David Valadao has a problem. The Republican Congressman from California’s 22nd District has been on thin political ice ever since he voted to impeach Donald Trump in 2021, after Trump incited an insurrection that resulted in serious injuries to law enforcement officers and severe damage to the United States Capitol.
Valadao’s statement at the time of the vote voiced the strong conviction that Trump had threatened democracy in America:
“President Trump was, without question, a driving force in the catastrophic events that took place on January 6 by encouraging masses of rioters to incite violence on elected officials, staff members, and our representative democracy as a whole,” said Valadao…”I voted to impeach President Trump. His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offense. It’s time to put country over politics.”
Valadao was one of the few survivors of the purge of dissenters that followed after Trump was acquitted.
Now, Congressman Valadao is facing another conflict between service to his constituents or blind fealty to the man he voted to impeach. Voters in Valadao’s 22nd District in the lower San Joaquin Valley supported his opponent in the 2018 election after his vote to repeal Obamacare. They returned him to office only after his opponent, TJ Cox, was charged with money laundering, wire fraud and other crimes.
Now, Valadao is withholding support for federal budget cuts totaling $1.5 trillion because the cuts would have devastating effects on the health care of the almost 50% of his constituents who rely on Medicaid. Valadao isn’t the only politician worried about Trump’s cuts to health care.
Earlier this month, Alabama Senator Katie Britt, another Republican, objected to funding cuts that could threaten medical research at Alabama State Universities. Alabama Representative Terri Tewall said of the cuts,
“Trump’s massive cuts to NIH research would not only halt our ability to find treatments and cures, but they would devastate our economy and put Alabamians out of work!”
There was a time in America when any diagnosis of cancer or heart disease amounted to a death sentence. Today, cancer survivors and heart patients owe their lives to medical research like that carried on at Alabama universities.
As for cuts to Medicaid, David Valadao’s constituents in the southern San Joaquin Valley include farm workers, construction workers, restaurant workers and others of the patriotic laborers who literally keep our Valley’s economic engine running. There are tens of thousands more such workers throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Cuts to their health care would have punishing effects, not just on our economy but especially on a health care system that already has a severe deficit of medical staff and structure.
As the reality of Trump cuts throughout our systems of care registers even on voters in deep red states like Alabama, people who thought they were voting to reduce inflation are suddenly realizing they’ve enabled a rampage on people’s health, safety and security that can only be stopped when their elected representatives dare to oppose Donald Trump’s draconian budget.
David Valadao had the courage to stand up to Donald Trump when almost every other member of his party would not do their sworn duty to uphold the United States Constitution. Now, he and his fellow Republicans will have to choose whether to represent their constituents or bow down to Elon Musk and Donald Trump, who have already usurped congress’s power of the purse and now threaten to push more sick people out of their houses and into the streets after they’re saddled with medical expenses they cannot pay.
There was NO INSURRECTION ON January 6th, 2021- that was totally FAKE NEWS by you left wing nuts. If anyone would care enough to watch the video’s that went public, you would know the truth- but, I know, you don’t care about the truth- you only care about what CNN Says is the TRUTH. This is precisely why all the defendants were ‘pardoned’. Next up, the January 6th committee will be held accountable and the CNN/MSNBC/and other news stations will all be sued for a few billion and they will lose- forcing them into bankruptcy. So, be careful what you post online- the Valley Citizen could be next. No one in our Federal government has ever told us where our tax dollars go. Seems you lot are fine with the Pelosi’s, and the Dem leaders to abscond with Billions of our tax dollars. 25 years ago, the left declared war on conservatives, now it is time for some payback. There will be casualties in this war.
Mr Woods: Republican Congressman David Valadao must have been mistaken, even though he was present during the “peaceful” demonstration at the Capitol. Perhaps you should direct your threats to the Congressman.
Well said, Eric !
Mr. Woods, Making an online threat to a journalist who published a quote that you took exception to, only convinces the rest of us that you are intolerant and it’s “your way or the highway” mindset. Are you willing to cite sources for your views? Because you’ve painted yourself into a rhetorical corner. And ……You should take your own advice and be careful what you post. I urge Mr. Caine to report your threat.
Mr. Woods: You imply that anyone who disagrees with your understanding is just swallowing the swill of biased liberal news outlets. That infamous day, I watched both Fox news and MSNBC. I saw the same on both. Is it you who just looks on one side?
Thank you Richard for your voice
I’d be interested if Mr. Woods could cite the sources used to make his assertions. Of course I’d like to see both sides that might lead us to the truth he asserts.
OMB, OMB,OMB,OMB,, Jezo CC
Our nation is bankrupt in part because of the corruption and waste of the unelected administrative state . Its so telling when you never mention the billions whimsically thrown to the wind by the last administration. Nor do you note the 9.5 billion wasted by Gavin on illegal immigrant healthcare , and the unaccounted for billions wasted on their housing and food assistance last year in California. You also never mention the bullet train boondoggle. Californians are paying billions for a narcissistic Caligular vanity project. Your headline should truthfully read, “Gavin chooses to prioritize illegal immigrants and pipe dreams over tax payers.” But you wont because your fealty to your ideology and hatred of capitalism blinds you to some very simple fiscal realities.
