My husband, known around these parts on rare occasions as Old Abe (he's more a lurker these days), is totally and completely pissed about the health care situation. He's been busting his ass for over a year to get a business off the ground that, thus far, hasn't so much as paid its own costs, much less an income. And now that I'm unemployed, our financial situation has come to a standstill. We're one major (note, NOT catastrophic, just MAJOR) illness away from financial ruin.
Old Abe doesn't knock on doors or make phone calls. He donates, but he's just not the kind of person who feels comfortable stumping and arm twisting. But today, he wrote one of the most scathing letters I've ever seen, and it was inspired by my good friend, Angry Mouse. It was sent to Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray (both of whom support a public option), and copied to Harry "Limp Noodle" Reid.
I have watched with amazement as the Republicans have taken over the entire messaging of health care. I'm continually stunned at the unwillingness of Democrats to stand up to stupidity and tolerate the need for bipartisanship with representatives that have no interest other than destroying legislation the country needs.
It is time for the Democrats to stop playing this dangerous game and enact what the people elected them to pass, health insurance reform among them.
I completely understand that you are in favor of good health care reform and a strong public option. All of that is needed.
What will defeat health insurance reform isn't the Republicans -- it is the Democrats. The Democrats in the last 20-years simply cave. They caved on Iraq, tax cuts that produced unprecedented deficits, individual liberty through FISA and the Patriot Act -- and if I had to take a bet, will cave on health care. I'm asking you to change that bet.
It is time good Democrats took their colleagues to task on health care. We're not getting bipartisanship out of the Finance Committee when the Republican Senators on the committee say they are negotiating but go home and say they are with "killing grandma" and are just "talking" and don't want the bill.
The fact that Barack and the Democrats are even suggesting that Republicans need to have a say in health care reform based on the complete opposition to any bill is beyond the pale. I'm assuming Democrats we elect have a brain and can see what is plainly obvious to anyone else with half a brain: Republicans don't want reform. Period.
So stop enabling them and get the Democrats in line to pass what they PROMISED to pass in 2008: health care reform, including a public option.
You needed a majority in the House? Fine, we gave it to you. You needed the White House? Fine, we gave it to you. You needed a majority in the Senate? Fine, we gave it to you. You needed 60-Democrats caucusing in the Senate? Fine, you got that too.
If Republicans, with the smallest minority in decades, can pull off Democrats not voting for health care reform, Democrats won't pass another substantive piece of legislation -- legislation we desperately need -- for the rest of the four year term.
More importantly, if Democrats don't pass meaningful reform -- the kind you want -- you will lose hundreds of thousands of passionate Democratic supporters from the last campaign. Including me.
I'm all done listening to the national discourse be about the lies coming out of Republicans while the Democrats can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag that already has 20 holes in it.
The media is having a field day showing the misplaced and ginned up anger from people attending Town Hall meetings. They are completely missing the anger in our homes at Democrats not getting this reform done.
Get it done.
If you do nothing else, yell. LOUDLY!
Thanks, Mouse!