Progressive Lawmakers Plead: Don't "Get Cynical About The President"

Two progressive members of Congress who have pledged not to support a health care bill without a public option came to the White House's defense on Thursday against charges that President Obama is caving on the critical provision.

In a conference call with reporters, Reps. Raul Grijalva, (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison, (D-Minn.), said that they were heartened by the administration's response to recent questions about Obama's commitment to the public plan.

"The fact is this is no time for progressives to get cynical about the president," said Ellison. "If you raise your voice and you let the president know how strongly you feel about the public option, I think the president will do the right thing because he has been consistent about it all along."

In a roughly 30-minute give and take with reporters, the two lawmakers declined to divulge whether the White House had reached out to them to discuss the pledge they and their progressive colleagues in the House have made to oppose a bill without a public option.

"If we sort of comment on your question then we are going to be buying into th[e] minute-to-minute [mindset]," said Ellison. "The fact is, whether they have communicated with us or not, they know where we stand clearly."

But the two congressmen did stress that more than 60 members of the House of Representatives would vote against the bill if it didn't include a public plan. An alternative that included health insurance co-ops, they said, would face similar hurdles.

How that pledge affects the current health care debate is the object of great speculation among vote counters on the Hill and in the media. And while both representatives insisted on the call that they felt the White House was ideologically close to their position, they also suggested that they had to continue to push the president.

"We are not just doing this to be obstructionist or to divide the party or to try and embarrass the administration," said Grijalva. "We are very serious about [our position]. We not only bring the political support for the public option. We also bring a level of grassroots support for getting this done. And I think we have got to be seen in a different light. Not as a moving part or a group of opposition to contend with... but as an ally in the strategy. And at this point we haven't become allies in the strategy but I think we are getting there."

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Comments

[Antiks]

Let's get cynical, cynical,
I wanna get cynical, let's get into cynical
Let me hear your lying talk,
Your lying talk, let me hear your lying talk

[smithonpolitics-com]

http://www.stopbackingdown.com - Keep the pressure on them, folks!

[Haitians4Obama]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/21/770295/-March-for-the-Public-OptionSeptember-13th



Get on facebook and search for "March for Healthcare"

We are organizing, join us!!

[Andrea Pringle]

I love & agree w/Cong Ellison. Progr need 2 b part of solution as allies. Its more productive

[mergina]

I think there is just TOO MUCH TALK AND NOT ENOUGH ACTION COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, especially that White House.

[Dale Larson]

It's time to end our "risky experiment" of "For-profit health insurance". It's a proven failure.

HR676 http://hr676.orgg) Single Payer system that is proven, pro-business and pro-people:

* Slashes at least 30% of costs off the top by removing private insurance overhead.
* Companies take health care expenses off their books. Stock value increases. Better able to compete internationally.
* Small companies could have access to higher skilled workers because previously they couldn't compete in the labor market by offering similar benefits.
* More entrepreneurial ventures will launch since they have more money and less unrelated risk.
* Dramatic drop in bankruptcies.
* Dramatic drop in lawsuits. Most of these lawsuits are simply to obtain money to cover health care if something interrupts their coverage.
* Reduced system complexity. Greater efficiency due to fewer regulations.
* Savings from employees not having to fight with their insurers during work hours.
* HSA and MSA dollars redirected back into the economy for goods and services.
* Additional money to spend from not having to carry "uninsured motorist coverage" on your auto policy.
* Contract employment is more viable for workers since they are guaranteed access to health care.
* People are covered when unemployed. No chance of being wiped out financially if you lose your job.
* Health care providers (doctors, hospitals, therapists­...) see increase in business with much less administrative expense.

[bannorhill]

Sounds like a wonderful fairy tale.

How much money does the CBO say it will save?

Cite some real dollars and cent figures from a legitimate source.

[Dale Larson]

"How much money does the CBO say it will save?"

It hasn't been analyzed because it's been muzzled by those that are frightened by the outcome of the analysis. Hopefully the CBO will have to weigh in when HR676 hits the floor of the house.

"Sounds like a wonderful fairy tale.... Cite some real dollars and cent figures from a legitimate source."

Look North of the border.

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/february/10_myths_about_canad.php
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/watch2.html
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/category/section/the_list

The entrepreneurial observations are mine based on working over 30 years as an engineer and a manager in the technology industry. I've worked in start ups and in very large companies. The current system stifles entrepreneurial ventures and by association small businesses (the backbone of the economy). I consider myself legitimate source on this. If you don't that's OK with me. Just engage your common-sense circuitry.

Read here for actual health care benefits in BC, Canada and what they charge their citizens:

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/benefits.html
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/premium.html

This is essentially the same coverage I have with my corporate plan but a whole lot less expensive with no co-pays and deductibles (which are designed to discourage people from using health care anyway.) For health care to work people must have unfettered access to it.

[Darthwave]

As a libertarian i really don't support any health-care reform at all, but if it happened it would not be the start of some socialist state as the wing-nuts say. Progressives If you believe in something then you should be willing to fight to end. Progressives who support adding a public option need to start coming out and shouting down these orchestrated wing-nuts.

