Senator Arlen Specter at a town hall meeting in Lebanon, PA
In America, anyone can be an expert if they can be featured on TV. The latest example of armchair expert-ism is Katy Abram, the emotionally wrought Republican who reamed Senator Arlen Specter at a Pennsylvania town hall meeting. Jon Stewart heralded Abram as the new “Joe the Plumber” after she was featured on “Hannity” on Fox News, an apt comparison because neither Abram nor Samuel Wurzelbacher the non-plumber were knowledgeable on any topic they spoke about.
In the Sean Hannity interview, Abram started immediately with a bit of shining conservative hypocrisy commonly referred to as “freedom of speech means you can’t criticize me,” complaining that after publicly voicing her opinion, other people had the nerve to call her and voice their opinions too. Admittedly, some were out of line; Abram accused a few of calling her a racist, but there’s little evidence other than her Republicanism to indicate racism, so it’s best to leave that off the table. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t complain about the people who called her to voice positive opinions about her rant.
The passion with which Abram makes her untrue statements is the real story here. Abram admitted in the Hannity interview that she was so overcome with… “I don’t know…” that she didn’t even listen to Senator Specter’s answer. She began the interview in tears, same as she began her attack on Senator Specter. It’s clear that Katy Abram is an example of what people will do when they believe in things that aren’t true. She’s somehow been led to believe that reforming the American health care system will systematically dismantle the country and become like Russia, a prospect so terrifying that it reduces her to tears. What happens when you scare somebody that badly about the future of their country, but instead of reacting in sadness, they react with anger? What happens when that person has a gun or a bomb?
As a sidenote, isn’t it interesting that Abram isn’t terrified that America will wind up more like Sweden, a socialist country that’s had great success? Swedish health care is 100% government funded through taxes, with zero rationing and short waiting times. Every ranking of health care among world governments places Sweden near the top of the list, indicating that its evil socialist government leaves America in the dust.
It’s still worth noting that her grasp of policy and the Constitution is embarrassingly weak. Abram complained in the Hannity interview, “George Washington is rolling over in his grave right now. This is not what the Constitution wrote.” What makes Abram think that George Washington worried about universal health care in a world of bloodsucking insurance companies, the world may never know. What we do know is that Abram doesn’t understand the basics of this country’s history. The Constitution wasn’t intended to address every issue that would ever come up; that’s why we have a legislature and the power to amend the document.
Abram further exposed her ignorance on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” declaring among other things that Cash for Clunkers was a failure and the health care reform bill, which has been bandied about for months, is being “rushed.” She really embarrassed herself when Lawrence O’Donnell, subbing for Chris Matthews, corrected Abram’s claim that all small businesses will be taxed exorbitantly and asked her if she made more than $250,000 a year; Abram responded that she had no idea what her income was and she left those complicated money issues to her husband.
The interview got worse as it went on. O’Donnell asked Abram why she suddenly cared about politics when health care became the issue, not 9/11 or the wars in the Middle East, and Abram responded that she just “didn’t care” and “had other things going on” before. She invoked the Founding Fathers again later in the interview to complain that they wouldn’t want America to have the social programs it has now, but what kind of an expert is she on the Founding Fathers when she thinks that they could ever have anticipated Social Security, the bailout, or health care reform? The fact that they couldn’t is an essential part of the system: Americans, and America, must be able to adapt as times change.
There was one shining moment in the interview, though, that sums up the entire Abram spectacle quite nicely. In explaining why she didn’t pay attention to current events, Abram offered, “maybe I’m just not that smart.” She declared to Arlen Specter that he was “awakened a sleeping giant,” but if she means that giant to represent her power to crush health care reform, Specter has little to worry about.
Comments
Like Joe the Plumber, Katy Abram is a manipulative liar.
There are tracks all over the Internet that prove it.
On March 22, 2004, she posted an Amazon review of Sean Insannity's "Deliver Us From Evil" under the alias "katygo".
in which she said "I personally have NEVER made over $35,000. My husband is making in the mid $50's..." somehow between 2004 and her appearance on Hardball, she managed to forget her family's annual income. She also said then, "I am a conservative who has seen the light after working a number of years in the liberal television media." She was in television post-9/11 and didn't pay any attention to the news?
She joined Meet-Up in December, 2006, with an interest in Conservative and Glenn Beck groups. Although she has recently set her profile to make this information hidden from the public, a copy showing that information remains in the Google cache.
Her more recent activities show that she's a Glenn Beck 9/12 organizer.
She is not what she pr
In response to “the invasion of Afghanistan, the war in Afghanistan, the first chapter of what became two wars in the Middle East, including the Iraq war,” Katy said, “I didn't really care . . . . It just-it wasn't a priority in my life.” She did not care that our servicemen fought and died for her freedom. She couldn’t be bothered.
