Earlier in the week I got excited when I saw Obama was going to address Congress next week. I thought maybe he'll finally get tough with them. How incredibly naïve.
Instead, we found out later on Wednesday that Obama had already decided to kill the public option. The only question that remained was how to kill it. Then we found out that there is a good chance that they are not even going to do universal coverage. So, what's left of so-called health care reform?
This is an enormously disappointing day. Obama is not playing chess. He doesn't know something we don't know. It is exactly as we had feared. He did make deals with the private health care corporations. They would never agree to deals with a public option. He picked Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff because politics was his primary concern, not policy. He never intended to do the public option. It was all a joke.
I'm sure Rahm Emanuel thinks there is nothing to lose by angering or disappointing the left. He knows they're not going to vote for lunatic Republicans. So, he figures they can get political credibility by attacking the very people who put them in office. Classy. Except, I think he has miscalculated a little.
We have lost all enthusiasm for Obama now. It's not just me. I thought after I ranted against Obama's pathetic capitulation today on the show that a lot of Obamabots would come out and give the usual excuses -- give him time, he's a master strategist and we mortals cannot understand his ways, yada, yada, yada. But no, not this time. The comments on our website and our You Tube channel were uniformly against Obama. There was one common refrain -- why did we bother electing this guy?!
I think the Obama White House is doing untold damage to its credibility here by scheming against the centerpiece of healthcare reform - the public option. We're not unreasonable; we get that compromise is necessary. And there are many things we are willing to compromise on. But the public option is the very heart of reform. If you don't have it, it turns into a large boondoggle for private insurance companies to make even more money.
Who is excited to work for Obama after he kills real reform and passes something already pre-approved by the very lobbyists he claimed he was going to fight? No one I've seen so far. Of course, there are differences between Democrats and Republicans, but in the end, it appears they serve the same corporate overlords.
So, the only hope that remains is the progressive caucus in the House. They must vote no. Without a public option, this whole thing is a joke. The private insurance companies will make even more money, the deficit will go even higher (with subsidies we're shoveling over to those same companies to cover the previously uninsured) and our premiums will continue to go up. The average American will get little to nothing from this so-called health care reform. But, of course, the private health care companies will make a fortune.
Washington appears to be a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America. We're going to find out soon if there is anyone who is willing to fight this takeover. Apparently Obama never intended to do the public option or real reform in the first place, but it appears that the progressives in Congress did. Now we're going to find out if they will follow the time honored tradition of Democrats and capitulate or if there's anyone in DC with a backbone to actually stand up to the lobbyists.
If they vote no on Obama's weak sauce bill, the world will come down on them. Rahm Emanuel who is scared to death of fighting Republicans will relish beating up on progressives. He's a lion against liberals and a pussy cat with Republicans and lobbyists.
Of course, the media will go along and say that it was the progressives who killed the bill when not a single Republican would have voted for it under any circumstance. They have to withstand this barrage and show what they're made of. Is there anyone on the Democratic side who is actually willing to stand up for principle? We're about to find out.
If the progressives buckle on this one, I can guarantee you that this kind of appeasement will only encourage Republicans to do these same tactics all over again on every issue. And Emanuel (Obama's Cheney) and the rest of the White House will run for the hills every time and we will get absolutely no change in America.
We have to stand strong here -- and it sickens me that it is against Obama that we must do this. Remember his campaign? What a politician, what a disappointment.
Follow Cenk Uygur on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks
Allison Kilkenny: A Moment's Silence for the Public Option
A "trigger option" means the public option doesn't exist, and won't until an undefined series of events occur whereupon the public option will pop into existence. This isn't a compromise. It's an insult.
I've been waiting for an indication that he has a plan to implement sane and effective policies. I'll continue that strategy for a few more weeks. If he doesn't win effective reform. I still assume that he is alone and needs even more and more active support. Since he was a community organizer I expected that HE would lead a movement not just a party, I see that he can't do that alone.
I ,then, want to see a MOVEMENT leader emerge. The closest person who might become a movement leader to get reform (Medical, Climate, Pro labor) moving seems to be Howard Dean.
Lets draft him as a movement leader for the active campaigners who put Obama in office.
I propose that progressives who want to protest Obama's lack of support for the Public Option stage a virtual march on the White House by unsubscribing from the White House master list en mass. We should do this on Sept. 25 2009 to mark the passage of one month since the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. I know that thousands of progressives out there have been writing to the White House and signing petitions supporting a public option for months to no avail. Maybe this tactic will make them stand up and take notice.
Hopefully, watching their progressive base withdraw support from them will scare them into taking bold action to pass the type of reform we elected them to pass last November.
Please help put out the word to get this campaign started.
If you are going to show the Dems 'what for', are you out backing Green Party members to run for Congress? After 8 years of Republicans selling us out, you really will risk giving them additional power? In the minority they still manage to gum up the works. What do you think with more seats?
Sounds like people like you are giving into hysteria. Yes, he has probably made mistakes. But when was the last time you had a perfect year? Criticize in hope of his improving, but abandon him for a worse option? Why? There are better ways to transmit the message.
