I am tearing my hair out on this site today, reading Icebergslim's diary about the Senate Finance Committee's decision to drop the public option.
The comments beneath that diary are nearly unanimous in condemning President Obama for his handling of health care. People are talking about supporting a PRIMARY OPPONENT for Obama...about him being unwilling and uninterested in pushing for the best possible bill...about him pulling the wool over our eyes.
What people are not getting is that ALLOWING EVERYONE IN CONGRESS TO HAVE THEIR SAY IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE MOST PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION POSSIBLE. Rigidity leads to infighting and gridlock, not progress.
Moreover, I thought we elected Obama to be the President of the United States, not the President of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. THAT is the change I voted for...a President who listens to everyone.
From the conversation out there, it appears people believe Obama is a traitor to the Democratic Party. But those who are upset with the President are blatantly ignoring the following:
- Obama is the President of the United States, not an Ultimate Fighting Champion. He cannot wrestle people into submission. Congress writes policy, not the President. YES, he should try to lead the party toward the best possible legislation under the circumstances, which he is trying to do with his speeches, and with the work of Organizing for America. BUT, he cannot FORCE anyone to do anything.
- Conservative/Moderate Democrats can filibuster a bill, just as easily as Republicans. The situation is VERY precarious. Some people are calling on the leadership to strip Baucus of his chairmanship because he's dropped the public option. That is insanity! If Baucus and his ilk are shut out of the process or marginalized in any way, that is the very thing that would MOST push them toward a filibuster!
I think it would be very helpful to the cause if people understood that Democratic control of the White House, Senate and House doesn't mean that the MOST progressive legislation will automatically pass.
All we can expect is for the President to work hard for what he feels is best for America. His strategy is to include as many people as possible in the process and then, once all the ideas are on the table, press as hard as he can for the best outcome.
The bill that comes out of Senate Finance is just ONE idea of several. It does not mean the public option is out, it just means there's more to talk about.
For the life of me, I can't understand why so many people are so cynical, and simultaneously so allergic to reality.
YES, it's quite possible that certain Democrats are more beholden than they should be to insurance companies who donate to their campaigns. But that is an argument for real campaign finance reform, NOT a reason to call for Obama's head for acknowledging the difficulty of passing anything in the Senate, much less single payer or whatever other ideas progressives think are best.
As much as we would like to, we cannot ignore pragmatism. We should keep our gripes about Obama to whispers, and save the SHOUTING for those who are trying to stop health care reform in its tracks.
We elected a President and now are trying to make him do his job with one hand tied behind his back. Too many of the people who should be in his corner are instead fighting him tooth and nail for refusing to jam through legislation...a strategy that wouldn't work even if he tried it.