Statesman or Warrior
First they gave away single payer without an argument; then they gave away expanding the eligibility age for Medicare; then they gave away the Public Option to get a 60 vote majority in the Senate that evaporated. President Obama couldn't be going into the health care summit if he wasn't prepared to give away more. The question is: how much should our president be willing to sacrifice in useless negotiations with an opposition that has proven itself to be entirely ignorant and corrupt, one that has clearly demonstrated its disdain for representative democracy? The wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry known as the Republican Party should have no voice in deciding what everyone knows is the most profound public issue of our time.
President Obama has made clear that the Public Option, a component of health care reform that he endorsed as an intrinsic part of his policy, won't be on the table at tomorrow's summit, in spite of the fact that it continues to be supported by over 60% of the country according to national polls. Maybe the president and the centrist Democrats are better at policy poker than I am giving them credit for. Maybe Mr. Obama will pull an ace out of the deck yet. All of those progressives who have complained about the lack of spine among Democrats should put aside some time to make it clear that those who refuse to do the People's will will be held accountable at the ballot box.
I have praised President Obama for his noble qualities as a statesman; on the eve of the health care summit there are many who would now prefer to see a warrior in the White House.
First they gave away single payer without an argument; then they gave away expanding the eligibility age for Medicare; then they gave away the Public Option to get a 60 vote majority in the Senate that evaporated. President Obama couldn't be going into the health care summit if he wasn't prepared to give away more. The question is: how much should our president be willing to sacrifice in useless negotiations with an opposition that has proven itself to be entirely ignorant and corrupt, one that has clearly demonstrated its disdain for representative democracy? The wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry known as the Republican Party should have no voice in deciding what everyone knows is the most profound public issue of our time.
President Obama has made clear that the Public Option, a component of health care reform that he endorsed as an intrinsic part of his policy, won't be on the table at tomorrow's summit, in spite of the fact that it continues to be supported by over 60% of the country according to national polls. Maybe the president and the centrist Democrats are better at policy poker than I am giving them credit for. Maybe Mr. Obama will pull an ace out of the deck yet. All of those progressives who have complained about the lack of spine among Democrats should put aside some time to make it clear that those who refuse to do the People's will will be held accountable at the ballot box.
I have praised President Obama for his noble qualities as a statesman; on the eve of the health care summit there are many who would now prefer to see a warrior in the White House.
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