The more I've been reading posts predicting doom and gloom over the chances to achieve real healthcare reform, the more I am reminded about the past struggles to achieve big things.
It wasn't easy for Martin Luther King Jr. and his supporters to defeat segregation in the South and help bring about progressive civil rights legislation.
It also wasn't easy for Mohandas K. Gandhi and his backers to fight for India's independence before it was finally achieved in 1947.
Even with Democratic majorities in Congress, it wasn't going to be easy to pass real healthcare reform this year. But did Dr. King waiver in his fight when the going got tough? No. Did Gandhi waiver when the going got tough and had to go to jail for his beliefs? No.
We can't afford to quit either.
More below.
The more I hear about obstructionists like Max Baucu$ and Kent Conrad, the more I think of George Wallace standing in front of the schoolhouse door fighting to keep segregation alive.
The more I hear about insurance company interests and their Republican party allies spending millions in lobbying and on the airwaves in their fight to defeat health care reform, I am reminded of the British colonialists who obstructed Gandhi and his allies every step of the way in his struggle for India's independence.
They may have lots of money, but what these Republicans and other health care opponents don't have is public support.
That point may be lost on Baucu$ and his insurance company funders (not to mention Republicans, but it certainly hasn't been lost on the American people, as guest host .Dr. Howard Dean so excellently stated during his stint as "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" host tonight.
The case couldn't have been stated better. Obstructionists like Baucu$ and Sen. Kent Conrad, along with their Republican and "Blue Dog" allies must be defeated in their fight to prevent real healthcare reform from happening in America.
Republicans may think their $1 million campaign to defeat the legislation may be a great tactical move, but who can not forget how these same Republicans didn't say a word about how financially irresponsible George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent were when they voted to pass them.
For them to cry about fiscal responsibility on health care reform is like having Al Capone tell us how much a champion he was for law and order.
The time for game playing and obstructionism on the part of the monied interests fighting the American people on this has past. Their games must be brought to a halt and legislation must be passed that will finally bring our health care system up to standards and caring for all people, not just the greediest few.