Dear President Obama:I am a lifelong Democrat.
I voted for you.
I am still a strong supporter of yours, even though I think there are a number of campaign promises that so far, you've copped out on.
Or to put it more bluntly, wussed out on.
I'm not going to digress and discuss each one in turn. I'm here to harangue you about only one topic:
The Public Option in Health Care Reform.
Mr. President, I realize that during the campaign, part of your mystique, part of the Barack Obama "Yes We Can ©" appeal, was that you presented yourself as a harbinger of change.
Someone different.
A President who could bring people together.
Someone who could reach across ideological lines, and find common ground to reach a consensus.
And not just die-hard Democrats like myself, but other progressives and moderates all across the America believed that you just might be one who could do that.
After the last eight years, we all thought it was a noble idea whose time had come.
But you know what, Mr. President?
The Republicans just aren't going to cooperate with you, no matter how many concessions you make.
Didn't you get a clue when the stimulus bill passed?
You gave them almost everything they wanted, and with only a couple exceptions, they ALL voted "NO" anyway.
Back when you put him on the White House payroll, I had this (obviously mistaken) belief that Rahm Emanuel would be your attack dog.
After all, anyone who has a big enough pair of cojones to tell England's Prime Minister Tony Blair "This is important. Don't fuck it up!" should have no problem going down to the Capitol and cracking a few skulls.
But instead of being your Rottweiler, Rahm has instead been a Poodle. I'm guessing there was some horrible mix-up during Bo's trip to the vet, and Rahmbo was instead the one neutered.
You haven't done yourself any favors either, Mr. President.
You've described the GOP "death panel" meme and other Crazy™ crap as "wild exaggerations," instead of calling them what they are:
Goddamn lies.
You continue to treat asshats like Senator Chuck Grassley with respect, when he deserves none.
Your own cabinet and staff can't seem to present a unified front. Take them into the Oval Office, close the door tightly, and "explain" it to them, Mr. President.
And all this "nice guy" stuff?
Stop it.
Every reliable poll out there shows that Americans want a Public Option, no matter what the insurance industry shills, or what Teh Stupid™ or Teh Crazy™ are incoherently screaming in town hall meetings (or in Congress, for that matter).
Screw "bipartisanship" on this issue.
That concept is completely alien to your opponents. Remember Senator Jim DeMint calling Health Care Reform your "Waterloo?"
You simply can't play nice with a nest of vipers, Mr. President.
The GOP wants one thing, and one thing only: to defeat you on a key policy issue, and thus hopefully, gain more Senate and House seats in the mid-term election.
They don't give a damn about health care. Power is ALL they covet.
It's time to roll up your sleeves and kick some ass.
Explain in no uncertain terms to the recalcitrant Blue Dog Democrats in the Senate that not supporting you on this issue will have far more serious and lasting repercussions from the White House than their corporate insurance masters could ever threaten them with.
Please, Mr. President.
Take charge of this. Now.
2 comments:
I think he's timing this just right. When Congress gets back to DC the GOP still has nothing better to offer and the groundwork will be laid for ramming this bill through his majority. After all, those "mixed signals" from the White House have led to a wave of progressive support for reform.
Well said WOLFE TONE,
Emanuel has been a disappointment, and does the administration a great disservice with the constant coddling of his precious "Blue Dogs", while at the same time criticizing the progressives who elected Obama in the first place. If we get real reform passed, it will be through the reconciliation process and DESPITE the efforts of Emanuel.
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