He's not even *trying* to stick up for the thing he campaigned on. He's not even *fighting* for the public option -- the "necessary" (his own words) heart of health care reform. In fact, pretty much since day one, he's been cozier with industry lobbyists (who desperately want the public option dead) than anyone else.
No, we're not giving up because the president is losing the fight. Honestly, if he were fighting for real reform, I would be right behind him, supporting him even if -- even while -- he crashed and burned.
No, we're ditching him because it's become increasingly clear that he's simply betrayed us. Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice... we won't get fooled again (thanks for that one, George.)
And now they want to compromise further?
Why don't they just hand the keys to the White House over to Mitch McConnell and John Bon.er. They're already doing it in practice they might as well do it literally.
No, we're giving up on Obama because (as Cenk and others have spelled out) he's pretty much been in bed with the industry lobbyists from day one. Clearly the idea of having a political "win" is MUCH more important to Obama and Rahm than actual change. They'll give us a steaming heap, with the word "change" plastered on it, and wonder why we aren't thanking them.
Enough is enough.
I'll vote elsewhere if Obama capitulates on this. I couldn't vote for him in good conscience and of course screw donating money or time.
My only disagreement with Cenk's above post is that it needs to emphasize that *some* Democrats are problematic, and our ire and energies need to be directed at them -- while our praise and donations need to flow to those in support of real reform.
Why'd we vote for this guy? Because we would have been screwed if the RepubliCants had prevailed. Obama is a man we elected to do the best with what he has.
Health reform is about 80% passed. We will have reform. I don't expect perfect. It is our job to make sure Dems stay in power so we can get it perfect later. The WORST thing we can do is abandon the man when he needs us most.
A bill without a public option, but with mandated coverage, and after a private, closed-door meeting with lobbyists from Big Insurance and Big Pharma (do the research, Cenk linked to it) is nothing short of an utter and total sellout of Obama's campaign promises to the interests of the corporate overlords.
Enough is enough.
Cenk, why don't you leave Obama alone and go after the Dems that do not want public option?? So, I think you are overreacting and misplacing your ire. Yes, Obama needs to stand his ground and declare his preferences--that's what he's expected to do Wednesday at the Congress.
Yes, we need public option, but not all Democrats agree on that. I myself want a strong public option. But the reality is that Democrats (especially the Blue Dogs) are equally as corrupt as the Republicans when it comes to health care industry. If Obama drops public option for now, maybe he could get enough votes to make the reforms necessary. Public option is only a part of the whole package. Although, I am not a lawyer, but I think after the whole thing has passed the Congress, there could be a "conference" where some modifications could be made.
Let see what he's gonna lay out on Wednesday, then you can overreact, Cenk.
Ummm... except, and I hope it turns out to be wrong, the stories circulating all indicate that Obama will not come out in support of the public option in that speech.
As Cenk indicates above, the Obama Administration, likely lead by Rahm Emanuel, regularly chastise those to their left, the strong progressives and liberals, but acquiesce to and appease nearly all to their right. Obama continues to praise Grassley and work with Snowe, even though no Republicans are going to vote for his bill, while Emanuel rips into the Progressive Caucus for declaring they won't vote for a bill lacking the public option.
In other words, not only are the not part of the solution, but...
In this political climate?
On what planet do you live?
I am now as frightened of the left as of the right. We can't govern. We do not know that politics is the art of compromise.
Obama is head of a party that is unable to think strategically.
Cenk, think for God's sake, think!
The Progressives in Congress are firmly backed by their constituents and probably hold on their seats in 2010 and 2012. It's the Blue Dogs who will likely be voted out whether they support the public option or not. If Obama flip flops on his campaign promises on the public option, he still loses those Blue Dog seats. The will be voted out anyway. But if he drops the public option thinking progressives will have no where to go in 2010 and 2012 and will still come out and vote Democrat. He's mistaken. Many will cease donating, volunteering, and voting Democratic because it's useless. A most recent poll shows that the biggest decline in Obama support is in young voters, exactly the people who energized and gave the edge in winning red states. I for one just delete all messages from Obama people and stopped donating.
How ludicrous of Cenk!
I voted for Obama in 08 and helped him turn NC blue. But now, as far as I'm concerned, the best thing Obama can say in his address to Congress is "I resign."
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=H&cycle=2008&recipdetail=A&mem=Y&sortorder=U
I want a public option too, I need it desperately, but I also understand the huge wall that Obama is up against, the wall of corporate terrorists and the status quo that has been in development for the last 28 years.
Those who want to public option need to contact their reps, the WH and attend town halls and make their voices heard, loudly.
Been doing all of that, and you're right about the need for marches and protests. The main reason you're right about that is because, if you've followed Obama's rhetoric and positions closely, you know he has never intended to get a strong public option in place.
If we the people don't make him do it, he'll simply try to sugarcoat a corporate friendly mess.
Yes, Obama is up against a wall of corporate terrorists and status quo, but he was also given a strong mandate, huge public support and a totally Democratic Congress to get this done. Advantages a true leader could have used to claim victory. So far, Obama's been squandering his advantages.