Blunt: If You Can't Afford Them, Don't Take the Broken Ones
Check out this remarkable letter to the editor, written by Patricia K. Kibby of Bolivar, MO. If anyone was wondering where Governor Matt Blunt gets his imperious and insensitive attitude toward the plight of others, this letter should provide a clear answer.
Read the letter in full, it's worth every minute.
I was at Bolivar City Hall for Congressman Roy Blunt's talk on Social Security. He answered questions afterwards, including one from the director of the Polk County Community Center concerning changes in funding. I was there as a parent representative for Head Start, and I asked Mr. Blunt about funding cuts that have been suggested for Head Start and briefly touched on the fact that Head Start has been such a blessing to myself and our six adopted children, as well as our foster children.
I told him there are many children who would suffer if Head Start was stripped of as much funding as the Foster/Adoptive programs and that if our children (who are all special needs of one kind or another) lost their Medicaid through budget cuts, we wouldn't be able to afford to keep them, as their medical expenses are so high. He said people who can't afford to pay children's medical bills shouldn't adopt them. (emphasis added)
When we adopted our kids through DFS, we weren't given all the information we really needed to be adequately prepared for what was ahead. We knew that the children's parents weren't fit or able to raise them because of social, emotional and/or legal problems and that there was substance abuse. That was just the tip of the iceberg, and Mr. Blunt had no right to be so judgmental and mean in his reply. We aren't poor people, but I don't know many families that could pay upwards of $10,000 a month for medications.
The State of Missouri, like every state in the United States, is desperately short of foster/adoptive parents. There are hundreds of thousands of children nationwide waiting for adoption, and most are special needs in some way. Where would they be if prospective parents were judged more on their ability to pay for their needs than how much love and care they want to give? I know a whole lot more middle-income adoptive parents than upper-income parents who have gone through DFS and chosen to make a difference in the life of a less-than-perfect child.
Shame on you, Mr. Blunt. You were mean and insensitive, and I hope none of your grandchildren are ever diagnosed with any kind of problems. Not every child is blessed to be born into a well-to-do, socially or politically prominent families. Thank God some of us can love broken angels, not just perfect ones!
I have been a Republican since I was 12 years old. Your attitude may change that.
Patricia K. Kibby
Bolivar, MO
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We can fight this lack of compassion.
This statement Roy Blunt helps me to understand how the "child gov" could be so cruel. However, it truly amazes me becuase I see that view as hard, harsh, and downright evil. I don't think that way so when I hear something like that I am truly frightened. I will do anything that is necessary to keep my little boy that I adopted, down to selling my car and my home if necessary. I love him so much and he is incredibly loving and kind even at age 5. Love always wins.
Lois Jones
Columbia, MO
Welcome to the "Ownership Society!"
It goes like this: If you can afford to own it, you can have it. Screw the rest of y'all.
Part 2: If you own something no one else wants, don't expect us to help you keep it.
I salute your courage in rearing these very special children indeed. My mom worked for DFS for 40 years and you must have been a godsend to your county DFS office b/c from what you are telling us, these are at best "very difficult to place" children. I'm sure even if you could have elaborated to the elder Blunt it wouldn't have tempered his answer. He'd have probably given the stock answer, "What are you complaining about, the state paid you money to be a foster parent!" (I'm sure you've heard that one before <g>)
As to your political leanings, let me couch it to you in a slightly different way...the present day GOP has duped a lot of folks into believing we dems have sprouted horns and a tail. They do this by "promising" you things you already have (namely, the ability to wave the flag and pray and own a gun) and by selling snake oil cures under the guise of it is good for you and your money, while all the time they are handing the money to each other. If you hung around us for a while, you'd find most of us on this board are not the demon straw democrat that they burn at the stake. Seriously, give us a look!
May change???
This is a great letter and sheds more light on the Blunt family "values." Why am I not surprised? However, what I find most remarkable about this is her last lines...."I've been a republican since I was 12 years old. [Blunt's] attitude may change that." May change that? My GOD, woman, what does it take? What is the source of your indignation toward Democrats? You must be indignant if you are still merely thinking about not being republican after that show of "compassion." I would hope that you would start thinking about why you have been republican for so long. If you are still considering voting for ANY republican, I think you should check yourself, and ask yourself why? Why have you "been a republican" since you were 12? What does that really mean? Hasn't it ever dawned on you that republicans do not stand for the things that matter to you? You should be outraged.