Mr. Dirtwater: The red herring tactic doesn’t really work for our readers who’ve been schooled in the use of rhetorical fallacies. The article is about federal cuts to health care that will have negative effects on Valley citizens, especially those citizens who live in Congressman Valadao’s district. You seem to be more concerned about the use of state funding. That’s another subject.
Mr. Woods,
Here’s Fox News on Tucker Carlsons’s cherry-picked video of the “peaceful” January 6 waltz and ballroom dancing. Please note at the end what the “left wing nut” Bret Baier said, “To be clear, no one here at Fox News defends the violence on January 6.” Oh, and the only news organization I can recall losing a lawsuit for broadcasting false statements, $787.5 Million, was, wait for it…..Fox News to Dominion, the largest known settlement for defamation in US History.
Sorry man, you could do just a bit of fact finding to have any credibility, but you choose.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6322100848112
The path to the truth is hard, very hard. Fiction is easy. It can be anything with no substantiation. There is a lot of fiction posted here as well as off topic comments! These posters will never get to the truth because they won’t step on the path to it using critical thinking skills along with the hard work that goes with it. It may be because they may not know of critical thinking, or don’t believe in it, especially if conditioned by the likes of main-stream media and the newcomer, social media.
Thank you Mr. Selover
You’re welcome!
Mr. Woods should move to Russia with his false belief of Jan. 6, 2021. In Russia there would be people who support Mr. Woods stupid historical belief, and since Putin and Trump are buddies he could kneel to both .
Eric, Keep up the good work reporting the truth, and putting a spotlight on issues that affect our community.
Well, as expected, most of you turn a blind eye to reality. That is fine. Let’s not mention the extra gas tax Newsome’s gang added recenty, or the bullet train to now where, or the Trillions of wasted tax dollars going to your favorite Democrats and Republicans. yes, there was some violence on January 6th- caused by the FBI ‘Consultants’- none of which were charged. As to anyone, I will gladly meet to debate the issues. But, I suspect, like most Democrats, talking is not an option. Al- I suggest you move to North Korea. But, then there is all the pardons by Biden to consider……hmm…..the truth will surface soon enough.
I wish you all well in your endeavors. And, i do enjoy Mr. Caines post on Water….I just don’t agree on politics. Yet, I realize that many don’t like alternative opinions.
Mr. Woods: Alternative opinions are one thing. Alternative facts, alternative realities, and disinformation are another. Our readers are capable of distinguishing the differences among facts, opinions, and disinformation. Are you? Consciously spreading disinformation is a tactic of fascists. Fascism is not the American way.
No insurrection, Mr. Woods? These are just some of the remarks from Republican leaders shortly after the Jan 6, 2001 riot:
“There is nothing patriotic about what is occurring on Capitol Hill. This is 3rd world style anti-American anarchy.: – Marco Rubio.
“Chaos,anarchy. The violence today was wrong and un-American.” – Rand Paul.
“When it comes to accountability, the president needs to understand that his actions were the problem, nothing the solution, that the rally yesterday was unseemly, it got out of hand” – Lindsey Graham.
Mr. Woods: Micheal Fanone, Harry Dunn, Daniel Hodges, and Aquiliano Gonell and other Capitol and DC Police Officers who put their lives on the line on January 6th know exactly who attacked them that day, and why. Mr. Caine is an excellent journalist and writer, and our area is enriched by the continued presence of his work.
Keep it up, Eric. The cuts are devastating to private businesses that supported health clinics, medical research, and every government agency Trump wants to cut, too. Damon Woods is simply broadcasting the playbook of every tyrant throughout history. Their first salvo is to destroy the careers of the opponents and critics. We need journalists like you to keep us informed.
Mr. Woods,
A question for you: If a person or mob kicked in the door or window of your home would you just stand aside or would you call the police or would you defend your home with a weapon or what would you do?
I’m sure this columnist does not advocate violence, but, in my opinion, the Capitol guards that were positioned inside the the building made one huge mistake. I believe that if they would have wounded the first five rioters that came through that shattered window, would another person have climbed in? We will never know and that’s probably a good thing. As for my house, don’t kick in my window or door. It’s my home and I consider the Capitol to be the same. Mr. Woods, what fantasy world do you live in? Oh yes, Mr. Trump’s world. Unfortunately we all are included right now. Hang on. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Mr. Woods ignored my request for references for his stated ‘facts’, wonder why?
I also wonder with all the issues he’s found ‘wrong’ if he was active in protesting to his state and/or local elected officials? Can he explain for example how much the bullet train is over budget and why? Maybe Mr. Woods is an engineer and could offer suggestions on how to improve the process. What say you Mr. Woods? https://usafacts.org/government-spending/?utm_source=USAFacts_Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2_24_25_Flagship_public%20education%20and%20spending&_kx=hcGJVb02vlAHtR0eZ2_RE2EFUDOBtHmbmwQb1g4Y20M.SH8aQb