updated
“We simply cannot allow differences over individual elements from meeting our responsibility to solve a longstanding and urgent problem for the American people.” – Pres. Obama
At the end of the brief presser, Pres. Obama said there are “still disagreements that have to be ironed out.”
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reported shortly afterward that she’s hearing one of the sticking points is abortion, with Democrats working to appease Sen. Ben Nelson.
MSNBC is also reporting that Howard Dean is urging Democrats to kill the Senate bill, as it stands now. He’s right. Greg Sargent has the quote:
“This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.” – Howard Dean
With days dwindling and Obama finally deciding it’s now or never, can there be any doubt that women will be the ones to lose out?
After waiting an entire year we are not only getting a bill not worth owning, but taking the Lieberman cave-in to another level, under Pres. Obama and Speaker Pelosi, Democrats seem also poised to craft language that damages hard won women’s civil rights, but also makes access to full reproductive health care more difficult.
“If we don’t get this done your premiums are guaranteed to go up,” threatened Obama.
Without true competition and the insurance monopolies still virtually intact, I’m not convinced they won’t anyway.
If “we don’t get this done” premiums will go up (which is bad, if you have an insurance policy, and says nothing about the millions who do not), follows the earlier assertion by Pfeiffer, via POLITICO, that if Obama doesn’t get health reform passed, it will be difficult to imagine another president ever taking on the “Herculean task.”
In the face of that kind of scary tactic framing, Dean’s statement is particularly significant, though I fear not particularly powerful. Dr. Dean’s voice doesn’t seem to be one that carries much weight. Unfortunately.
I’m getting whiplash (will it be covered by CIGNA?) from all of this end-game maneuvering. I finally quit writing about this topic a month ago (http://bgladd.blogspot.com/) and as yet I see nothing to allay my thoroughly studied concerns. I have to agree, net, that this POS needs to go down. Our legislative system of “checks and balances” seems to be way OUT of balance, when a few preening (and bought-off) senators can hold the entire effort hostage. Very depressing.
I’ve usually looked to Howard Dean to see what he thinks about health insurance reform because I tend to trust him on it. If he is saying this, it must be pretty bad. I am very peeved that the whole fate of health reform for millions of Americans lies in the hands of Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson. This with a Democratic president and Congress ?? Poof – now no 55-65 buy-in to Medicare – just like that. We’re in big trouble. Can someone tell me anything good about this bill?
Like lynnette I trust Dean on healthcare and I have been waiting for him to comment. Screw Obama and the Senate Dems I agree with Dean. I am calling Claire’s office to urge her to vote no. She won’t of course…she is so close to Obama but she might see that it is going to cost us all too much.
lynnette – there is no one more bitterly disappointed than me on what is now happening with health care reform. I’m literally spitting nails, crying after getting off the phone with my senators, congressman and every other person that has anything to do with the debacle that is called health care reform. I’ve worked with doctors, nurses, and all the other groups for weeks now to get a decent bill passed with a public option. The last straw is the dismantling of women’s reproductive health care. As a Democrat I’m ashamed that I have belonged to this party for all of my voting life which is more than 50 years. And as for Obama, I’m so disappointed I can hardly speak his name. He may not be a Democrat in the same vein that I’m used to but he could have at least had the balls to fight for something as important as health care reform. First Palin hijacked health care reform, now Lieberman and Nelson. How did we get to this? I have to stop now because it’s becoming a rant and I can’t think straight.
Jane Austen says:
15 December 2009 at 4:50 pm
Jane, I know you are very dedicated. This whole thing has gotten ridiculous. These are all grown, supposedly intelligent people, who have been bought off and only care about themselves. I am really disgusted, too.
From Betsy, whom many of you remember well, via my Facebook page:
Lieberman is disgusting. I’m furious with the entire Democratic party. To think I switched party for change, what a damn laugh. I agree with Howard Dean. vote down the bill in the Senate. Harry Reid is a creep and a sleaze. THese guys all are just concerned with themselves, not the American people.
In the face of that kind of scary tactic framing, Dean’s statement is particularly significant, though I fear not particularly powerful. Dr. Dean’s voice doesn’t seem to be one that carries much weight.