You are sick individuals. In writing about those who do not support your ideas you trash and call them idiots, however, when speaking of those on your side they are Americans voicing their opinions. While you vilify those who do not agree with you the country is crying out for unity and purpose. I ask everyone to acknowledge that others may not agree with you on issues but we are all Americans with the right and duty to speak out for our beliefs and opinions on topics of national interest. I will not begrudge you for standing with "OUR" president and all I ask in return is that you do the same to others.
Chris Holloway
crholloway@gmail.com
The only thing that Katy got right on her interview on MSNBC was when she said, "maybe I'm just not that smart." No this time you're right Katy, you're not that smart.
If Katy Abram and her husband do not want socialism in the USA than they should not use...
Public water and sewage systems, Public electricity grids, Public schools and univerisities, The INTERNET, Public streets, etc.... AND of course they must HATE our Publicly funded Military, Police and Firemen.
What an ungratefull, dishonest, shill!!!
Katy,
Too bad you were asleep when our last president entered us into two wars and began reckless spending. I hope you've encouraged your parents to donate their future social security checks to a military family who sacrificed to give you the freedom to scream at elected official. Now that you're awake, how about voting for someone who represents your views.
I'm shocked at the malicious attacks on Katy Abram. Last I read the Constitution, we had the right to free speech, free assembly and free association.
Katy Abram has the right of free speech and she uses it to do whatever it is that she does. Alexa has the right of free speech and she uses it to criticize Katy Abram. Criticizing people doesn't take way their free speech rights!
Thank you Tom Betz, you beat me to the post. Katy Abram has been loudly and passionately interested, "knowledgeable", and supportive of Conservative political views since at least March 2004. That would be 2 months into Bush W's 2nd term. She herself said in her review (Amazon 03/2004) of Hannity's book (Deliver Us From Evil) that it put a fire in her belly. She is an organizer of Conservative groups, meetings, and protests. There is nothing wrong with that, it is her Constitutional right, but why is she lying and trying to hide that fact? What is motivating her to pretend that she is just a simple ordinary citizen bystander who is just now finally paying attention to what is going on? She said to Sen. Spector that she has never been interested in politics. That is just simply not true. The fact is she was lying, and continues to lie. My Grandma used to warn me that your lies will catch up with you and make you sorry. The truth would have been so much easier. Have fun Katy.
Thank you Tom Betz, you beat me to the post. Katy Abram has been loudly and passionately interested, "knowledgeable", and supportive of Conservative political views since at least March 2004. That would be 2 months into Bush W's 2nd term. She herself said in her review (Amazon 03/2004) of Hannity's book (Deliver Us From Evil) that it put a fire in her belly. She is an organizer of Conservative groups, meetings, and protests. There is nothing wrong with that, it is her Constitutional right, but why is she lying and trying to hide that fact? What is motivating her to pretend that she is just a simple ordinary citizen bystander who is just now finally paying attention to what is going on? She said to Sen. Spector that she has never been interested in politics. That is just simply not true. The fact is she was lying, and continues to lie. My Grandma used to warn me that your lies will catch up with you and make you sorry. The truth would have been so much easier. Have fun Katy.
No we know! Those who are so eager to label "Birthers" and Deathers" are sure to be named "Denigrators!" Alexa Dobson is definitely a Denigrator!"
Alexa Dobson certainly seems to represent the ACORN viewpoint. I had no idea ACORN was even in Alaska! Alexa is sure to be amongst those who likes to whomp on Sarah Palin too!
Mary Jo, you're giving me inspiration for a new article. What is with your obsession with ACORN? It seems that the right wing sees ACORN as some sort of boogeyman. Please answer at great length; personal accounts are great for research.
ACORN, the organization, in a word is "Corruption" personified.
Let's exchange articles. You go first. What is your obsession with being a Denigrator?
I just thought I'd ask if you could give me some insight into why the right uses ACORN as a scapegoat for literally everything. I should have realized you were more interested in being obnoxious and belligerent than helping me.
And for the record, I'm not working for any political organization, paid or unpaid.
There you go again, Alexa. A Denigrator!
And I know that if you have any real interest in what ACORN is all about, you, being a Denigrating author (not journalist), would have done the research yourself.
Mary Jo, consider this your warning: your posts are harassing and bordering on spamming. Future posts of that sort will be deleted.
This is the most biased and hateful article I have read on this subject... what a joke. And I am sure that our Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves. They created an amazing CAPITALISTIC society... this is fundamental and should NEVER change!
WE ARE NOT SOCIALIST!
... and for the record, we are not European.
Remember when I said that Katy Abram was a good example of what can happen when americans are fed hatred? The previous commenter is just as good an example.
this country is going downhill no matter who is in charge, its all about money.
Me being fed hatred? You were the one calling the town hall protestors *quote* idiots.
I just know the truth... and I know that anything that defies all common sense will fail in the end.
"Average American," lying is a sin. Please don't misquote me.
I apologize... I have been reading so many articles on this subject and had your article confused with another and did misquote you.
However, I still insist that anything that defies common sense will fail in the end.
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