The DCCC sent out a really exceptionally well done clip today pointing to the difference between Obama's vision of hope and the Republican vision of failure. Please watch it below. There's no doubt that the Republicans are on a mission to not just obstruct, but to undermine -- everything, from health care reform to the economic recovery and even to the safety of the nation itself. The clip puts forth a strong message, a compelling message. But it just isn't bipartisan enough. After all, it isn't only Republicans who want the single most important piece of Obama's change agenda -- substantive health care reform -- to fail. Plenty of Democrats get the exact same huge handouts from the exact same Medical-Industrial Complex and Big Insurance lobbyists and CEOs. And they will do anything to prevent single payer health care from passing.
Among the top 10 recipients of Insurance Industry "donations" for those sitting in the Senate today, you will find 3 Republicans -- John McCain (R-AZ- $2,885,602), Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $928,007), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA- $888,724), all firmly opposed to health care reform; 5 Democrats -- Chris Dodd (D-CT- $2,202,046), John Kerry (D-MA- $1,395,617), Ben Nelson (D-NE- $1,210,299) Max Baucus (D-MT- $1,182,613), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY- $1,002,800), respectively 2 advocates of reform, 2 die-hard opponents and one opportunist looking to keep everyone happy; and two freaks of nature, Arlen Specter (R-D-PA- $1,037,205) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT- $1,035,302), both of whom advocate loudly for the Insurance Giants against their own constituents... and against Obama's vision of hope.
The DCCC can rail against Republican obstructionists and corporate shills in the House all they want -- and John Boehner (R-OH- $869,256), Eric Cantor (R-VA- $692,274) and Spencer Baucus (R-AL- $674,350) have certainly been paid very well to sabotage health care reform -- but power in the House rests with Democrats who get even more money from Big Insurance than Republicans: Earl Pomeroy (Blue Dog- ND- $1,796,406) and Charlie Rangel (D-NY- $1,383,035). In fact, with only 51 votes needed in the Senate to pass either single-payer or the compromise position (a public option) and with Nancy Pelosi guaranteeing a Democratic majority for the public option in the House -- despite the collusion of anti-working family Blue Dogs and New Democrats with Republicans to kill reform, the problem is looking very senatorial -- and very Democratic.
So who's really killing health care reform? In truth, it's a bipartisan coalition of arrogant senators, paid off by the Medical-Industrial Complex and the Insurance Giants most Americans hate or distrust. Listen to Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, not part of that heinous coalition, explaining what real reform is and why he won't vote for any bogus bill corporate shills like Max Baucus, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Joe Lieberman, Mary Landrieu and Arlen Specter cobble together with the Republicans as a "compromise." The public option is the compromise.
Health care reform isn't really a Republican vs Democratic issue; it's an issue for the welfare of all American families -- which is why a staggering 83% of Americans want the public option. Blue America has launched a new campaign to persuade senators who routinely take a great deal of money from Big Insurance to work for their constituents, not for their campaign contributors. We are working with Brave New Films to put together a series of TV commercials that we will start running next month in Arkansas, home of two anti-reform Democrats, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. Please read more about the plan -- and consider helping us put it into effect -- here at our Blue America page.