A question to the Kos community. Because I just can't figure it out!
A big debate within the left is whether President Obama has done everything he could to push a progressive health care reform bill. I tend to side with those who believe he did all he could - but only within the Democratic caucus. But it seems that he left a huge card on the table, and I can't wrap my mind around why.
Olympia Snowe voted for a more progressive bill in committee, with a public option (a trigger option, but nonetheless). And Collins was relatively noncommittal about where she would stand when the bill came to the floor. And yet both Maine senators not only voted against the bill, but against cloture. Snowe even being forced to invent a ludicrous excuse about the bill moving too fast.
Maine is a state that gave significant support to Obama in the primary and general election, and he had nothing to lose by campaigning, both openly and in backrooms, to gain the votes from the Maine senators (who have been voting against him on everything, lately). He could have gone to Maine, had a series of rallies, shown the progressives that he was fighting for them while providing a common enemy, and also threatened the Maine senators on their pet projects and earmarks. Furthermore, if he had secured the support of either senator (and lets face it, they come as a package), President Obama would have much greater room to maneuver with Lieberman and other recalcitrant Democrats, while also knocking down the talking point that this was a partisan bill. And this is still an option at his disposal. It's not too late!
So as far as I can tell, a huge mistake on Obama's part. Any thoughts on why?