the short term, this fight is about restoring GAMC to Minnesotans who deserve the dignity of care. I urge you to be a part of this fight by calling legislators and encouraging them to override Pawlenty's veto.
But in the longer term, we must stand up against the philosophy that says we're on our own. That philosophy is bankrupting our state - both morally and economically. We need to declare loudly, with one voice, that in Minnesota we care about our neighbors; that we don't sell out our veterans in Minnesota; that in Minnesota, we don't kick people when they are down.
It's time that we have a Governor in Minnesota that stands up for what is right.