Received an e-mail from Former Senator Tom Daschle (D. SD) today regarding U.S. Senate candidate Rick Weiland (D. SD), Daschle's former aide, and how to strengthen the Affordable Care Act:
Sometimes one doesn't have to say much to help a person.
That was my reaction when I read Rick Weiland's letter this morning. I don't need to say much more than he does on health care reform. It speaks volumes about Rick. I continue to be impressed with his campaign and the positions he has taken.
If you share my enthusiasm for Rick and his extraordinary effort, please click here. His campaign is picking up steam and this is one race that will increasingly generate national attention.:
https://act.myngp.com/...
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Dear Tom:
I'm sure you have noticed the disappearing Democrats who are abandoning ship on Obamacare to save their own skins.
In my view those "Democrats" are increasing, not decreasing, the chances they will become skinless next November. They embolden the far right, fool no one, and gravely harm our long term fight to win quality, affordable health care for every American.
My instinct is to take precisely the opposite path.
On the merits of this issue it is obvious the only problem with Obamacare as enacted is that it is not the Obamacare we, and Barack Obama himself, wanted before the insurance companies and the hard right forced him to give up on the public option.
I intend to say exactly that, and to challenge insurance agent Mike Rounds to debate me on the issue.
Instead of cutting and running, I will call for the replacement of Obamacare as enacted with Obamacare as it should have been enacted and as President Obama himself obviously preferred, with an option for every American to choose between private insurance and buying into Medicare!
It is time to cut to the chase. This fight is about Medicare. It always has been.
That's why, if elected, I will introduce the Medicare Choice Act.
Right wing Republicans have opposed Medicare since day one. They fight constantly to weaken or repeal it. With the help of the big insurance companies they kept it out of Obamacare. Let's ask them why.
Why do you oppose giving the American people a choice between buying into Medicare or keeping their private insurance?
Why have you constantly sought to weaken or privatize Medicare?
If private insurance is better, why are you afraid to put it to the competitive test?
Those are questions that win elections. On the merits, they are also the questions that should be asked.
I intend to ask them.
I'm hopeful we will have the chance to visit soon about this approach and would welcome your thoughts on all, or any part of it.
Rick Weiland
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PS - Rick Weiland is running in a bright red state, running with guts, intelligence and unbelievably hard work. His victory will change the way we run in states like mine, and thus the kind of Democrats we nominate and elect.
And that, in my view, is the name of the game.
Tom Daschle