I think the time has come for Democrats to declare where their loyalties are. Are they with the people, or with the insurance companies? And I think it is time we demonstrate that we are serious about this, and that if the Democratic party will not get the job done this year when they hold all the cards they need in the Federal Government to get this done, that we will be done with them.
So, I am personally declaring that if we do not get a health care bill with a robust public option, I will not donate a single cent to the Democratic party or to any incumbent Democrat running for office next year. I am completely aware there are a small band of true progressives in the House who have declared they will not vote for a health care bill which does not contain a public option, and I would still donate money to them in 2010 if they chose to leave the Democratic party and run as independents, or to group together and form a third party, but otherwise, I am hereby declaring all my money, time and support will go to anyone who primaries an incumbent Democrat, and none of my money will go to the party, to the DCCC or the DSCC.
I am certain there are those who will say this is overreacting, maybe we can win more spots in the 2010 elections and try healthcare reform again after that, etc, etc, but look at the reality--by 2011, the Dems are already going to be gearing up for the 2012 presidential elections, and even if Obama says he is willing to be a one-term president over this issue, I don't think any Dem would challenge him, and the country cannot afford another Republican administration so soon when we've only just begun to recover from the last one. There will not be the political will to move in 2011 even if the Dems hold more seats in the Senate, and we cannot take for granted that we will hold the House with our current margins given the hundreds of millions of dollars we've already seen spent on just astroturfing this one issue.
We have waited 60 years, and we must not allow a small number of cowards in Congress to kick this ball down the road another generation. They must act now, or at the very least, do nothing to stand in the way of those who do have the courage to act. If they cannot do so, then we need to end our dysfunctional relationship with their party.
To spread word of this declaration, I've formed a group on Facebook, and will be encouraging anyone who joins to not only do so, but to call and write their members of Congress, the DNC, etc to inform them of their feelings. I know this is only a very small step, but it is what I have the resources to do right now. I would request that others who see the need for this action help by spreading the word in other ways. I have heard some unions are beginning to tell their members of Congress similar things, and if anyone knows how to contact the right people and join in solidarity with them, please let me know.
The Democratic party holds enough seats in the House of Representatives to pass a health care reform bill with a strong public option. They also hold enough seats in the Senate to pass such a bill, if they do not allow rogue Democrats to join a Republican filibuster effort. But the party is allowing just a few "Blue Dog" Democrats to prevent the country from having the true health care reform it desperately needs, including a strong public option. These few Senators care more about their big-donor insurance company supporters than they do about we, the people. The only leverage we have is our money and our support.
The purpose of this group is to organize a movement to declare to all Democrats that we will not donate a single cent to the party, nor will we vote for any sitting incumbent unless a public option is passed. The time is over for the majority of Democrats who do support the public option to allow themselves to be held hostage by a few who put their own positions of power above the public interest. Either you are with the people or you are with the insurance companies, and we declare now the time to choose where your loyalties lie. If some of your colleagues are being difficult, your choice is to pressure them to change their minds, or know that we will donate money to anyone who runs against you in a primary declaring they will make real reform happen.