Yesterday was certainly a historic day, and although we still have some hurdles to clear in the Senate, I could not help but imagine how it must have felt when Social Security was passed in 1935, or the Social Security Act of 1965 which brought us Medicare and Medicaid.
How inspiring is Congressman John David Dingell of Michigan? At 83, he is the longest serving member of the house and heir to the legacy of his father, John Dingle, Sr., who first introduced national health insurance back in 1933. The younger Dingell has fought the fight for national healthcare ever since he joined the House of Representatives in 1955. Just like Senator Edward Kennedy, he is a courageous leader on this issue, and certainly deserving of our salute.
How deliciously pointed was Congressman George Miller of California? He so effectively itemized the case against the bankrupt ideas of the Republicans that he could hardly contain his contempt when he considered their plan for healthcare which would leave out 50 million people over the next decade:
At the end of their watch, after 12 years of control of this Congress, 8 years with control of the White House at the same time. They left behind 37 million Americans without health insurance. That’s what they left behind on their watch, and now they’ve come forward with a plan for the future and over the next decade they’re gonna leave behind 50 million Americans! ....What a plan! Ha! God save us!
How great was Congressman Charles Rangel of New York? He certainly demonstrated his mastery of the art of the subtle put down. After being challenged by expert obstructionist John Boehner of Ohio on whether the House bill would maintain its specific language as it relates to not providing funding for abortion, once the house and Senate bills were merged. Considering that Mr. Boehner is leading the charge to have Rangel ousted from his Chairmanship of the Committee on Ways and Means, while he is under an ethics investigation, Mr. Rangel responded thusly:
Mr. Leader, you’ve been here long enough to truly understand how the system works. As soon as we pass this bill, then we would expect the Democratic controlled Senate to pass their bill, and then we would go into conference and we would work the will of the majority in the House. We have no idea that you would expect that a member, especially one that you spoke in such glowing terms, as you have, about me that you would expect me on this floor in front of all my friends and colleagues to guarantee you anything. And I think any member that gives a guarantee might be in violation of our ethics laws. And so I wish you kina take a look at this thing before you ask these questions.
There was laughter by Democrats as Mr. Boehner achieved several shades of lovely orange and ultimately stood there looking ridiculous.
How about those crazy attempts by Republicans to scare the American people by using the name Pelosi? There were several variations of the Pelosi Healthcare Bill, such as: The Pelosi Takeover Bill, or the Pelosi Takeover of Healthcare, or the Pelosi Anti Freedom Bill, or the Pelosi against Motherhood Takeover Bill. Let’s just say that the Republicans are masters of the art of negative framing.
The same scare tactic was used by the Republicans and Blue Dogs, as they despicably offered an amendment to limit the rights of women and change the healthcare debate into the issue of abortion; it was a singularly disgraceful moment.
And finally, how about those Democrats who joined with the Republicans to kill the healthcare bill? Look, I think all Democrats agree that the bill is not perfect, and even the President has stated that if he had his druthers, he would have preferred a Single Payer System, but this is the legislative process, and you usually end up short of your ultimate goal.
To me, the vote of those Democrats was unconscionable, especially when you consider that the bill would cover 96 percent of the population, and would save the lives of thousands of people every year who die because of the status quo. It would also prohibit denying claims based on pre-existing conditions, as the President stipulated, and prohibit insurance companies from refusing to offer coverage. How could we risk the death and suffering of so many people, just because the bill isn’t everything we wanted?
That is similar to the Republicans, like Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana, who said that although his nephew is stricken with cancer, and cannot afford his treatment care, they both are against the bill, because it is wrong for the government to get involved in healthcare. Now, I ask, does this make sense? Principle over death?
How can we be so insistent that a piece of legislation be perfect, at the expense of so many millions of people? This reminds me of a lyric from HAIR, the legendary movie musical. The song is called "easy to be hard":
How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold
How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no
And especially people
Who care about strangers
Who care about evil
And social injustice
Do you only
Care about the bleeding crowd?
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend
The healthcare bill is now in the hands of the Senate. I hope they makes us proud like the House just did.