[dusdidt]

Obama should know what is progressive. But unfortunately, he doesn't. One gets tired of writing the White House enraged. He just can't help being a sunshine progressive, retreating at seeing the whites of conservatives' eyes. He certainly isn't afraid of progressives and easily throws them over board. I've had it with this one term president. Compromise, compromise, still compromising when his opponents have already walked away from the table and would catagorically refuse anything he can up with, even it were their agenda. Is he a sap and wants us to be saps, as well? When will be stand up say this is what i want and twist Blue Dog arms with threats of witholding financial support. He did that progressive congressmen on the bank bailout, threatening them with exile from campaign funding and support. I guess conservative dogs have a special place in his heart.

[Horus45]

Obama is a genius, do you think for one second that he has not worked this whole thing out in advance and knows exactly what he is doing?

I believe he is giving the GOP a lot of rope to hang themselves with.

[CTtransplant]

Folks, it's OUR taxes that pay for a majority of the cost of health insurance for our Congress people! Why should WE be paying for them to have what we ourselves cannot afford???? And what the health insurance industry is paying them to deny US????

We need to turn up the heat! Time to put more pressure on! Please sign this petition to have paid health care removed from our representatives in Congress until such time as they reform health care - to include a strong public option - for 'we the people' who they are supposed to represent. Then spread the word to anyone and everyone you know!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html

[hypnotoad72]

Perfect analysis.

[balmora]

The Blue Dogs and moderates need to separate from the far left, which should in fact identify itself as the socialist party.

[johnsonc20]

I think you took a wrong turn and ended up on the wrong website. Dittoheads don't usually enjoy reading commentary here.

[Horus45]

What a dolt!

[KWB1]

Rep Ellison is absoluely right. Listening to you "progressives" bitch and moan is akin to watching someone eat their young.

[KWB1]

So let me get this straight..­.as a progressive you claim the right to have the attention span and stick-to-itveness of a gnat, coupled with a view of reality that apparently includes the fact that "beam me up scotty" is something that actually happens on a hourly basis. In addition to teleportation and levitation do you also believe in tooth fairies?

Get a grip you fri***g wimps. Either that or go join the "dingoes ate my baby", I'd-think-­but-my-bra­in-is-lodg­ed-somewhe­re-south-o­f-my-torso­-in-the-ma­gic-hole-w­here-stuff­-comes-out­, tinfoil hat brigade. The concept of time too big for you? Are you saying that as a "progressive" you retain the right to holler when a HUGE ORGANIZATION LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT doesn't have the ability to turn on a dime like a Ford Pinto? Grow the F**K up!

The man was elected because he is an adult , not a Star Wars fan. He realizes things take time. So he should've just waltzed into office on the 20th and closed Guantanomo on the 21st? had all of the troops home from Iraq that evening? Personally started performing marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples that weekend? Rebuilt the countries infrastructure by that Monnday morning? Oh and passed healthcare reform between wiping his butt after breakfast that Friday after the inauguration. Oh never mind that pesky little thing called the Congress..­you know the people who ACTUALLY PASS LAWS.

[johnsonc20]

Why attack progressives for standing up for what they believe? Do the Republicans or Blue Dogs behave differently? I missed your point. If the President's bill doesn't do what we want it to do, it would be better if it failed. There are already way too many compromises with drug companies and other special interests made behind closed doors. The President needs to honor his campaign promises - not sell out without a fight. I am proud of the 60 plus members of the House who have taken a stand. Gutless Democrats can bellyache, but you will come around to our position because you have no choice.

[KWB1]

here's a clue and for once i'll drop the sarcasm. This once. I am African-American and I grew up during the civil rights fight. I marched in open housing and school desegregation marches, was arrested, was in the middle of a real riot, was among the first group of Black children at my grade school and i'll say this...tur­ning on the person who is in the position to affect a sea change of the magnitude that we're talking, which absolutely pales to that era, is a sign of a weak-kneed p***sy. This internal battle is simply feeding into the forces of evil and everyone of those empty-headed horses a**es who would continue this barbaric system we have is pure evil. They would kill you in a second, given half the chance. Yet your silly-ass kvetching simply makes it harder for Obama to rally those standing on the sidelines. I've seen it before. Better if it failed??! R u crazy? Have some faith

[danusgram]

To all the people and naysayers about Obama being nonprogressive you are very wrong. He is not telegraphing his moves to the Republicans. He will be bringing something to them after the recess that they did not expect. I will then have the pleasure of saying "checkmate". The Republicans are worried believe it, as their town hall mob word violence has seen its moment in the sun.

[GiannaX]

Spot on!

[globalcitizenlinda]

Of course the community-­orgnizer-i­n-chief knows that when voices of the people are raised for a cause, they cannot be stopped.

Progressives need to continue voicing their opposition to any attempts to weaken the health care reform by either the White House or by the Blue Dogs and if we are loud enough, there will be a movement towards what we all worked so hard for during the election

[Jetling]

Thanks for the clarity, Rep. Ellison.