I agree with Senator Harkin that Handful of Public Option Opponents within the Senate Democratic caucus Should Bend To 'Vast Majority' of Dem Party. Why is Tom Hawkins not on the final health care bill negotiating table? Inquiry minds want to know. According to reports coming from the last meeting of the Democratic caucus vast majority of the caucus support the Public Option. In fact only one, Senator Conrad could be identified as opposing it.
Can you believe it that
"Only about five Democrats oppose it. Should the 52 give in to the five? Or should the five go along with the vast majority of the Democratic caucus?" and that "There are 52 solid Democrats for the public option," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).
According to TPM,
Here's another nugget exemplifying the intense pressure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is facing from both elected Democrats and grassroots liberals to make sure health care legislation includes a public option.
For example
Last Thursday, at a heated Democratic caucus lunch, several Democrats rose to give impassioned arguments in favor of the public option. And, with the exception of Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who gave a counterargument for private co-ops, the handful of public option opponents in the Senate was silent.
Now I know why Conrad has been invited to meet with the President today at the white House. Let's insist that Harkin should be at the table and not Olympia Snowe and we should Harry Reid accountable if he does not deliver the Public Option on the first round. Period.