I'm sick and tired of playing defense to the Republicans on the health care issue. We are the Party of the People, right? Why are we allowing ourselves to fall into the traps they lay out every night after a couple of drinks? Why are we allowing the Party that fought tooth and nail against Medicare and Social Security to redefine our Democrat Party to seniors, for crying out loud. Why are we sitting around, as Hunter says today, motionless with our thumbs up our asses?
Now today, Julie Guiden gives us a heads up in her diary "RNC unveils Senior Bill of Rights" that the Republican Party plans to introduce today a bill to ensure that "our greatest generation will receive access to quality health care." Forever and ever, Amen.
NOW'S OUR CHANCE, FOLKS! We've Been Handed A Golden Opportunity!
We should embrace the "Senior Bill of Rights," declare it a bi-partisan bill, schedule it for immediate debate on the floor, and agree with the Republicans that this bill should be extended to all Americans by allowing an optional buy-in to Medicare.
Michael Steele's outline of this bill in the Washington Post Column says, among all the expected tirades about death panels and cuts in Medicare and the Republicans' strong commitment to Medicare, this choice tidbit:
Third, we need to outlaw any effort to ration health care based on age.
I say to Michael Steele DAMN STRAIGHT! I'm with you, Buddy! We need to uphold Medicare, keep the doctor-patient relationship, and not allow rationed health care. That's exactly why we should open Medicare to all who want it!
Just think of the fun we can have on the floor during this debate! We could charge admission to the circus as the Republicans fight to ensure continuation and enhancement of a government run health insurance program for seniors and then deny it to all the rest of us! We get to watch Democrats remind the nation that they are the ones who pushed Medicare through for seniors and are pleased that the Republicans have seen the light! We get to hear the Republicans explain why the rest of us can't have what is so fine and good while the Democrats explain why all the rest of us can have what is so fine and good!
The Democrats should be chomping at the bit to get this bill to the floor. The Democrats should come out today in full support. The Democrats should make sure the "senior Bill of Rights" is Item #1 after the recess. Let's get on the field and play ball!