Young Reacts "Angrily" to DCCC Ads

Bill Young

angrily pointed to a new radio ad campaign this week by Democrats accusing him of opposing increased benefits in Medicare for seniors.

Here is the text of the ad to which Young reacted angrily:

The DCCC is responsible for the content of this advertising, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Did you know Bill Young receives health care at taxpayers' expense, but voted against lowering senior's Medicare deductibles and co-payments for preventative care? Tell Congressman Young to put seniors first.

The ad is in response to Young voting against H R 3162 to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP program. ROLL CALL 787, 8/1/2007.

Young's angry reaction was in response to being asked about whether or not he plans to retire after 38 years in Congress. Here is what he had to say:

All I can say is that if they (Democrats) think they can do it (convince him not to run) by pressuring me, they’re wrong.

So when did Old Bill Young get to be such an angry old man?

Justice for Old Bill Young?

The St. Pete Times Buzz Blog has this little tid bit: Congressman Charlie Justice? currently up. It seems State Senator Charlie Justice was seen:

last week talking with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen and DCCC staffers about possibly running against Republican U.S. (Representative) C.W. Bill Young

Why in the world would a newly elected State Senator be thinking about taking on the God like Bill Young? According to the Buzz:

A lot of people have been asking me to at least think about it, consider it,'' said the St. Pete Democrat, who is doing just that and said his running would not necessarily depend on Young, R-Indian Shores, retiring.

But why would anybody think there is a chance in hell to defeat Congressman for Life Old Bill Young? Here's Charlie Justice:

We all know he does his share of bringing home money for Florida and for the district but there's concern that on the big issues there are parts where he's out of touch, Justice said of Young, citing Iraq and No Child Left Behind.

Then of course there is the little controversy about the treatment of our wounded troops at Walter Reed hospital. It seems a Washington Post article found wounded U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan faced neglect at Walter Reed, the premier U.S. military hospital. The Washington Post article found soldiers were living in a run-down building that was infested with mice, mold and cockroaches. Many soldiers also struggled with red tape in trying to get treatment.

It also seems that Bill Young, who to his credit makes numerous visits to wounded troops, knew about some of the substandard care the wounded heroes were receiving. However, even as the extremely powerful chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Young failed to get the situation corrected. This led to state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman's charge that Young had let down veterans by not doing more to fix problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It also increased the ever present speculation that this might be the year that Old Bill Young would finally retire.

Justice was instrumental in making a change in Florida's resign to run law that exempted candidates running for Federal offices. Again, per the Buzz:

Justice, whose name is also in the mix of potential St. Pete mayoral candidates, would not have to resign his senate seat to run for Congress, so taking on Young might boost his name recognition if Young waits awhile to retire. "I don't get into campaigns to raise my name i.d. for future races or to set myself up for mayoral race,'' said Justice, who would face a likely primary challenge from Samm Simpson. "If I did it I would run to win.

I wonder if Old Bill Young actually remembers how to run a campaign?