Right now there's a lot of people that deserve our ire and rage over the death of the public option. Senator Reid, Rahm Emanuel, and, of course, Joe Lieberman jump to mind immediately. But while Senator Lieberman deserves to be punished more than anyone, but while we're at it, let's not forget his best lieutient-Blanche Lincoln.
Remember, Lincoln was hemming and hawing over the public option from the get go. For the longest time it was impossible to get her to say how she would vote and when she did finally agree to start debate she made it clear she would not only oppose the public option but join the Republicans to fillibuster it. Lincoln may well vote on whatever weakened wreck of a bill we get,and then she'll be back in Arkansas smiling and lying to her constituents about all the good work she's done for us on this healthcare bill. As for me, I'll never forget the people Blanche Lincoln has been working against this whole time, and neither should you:
There may still be good reforms in the final bill. There may be things we can build upon in the future. But we're getting nowhere with this broken mess of a Senate and Blanche Lincoln is a part of the problem. So the path before us is clear-primary after primary after primary after primary until a better Senate is a reality.
Right now, a lot of us on the ground are working hard to get Arkansas Lt. Gov Bill Halter into the primary, and he seems to be taking it seriously. So now, why don't we show him that we'll back him more than ever in light of recent events.
You can e-mail Halter at Info@BillHalter.com. Please, do so and tell him you'll support him if he runs. And if you're on facebook you should join the Draft Bill Halter facebook group. Those of us on the ground here are doing everything we can think of to provide a real challenge to Lincoln next year, but we need your help to make sure it happens and show Halter that if he does take the plunge the resources to do so will be there as he takes on an incumbent senator backed by the party establishment and loaded with money from her corporate sponsors.
I know things seem hopeless and upsetting right now, but giving up only means there will be no hope for people like Vicky Hansen. That's why we have to keep going-for her and the millions like her, to make sure that those that need representation most will have it in the battles to come, battles we should plan on fighting and winning.