President Obama told progressives that if this healthcare bill fails, not only will the democrats go down in flames but his presidency. I think those who are not satisfied with this bill need a come to jesus moment. We democrats need to realize that we can't get everything we want. We have to compromise to get a bill passed and then add on later with amendments. Right now we have a chance to show america and INDEPENDENT voters that we can govern and solve problems. This bickering and infighting will make us continue to lose support. You have the progressives who want public option and the abortion language changed, you have the moderates who don't want public option and you have the conservatives who don't like the size of the bill and want it less expensive and want strick abortion language in the bill. This is what obama has to deal with in trying to get a bill passed. This has been his problem from the beginning trying to govern a big tent democratic party. We are showing that we are incompetent and can't get anything done. No matter how much we want the public option, our chance of getting one will be impossible of NO BILL PASSES!! You can easily add on to a bill but you can't with one that doesn't exist. Medicare/SS/Civil Rights were awful bills passed at first but was improved over the years.
Obama to Progressives: 31 Million People--And My Presidency--Are On The Line If Health Care Fails
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
President Obama's message to progressives who are dissatisfied with the Senate health care bill is two fold: First: Don't forget about the uninsured. Second: Don't forget what failure to pass this bill would do to the party and my presidency.
In a meeting with House progressives today, Obama made the pitch.
Speaking to reporters in the Speaker's lobby off the House floor, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) said the President reminded them that "If this opportunity passes, much of our agenda, on the progressive side...it would be difficult, if not impossible for a generation to get back to this issue."
I asked if the message was convincing to those in attendance.
"It's pretty compelling," Grijalva said.
That's a significant change from his tone earlier in the week, when Grijalva said he was inclined to vote against the bill from the left.
Obama reminded the assembled Democrats that doing nothing would be politically disastrous. "To maintain a strong presidency we need to pass this bill," the President said, according to Grijalva.
Progressives aren't without demands of their own. They are looking for all assurances that the Senate bill won't pass without a companion reconciliation bill amending it. Obama assured the members he sees the two bills as companions.
"We don't want to get trapped voting for the Senate bill as is without a full understanding that what he signs, and comes to his desk, are the two pieces of legislation, and the other part being the critical part being the reconciliation," Grijalva said.
Obama also apparently pledged to revisit the public option in the future.
Grijalva's account was echoed by Congressional Black Caucus chair Barbara Lee, who said the President reminded them: "31 million people will have health insurance as a result of this bill."
"Did the message resonate?" I asked.
"I think it resonates for a lot of people," Lee said.
No matter how much we hate this bill, not passing one will benefit the insurance companies, and republicans and they will clean sweep the democrats out of office in the fall.
WOW!! Made the REC list..Thanks!!
