Rahm Emanuel has shown no remorse in using the levers of executive power to push progressives to the side. Progressives are asked to wait, to compromise. I am reminded of Dr. King's response to the request of fellow clergymen to wait to hold protests for a better time. He responded:
This 'Wait' has always meant 'Never'. We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that 'justice delayed too long is justice denied'
Equating King's righteous struggle against the sin of segregation to our current righteous struggle for health care as a right is not far off. What is the denial of healthcare to millions of our fellow citizens if not an equally pernicious form of segregation?
Where is our Letter from a Birmingham Hospital?
As disappointed as I am about the content, or lack thereof, of the Senate Health Care Bill, I am much more worried about the political ramifications of its passage. Progressives have been triangulated into knots. Despite compromise on virtually every truly progressive piece of reform in favor of corporate giveaways, this bill will still be considered a "Liberal" bill. So, an industry bill that few of us like will be labeled OUR bill. We will be beaten over the head with a policy that is about as progressive as a Bush tax cut. Go figure, Corporatism becomes the new Left. We have been delivered a Letter from a Corporate Boardroom.
Qui Bono? DLC Democrats. If there is a 'tidal wave' election result in favor of Republicans, the DLC wing will blame it on the Progressives, further entrenching themselves as overlords of the Democratic Party. If there is no wave, they are positioned to hand progressives a plate of I told you so, again, entrenching themselves.
Progressives must fight. Call out the bill (as many are...thank you Kos) for its Corporate giveaways and defend the progressive parts as well as the components that were surrendered away by the DLC Junta in the Senate. The Republicans have made it clear from day one that they would not be supporting any bil in any form for political purposes. Their Maginot approach should have been easy to flank had progressives had an honest partner in the President they helped elect. But we didn't. And its about time we recognize that somber fact.
We must fight, as King reminds us:
Lamentably, it is an historical fact that priveleged groups seldom give up their priveleges voluntarily.
We must fight where the fight is, even if it means within the Democratic Party. Especially if it means we fight within the Democratic Party. Once again, Thank You Markos. Keep up the fight. Keep up the pressure.