In the immortal words of Wes ("Scoop") Nisker of KFOG:
"If you don't like the news ... go out and make some of your own."
I was musing about the Progressives in Congress leaking the names of Democrats that are against a Robust Public Option so they could be reasoned with, while commenting on Huffington Post, and commenter Cyndy Keith mentioned the "Stand with Dr Dean" website was tracking where Senators and Congressmen stood on the Public Option. Upon visiting Dr. Dean's site I was happy to see that no Congressional Democrat was on Record as a "No" ... good news, right? But there was another question asked that was a little disturbing:
Supports the choice of public Healthcare option? Don't know
Below is a list of Democratic Representatives that are currently showing as "Don't Know" in terms of the Public Option on Dr. Dean's website:
The List
Rep Gary Ackerman D NY-5
Rep Brian Baird D WA-3
Rep John Barrow D GA-12
Rep Melissa Bean D IL-8
Rep David Boren D OK-2
Rep Frederick Boucher D VA-9
Rep Allen Boyd D FL-2
Rep Bobby Bright D AL-2
Rep Dennis Cardoza D CA-18
Rep Travis Childers D MS-1
Rep Jerry Costello D IL-12
Rep Joe Donnelly D IN-2
Rep Thomas Edwards D TX-17
Rep Brad Ellsworth D IN-8
Rep Parker Griffith D AL-5
Rep Lawrence Kissell D NC-8
Rep Ron Klein D FL-22
Rep Suzanne Kosmas D FL-24
Rep Rick Larsen D WA-2
Rep James Marshall D GA-8
Rep Jim Matheson D UT-2
Rep Mike McIntyre D NC-7
Rep Michael McMahon D NY-13
Rep Charles Melancon D LA-3
Rep Walter Minnick D ID-1
Rep Harry Mitchell D AZ-5
Rep Glenn Nye D VA-2
Rep Collin Peterson D MN-7
Rep Earl Pomeroy D ND-0
Rep Heath Shuler D NC-11
Rep Ike Skelton D MO-4
Rep Victor Snyder D AR-2
Rep John Spratt D SC-5
Rep Bart Stupak D MI-1
Rep John Tanner D TN-8
Rep Ellen Tauscher D CA-10
Rep Gene Taylor D MS-4
Rep Nicola Tsongas D MA-5
Rep Peter Visclosky D IN-1
I think you will all agree that we are beyond the "Don't Know" stage of this process. If you see your Representative's name on this list I urge you to call their office and ask them if they stand for a Robust Public Option ... a plank in the National Democratic Platform in the year they were elected to office, 2008, or not. My guess is there are Republicans in each of their Districts that would just LOVE their seats.
Stand with Dr. Dean - Where Congress Stands