Other people have blogged far more eloquently than I about HR 3101's chances for success (or lack thereof), as well as the attempts to get Rep. Boucher to allow the bill to move in his subcommittee and other subcommittee member's lack of backbone in standing up to him and demanding that this bill receive a fair hearing and movement on it (you listening, Rep. Bono-Mack? That was directed to you and your colleagues).

The President gave an eloquent and subdued speech on the State of the Union, addressing a "deficit of trust" that the nation has in it's elected leaders. Well, those "deficit(s) of trust" begin with small missteps like this one, in which those same elected officials have an opportunity to ensure equal access for all, yet lack the backbone to say to a campaign contributor "look, I'm gonna move this bill, it's just the right thing to do", or they say "I can't commit to this bill one way or the other until the committee chair tells me to". After all, were they not elected to represent OUR interests? Make no mistake about it, once elected, our officials go into circle the wagons mode and VERY few of them have the courage to speak up and speak out for fear of losing their plum perks of office and the heady elixir of perceived power.

While reading up on the speech and subsequent GOP response, I was particularly struck by a quote from Gov. Bob McDonnell's response in which he said "Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all". I could not agree more, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that we have just been given a perfect line to use when addressing attempts to get Republicans to co-sponsor this bill and Boucher to allow it to move. This bill isn't about promising that every deaf and hard of hearing person will succeed, that every one of us will immediately find the dream job and move off SSI, etc. This bill is simply one thing: addressing the EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY to access everything on the internet and so forth.

After all, Republicans can not very well argue with the party's official response to the State of the Union address, and no reasonable person can argue with the belief of equality of opportunity. That's one of the core tenets this country was founded on and has strived for. So when you call or write your Republican (or Democrat) representatives, be sure to make a mention of Gov. McDonnell's comment above. And ask them to explain to you how they can rationalize NOT supporting HR 3101 in light of that comment. I know I am drafting yet another letter to my representative, and will be sure to mention that comment in my request for support. I'm a proud Republican, and always will be. I came of age in Reagan's presidency, when he advocated a big tent that allowed for dissension on some issues, but mostly agreement on the big issues. Some people derisively call that being a "moderate" Republican. I argue back that moderation is the key to success, and it can be done without compromising your (my) core Conservative values.

It's time for these two parties to get together and get it done. With the explosion of technology, the deaf and hard of hearing are being left behind yet again in accessibility, and we need to head it off now. But they won't do it without YOUR involvement and continued phone calls, emails, and letters to them. Don't leave it upon the shoulders of just a few to bear the weight of the entire deaf and hard of hearing communities, get involved NOW and help. It's the only way for this (and us) to succeed.

Good luck!

Eddie