Friday, August 24, 2012

Denby Tongue-Tied Once Again

There it is again.

The sentence that is increasingly being linked with Rep.Cindy Denby's name in the Livingston Press and Argus -- "State Rep. Cindy Denby, R-Handy Township, didn't return a call for this story."

It's not the first time by a long shot. In June, Denby couldn't be bothered to comment on a story about the synethic drugs being sold under the name K-2. And I've noticed numerous other examples.

In the newspaper for Friday (Augst 24, 2012), Denby wasn't available to talk about Gov. Rick Snyder's decision to go ahead with planning a health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act after lawmakers failed to act.

Did she avoid it because the topic was uncomfortable to talk about? Republicans claim the Affordable Care Act is a "government take-over of the health care system," but the exchanges are nothing more than a big marketplace where people can go and buy PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE. So Denby would have had to try to explain why it was a bad idea to let people know what private insurance is available in the marketplace in one, easy-to-access portal -- basically a website like Travelocity or Orbitz. Was she unable to do that?

Was she afraid to criticize the governor of her own party for going ahead despite the Legislature's refusal to act?

Did she just not think her constituents needed to know what she thought on this issue? Did she not have the "time" to return one phone call?

It's impossible to know, but any of these possibilities -- lack of knowledge, lack of courage, failure to prioritize the issue -- don't speak well of her as a public servant.

The media exists to hold public officials accountable. Dodging press calls has become a regular habit for Denby. She is increasingly leaving the impression that she doesn't think she is accountable to the media -- even friendly media. And that's never good for a public servant.

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