This could be one of the singular moments in American history. One of those few moments in history when true human progress happens. The declaration of independance. The signing of the Constitution. Social Security. Equal rights. Healthcare reform is a step of such historical consequence.
Yet what do we hear from the Democratic party and the President? Its' just too hard. The right wing is just too dangerous. There is just too much pressure.
Let me introduce you to pressure.
The year is 1933. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is President of the United States. His approval ratings are astronomical and his support will only deepen over the years. This president is a transformative president and everyone knows it. He is a man of inviolable principle with a complete lack of fear. A man whos wife was likely a lesbian in a serious relationship at a time when people murdered gays at will. A man who had the failure of Hoover dropped in his lap and yet never once complained or made excuses. A man who foresaw world war two and pushed congress to prepare for it years before it happened.
This man was the right wings worst nightmare. And they decided to do something about it.
That year a group of far right wingers still famous for their evil gathered and decided that to save the nation from socialism democracy must be overturned. They approached General Smedley Butler and asked him to lead a plot to overthrow Franklin Roosevelt. Many of you have seen this movie
The group of people believed to be behind the plot included
JP Morgan, Al Smith,Irenee Du Pont, Grayson Murphy, William Doyle, John Davis , Prescott Bush and others who were as a rule also Nazi collaborators. We will never know the true extent of the plot because then, just as now, a handfull of the plutocrats controlled the nations media. .and many were implicated. Even more shocking was that once the plot was outed by General Butler the congressional committee not only did little investigation they literally redacted the names of most of the conspirators.
This is real pressure. This is the kind of pressure a president passed the most sweeping form in our nations history under. A president who did not kneel before his enemies but rather challenged them to fight him harder.
This point is not simply targetted at Barack , or Reid, or Pelosi. It is targetted at all our nations leaders. When you hear someone making excuses for Barack, or a congressman, or any politician.. remember this. Remember that ordinary men like Jefferson, Washington, Paine, Henry risked their very lives in what was likely a losing battle. That great patriots like General Butler (still a legend in military circles) risked even their one true possession, their reputation to do what was right. That men like FDR risked it all.