Dear President Obama:
If we were into your 2nd term, and the healthcare issue was still lingerining around, and we had the same majorities in both chambers that we do now, would you not pull out all the stops to pass a heathcare overhaul which would have public option/single payer at it's center, and thereby insuring that all the uninsured/underinsured people are covered? This is what you promised us during the primaries, and this is what you should deliver, and you need to push for this like this is your 2nd and final term, and do it with all teh passion that you can muster, because this issue is that serious, fight that important, casue that just. That you should push for it without thinking about re-election.
You Promised...
During the primaries (and the general election) you had made coverage of the uninsured and underinsured a center piece of your campaign. You understood that it was so important because access to healthcare should be a right for all Americans just like right to own firearms. Except this is more important.
Why it's important...
The outcome of the healthcare debate/reform just may shape the rest of your Presidency. Passing it is an utmost priority, but without including public option/single payer, it will have no meaning, since it will amount to status quo.
Please remember that it's very important for the administration to have a single message, which you need repeat over and over, and have everyone in your administration repeat over and over -- like a war that was sold to us. Except this is more important that selling the public an unwanted war. It's also very important right now because we may never have this majority in both the houses as we do now. If people sense weakness -- as in getting conflicting message from you on public option -- that could work against Democrats in either turing out peopel against us or depressing voters who normally would have come for for our candidates. Now is the time to do it.
Congress and the American public need you to be consistent...
As President, you set the agenda. Accordingly, the members of your administration needs to be on the SAME PAGE as you. This means that you can never waiver on your support of public option, and everyone who represents the White House needs to be on the same page. When you change your mind, and recklessly state that public option is not that important to healthcare overhaul, it sends a dangerous message to everyone.
Right now, Democratic congress members are under assault from Astroturf protesters, and they can use all the help that you can give them. They cannot afford to see you waiver or waffle on public option. You need to be out there, front and center, talking up public option as if this was your second term, and you didn't care about re-election.
Don't be afraid...
Don't be afraid of the nay-sayers. You have overcome some incredible obstacle to be where you are at. You have broken barriers that many would never have been broken during their lifetime. Make that mean something. I'm sure you have seen wall to wall coverage of town hall protesters, tea-bagging protesters, 2nd amendments protesters and on and on, but just know that you were overwhelmingly elected by people who believed you when you promised healthcare overhaul with public option, and the votes you got on November 4th are way more important than these "Astroturf protests" that are happening. You don't have to be afraid of them. You should govern as though this is your 2nd and final term, and pull out all the stops to get the healthcare initiative with public option at it's core.
I think you will agree that most of these protesters are fake, as in they are paid for by insurance and pharma companies, and their goal is to scare the congress-person into thinking that there is a major movement opposing the healthcare reform, but know this: Who really would be against GETTING MORE RIGHTS? The answer to these "Astroturf protesters" is to go out there and spread the gospel of public option/single payer as a done deal, and dispel all the lies and half-truths out there with CONVICTION. This means standing up to people who scream "death panels" and "this means end of private insurance". You have a bully pulpit. Use it like this is your 2nd and last term.
What this means for us, 2010 and beyond...
We, the people, who left it all on the road for you, need you now to be there for us. Please know and understand that you are helping achieve a landmark bill, one that should guarantee healthcare coverage for ALL Americans, regardless of income, status, class or race. You are standing up there and saying that yes, your election has broken an incredible barrier for ages to come, and you want that to mean something.
We want to go to the polls in 2010 and beyond with winds on our back, and not just go because we have to. We have done that for too long, and have little to show for. Make this fight one that we will be HAPPY to turn out on 2010 and beyond, to make sure we keep the Democratic majorities -- and hopefully expand on them.
Good Luck...
Needless to say, I wish you the best of luck in getting this and other progressive initiatives through to becoming the law of the land, but I hope it’s done with the same spirit that went into your campaign and it’s shouldn’t be watered down as to not mean anything. Please make it mean something, and do it as if this is your last election. For it’s better to lose fighting for something you believe in than to win with half-hearted legislation that means nothing.