WSJ: "Democrats' New Worry: Their Own Rich Voters"

Look, I'm a progressive but I'm also a loyal Democrat. Still, when I see articles like this, it really makes me wonder why I bother.

A group of Democrats elected in recent years from some of the country's richest congressional districts have emerged as a stumbling block to raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for President Barack Obama's ambitious health-care overhaul just as the plan has begun to meet increasing resistance over its cost.

[...]

Also on Friday a busload of freshmen Democrats went to the White House to plead their case against sharp tax increases with the president and his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. The organizer was Rep. Gerald Connolly, the president of the freshman class whose Northern Virginia district is the richest in the U.S. as measured by median household income.

Well, ain't that just precious; Democrats from the richest districts in America fighting against "a one-percentage point-surtax on couples earning between $350,000 and $500,000" (e.g., the top 1% of wage earners in this country) while President Obama fights to provide health insurance for all Americans?

So here's a question: if we can't raise taxes on the wealthiest 0.1% of Americans, and we don't want to raise any other taxes, and we don't want to make the federal budget deficit any worse, than how in bloody hell are we going to pay for universal, high-quality health care coverage? Now, here's another question: how can you call yourself a "Democrat" while fighting for the top 1% richest Americans against the other 99.9%? And yes, that was rhetorical.

P.S. Oh, and even if Gerry Connolly is correct that "Households earning at least $200,000 represent 14% of his district," that means 86% of his district does not earn at least $200,000. In fact, the median income for Fairfax County is $81,050, and the median income for Prince William County is $65,960. Not bad, but not exactly super rich.

UPDATE: If you want to contact Rep. Connolly and let him know you support President Obama and 99% of Americans - as opposed to the top 1% richest Americans - on this one, you can call Connolly's office at (202) 225-1492 or email here.

UPDATE #2: Bryan Scrafford weighs in, writing "I have to STRONGLY disagree with the action that [Gerry Connolly] has recent taken in regards to health care."