Is this taking us in the right direction?
Are we getting a little too far out there? I don't think a step back would hurt. Roy T has been kicking some ass with Fired Up since his move from the Temple Report, but it seems like lately all that's happening is slam after slam on papa blunt and the little blunts.
This is the age old argument for our party, build up or tear down? If all we do is attack, attack, attack...what are we standing for? Now that doesn't mean roll over. Hell no, I'm no nancyboy and neither is our party but maybe we need to start focusing on what we stand for rather then who we tear apart.Â
Either side of the aisle can play the attack game but we need to be the ones who stand above the BS politics.
Ok, I'm stepping down from my soapbox now.
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Sorry Wilkerson, I'm Far Out
Maybe you are right. So, maybe we can focus on the kids and their families.  No, not the Blunts. I mean the children of Missouri.  Maybe we can stand up for them. Maybe we can stand up for the men and women who take care of those kids. Maybe we can cry out with outrage when those in power treat parents and guardians of the kids disrespectfully and without compassion. Maybe we can tear apart the policies of those in power when their policies fail to support basic needs for those less fortunate than they.  Maybe we can point out that corporations should pay their fair share of taxes so that children in need can have a fair opportunity in life. Maybe we can present clearly (and perhaps with some humor) the lack of congruity between the self-serving values of those in power and the values of generosity and kindness held by most Missourians.
Oh. Those are the things we ARE doing.  I'm sorry, Wilkerson, but I guess I want to continue getting farther out there in that direction. Â
Let me clear that up for you......
Oh, so it's not obvious what I stand for? Let me clear that up.
I believe that is our JOB as the minority party to hold those who are in positions of authority accountable. I believe it's a civic duty.
Why am I attacking papa Blunt and the Blunts? In case it hasn't been obvious, let me make it very clear. It's because of what I believe.Â
I believe that the citizens of Missouri are entitled to a government that is free from the corrupting influence of the special interests.Â
Will our state or any state every be perfect? No. But Matt Blunt, his brother Andy, his sister Amy, and his father Roy are taking us further from that ideal, not closer to it. So, I am going to point that out.
I believe that Missouri is entitled to elected officials who have enough common sense and compassion to realize that every child is not born into perfect circumstances and that they should be glad that there are people like Mrs. Kibby in the world who are willing to open their homes to those kids.Â
So when some sanctimonious, smug, self-righteous philanderer like Roy Blunt wants to lecture Mrs. Kibby on family values, I am going to call him on it.
I believe that Missourians are entitled to leaders who are willing to take on tough problems like increasing access to health care for all Missourians and improving the quality of education available to kids no matter where they happen to be born.Â
Nearly 1 million Missourians lack access to affordable private health care, and we have a Governor whose only idea of a solution is to increase that number by 100,000. I am going to point that out, because it's wrong. The people of this state deserve better than that, and they had better when this state was led by Democrats. Democrats worked to find ways to increase access to health care, not limit it further.
I believe that Missourians are entitled to public officials who tell the truth. I think it is wrong for elected officials to claim they support education and then make proposals that are a fraud. Blunt's formula proposal is the biggest fraud perpetuated on our citizens since John Ashcroft lied about the 15-year plan.
I don't feel badly for criticizing dishonesty, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't.
I believe that Missourians are entitled to elected officials who are willing to be transparent with the public and with the press, who don't hide contributions until they are forced to admit to them because of ethics complaints, or make appointments without bothering to find out whether what they propose to do is even legal, or keep making up new reasons why they need to remodel their office or upgrade the mansion.
And lest someone try to tell me that I am trying to hold the Republicans to an impossible standard, I have to differ. Because I have had the privilege of working with and for several leaders who met this standard...and they were all Democrats.
I hope that clarifies what I believe. I understand others can disagree, and think a different strategy is in order, but I'm gonna do my bit, and others are free to theirs in their own way.
But as for me, as long as there is breath in my body, Diet Coke in my refrigerator, and enough electricity to power my computer (UE has had a power outage most of the day), I am going to point out what I believe, and what's wrong with them.Â
So if you're looking for someone who is going to send the Republicans bouquets every day, you are visiting the wrong site. (Though, an occasional officeholder may get a bouquet if it makes a larger point, but I digress...)