Well it sounds like Bill Clinton is stepping in again to save the progressives from flushing their political future down the drain again.
Bill Clinton, the last President to take on health care and fail, is throwing his weight behind President Obama — and against many liberals — saying it’s better to pass the watered-down Senate health care reform bill than to let it die.
December 17, 2009
New York, NY - "America stands at a historic crossroads. At last, we are close to making real health insurance reform a reality. We face one critical, final choice, between action and inaction. We know where the path of inaction leads to: more uninsured Americans, more families struggling to keep up with skyrocketing premiums, higher federal budget deficits, and health costs so much higher than any other country’s they will cripple us economically.
Our only responsible choice is the path of action. Does this bill read exactly how I would write it? No. Does it contain everything everyone wants? Of course not. But America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
And this is a good bill: it increases the security of those who already have insurance and gives every American access to affordable coverage; and contains comprehensive efforts to control costs and improve quality, with more information on best practices, and comparative costs and results. The bill will shift the power away from the insurance companies and into the hands of consumers.
Take it from someone who knows: these chances don’t come around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder — both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country
."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/...
For those who have short memories:
Thanks for the rec...
Bill Clinton is right on this one..We have to pass this watered down bill in order to get the ball rolling on changing healthcare reform and improving the bill over the years.
Rome wasn't built in a day
I can understand the frustration of my fellow progressives but we still fail to remember history
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
1994
I can't understand this ALL OR NOTHING attitude with the democrats with regards to this healthcare bill? What is that going to accomplish? The bottom line is that if we don't pass a healthcare bill with or without public option the obama administration, the democratic party will go down in flames in 2010 and 2012. The insurance companies will still jack up rates and drop folks with pre existing conditions and still cherry pick folks cause there will be no laws in place to make them change.
If we don't pass a piece of legislation that begins the process of healthcare reform than that chance will be forever squandered cause no other president will attempt to go down this path again. If we have gotten this far and nothing happens, then we deserve what we get by the voters next year. Meanwhile everything stays the same. Skyrocketing healthcare costs, medicare going broke and republicans sweeping 2010 and President Obama trying to govern with a republican house and senate cause folks are fed up with this party.
Get the ball rolling and build on it over the years. Get half a loaf now and then next year add amendements that will improve the bill. Medicare and Social Security were shit bills when they passed but over the years it was improved the same thing can happen with this healthcare bill.