Steny Hoyer has committed an unforgivable sin, as far I'm concerned.
Earlier today, he said this:
Hoyer (D-Md.) emphasized his support for a public option in a teleconference call with reporters, but also said he wants to ensure Congress sends a bill to the president.
“I’m for a public option, but I’m also for passing a bill,” he said. Democrats believe the public option is necessary, useful and important, he added, “be we’ll have to see.”
He then said there are many other important parts of healthcare legislation that have been approved by three committees in the House.
President Barack Obama already has signaled he won’t insist that a public option be included in final healthcare legislation, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Sunday opened a firestorm with the political left by saying that a public option was “not essential” to a healthcare bill.
Hoyer has long been seen as a voice for centrist Blue Dog Democrats, who have reservations about the public option.
Read on for why I think he must be primaried:
This is an unforgivable sin because Democrats were getting the momentum back.
There have just been three or four days of strong, progressive, clear messaging on the public option.
Nancy Pelosi had just flexed her muscles and showed the Blue Dogs that the leadership had a spine.
The momentum was TOWARDS the public option.
Now Hoyer has, on a Friday afternoon, handed the MSM their big story for the weekend - a SPLIT in the Party.
He's basically told the Blue Dogs that if the play hard enough, the Leadership will buckle and sell out the base.
He's told republicans to pile the pressure on in the Senate.
He's given Baucus an excuse to go postal on tv over the weekend driving more of a stake in the public option.
THIS IS A KEY MOMENT.
If progressives lose, this is where it happened.
So, are you all going to take it, or are you going to stand up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, and primary the fucker?
There must be consequences for this sort of betrayal.
That's all. It's my first diary. Hope it's worthwhile.