I talked about this before. But I feel particularly strongly about this.
When the kid is throwing a fit in the frozen foods aisle, you don't offer him an ice cream bar. I know. It's harsh. But if you do offer that ice cream, you're just asking for trouble the next time you're at the store.
So, yeah, the wingnuts can have hissy fits at town hall meetings and start to beat the drum of intimidation and violence. But that sort of action should give our legislators pause when considering how they're going to cast their vote, especially if they intend to have civil discourse in the future.
When folks like Dick Durbin start suggesting they're receptive to ditching a government run program NOW after a week of Teabag terror at town hall meetings, Durbin's suggestion feels an awful lot like he's offering the screaming child an ice cream bar.
Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of the chamber's foremost progressives, said that while he supported a government-run option for insurance, he was "open" to alternatives.
"Just understand that, after we pass this bill -- and I hope we do -- in the Senate, it will go to conference committee," said Durbin. "We'll have a chance to work out all of our differences."
"So we'll see how this ends, but I don't want the process to be filibustered to failure, which unfortunately, many senators are trying to do," Durbin added. "I want to make sure that we do something positive for the American people."
-- Article
To be fair, Durbin appears to have been consistently wishy washy on the public option from way back when. But the birther insanity at town halls complicates that stance.
Pre-Birther infestation at town halls it could be argued that Durbin was guided by principle, or even by love of insurance companies. Post Birther infestation at town halls, Democratic flirtation with ditching the public option starts to feel a bit more like steriotypical Democratic spinelessness, caving to the push of Republican sound and fury. All the wingnuts have to do is push a little and our reps fall flat. WUMP!
And the birther/teabaggers will view any retreat as the weakness they always though we had, and the greater numbers they assume they have, and they will apply this anti-democratic strategy in full regalia every chance they get.
Our representatives need to be fully aware that no matter what bill they pass, be it Real Reform or Watered Down Reform, the Teabaggers will still rage and gnash their teeth like twisted berzerkers. But only ONE path will preserve support from those who have put them into office...and that path is the public option.
The town hall madness presents our representatives with an opportunity to look weak and fractured, making all future legislation and elections an uphill battle. Or they can stand strong and support a public option, ensuring an open wallet from progressives and staunch Democratic activists for years to come.