One thing you’re missing is the audience it helps, Joyce. House progressives and others who think the bill sucks get progressive cover by Dean speaking out. That it came as Obama was standing up in a presser was tantamount to a Lieberman move from the other side of the Democratic political spectrum. It stepped all over Obama’s message, which is good for anyone who wants REAL health care reform, not simply some “win” for Mr. Obama.
Hey BobbyG, you know, the political side of the health care debate has taken all my writing lately, even with so much happening on foreign policy. It’s the only story right now and one of the most important in Democratic history. It also could be a seminal moment for Obama, but also progressives.
…and get a load of this post:
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/12/15/president-obama-tells-bald-faced-lie-about-health-care-reform-cost-control/
TIME TO CALL YOUR PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS, if he/she represents you.
I’m lucky. I have a very progressive congressman who not only voted for a strong public option but voted against the Stupak amendment. In talking to his office this afternoon, I was told they are holding their breath waiting to see what the Senate is going to do. They are not against getting the bill thrown back into the House if it means getting meaningful health care reform. It’ll just take longer.
And I agree with Betsy–Lieberman is disgusting. He represents himself only.
I am not lucky. I have two Senators who never respond to emails, letters or phone calls.
The only email I have received from one of them was an invitation to a fundraiser to the tune of thousands of dollars to get in. Needless to say I took a pass on that one.
I must say that it is crystal clear to me why this fiasco never made its way onto C-Span
its a war. head of steelworkers on ed show-says no union support for linocln, lieberman etc in election if they keep their shit up. rep delauro says she cannot support liebercare and urges a recall in ct for joe. sen brown said- “we have no love for lieberman here.” it looked like he was about to say um some other things but held back. wapo reports tensions so high between liberals and others its about to turn to fullscale revolt. so i pray. please revolt. someone revolt for us. what a fiasco.
texan4hillary -
who’s the best bet to lead a revolt in your opinion?
kris says:
15 December 2009 at 6:11 pm
I guess I always assumed that all senators responded to their constituents when called or written to. I had the best relationship with Hillary Clinton’s office, and I have a pretty good relationship with Schumer and Gillibrand’s offices. I e-mail and call constantly. But it’s my congressman who is really great. He believes and fights for everything I believe in and is excellent on his communication with my hubby and me. I just wish others had the same kind of response. So kris I understand your frustration.
It is frustrating Jane. I know CA is a very populous state but so I am sure they receive alot of communications but an acknowledgment once in awhile would be nice.
Watch Boxer’s race against Fiorina next year. Should be interesting and I could not predict right now who might win. The other race to watch out here is the Governorship.
remember when I wasn’t too thrilled about Hillary becoming SOS because I felt she should continue in the Senate where she could work for the people of NYS. I think I know why Obama made her SOS. Who do you think would have been fighting for true health care reform now? She was neutralized. She can’t say anything about the health care reform without looking like she’s going against Obama.
dean’s voice is most influential here. he says kill it. so i think he is the leader here.
kris says:
15 December 2009 at 6:30 pm
I do watch the politics in CA since I have family out there. But CA is a funny state politically. It just doesn’t seem to have the same involvement that the people in NY have with politics, or maybe that’s just my opinion. I mean we’re downright political animals.
texan4hillary says:
15 December 2009 at 6:30 pm
He should let out that famous yell of his.
But I think you may be right. He didn’t come out saying this for nothing.
You’re right Jane. We elect people like Sonny Bono, Arnold, my favorite Nancy Pelosi,Democratic Senators, Republican Governors, Democratic Legislatures, it typically makes no sense. And it makes no sense because most pay NO attention until election time. By then it’s too late.
And Jane do you really think Obama named Hillary SOS for that reason?
“we are screwed”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/15/rep-capuano-tells-fellow_n_392685.html?view=print
kris says:
15 December 2009 at 6:38 pm
It’s only my opinion but at this point with what is happening with health care reform, I’m beginning to smell a rat. In all honesty, do you think health care reform would be the mess it is if she were still in the Senate? And if she were, she would have had a lot to say about where this bill would have gone and it wouldn’t have gone down the drain. I think I know Hillary pretty well because of all the town meetings I attended in the past and she was pretty passionate about health care reform. Only my opinion but it’s what I have felt for a long time.
Wonder if Betsy is fed up with Obama yet?
dean on olbermann tonight to announce opposition to sen bill.
Kill the Bill. Peace
Here, send a message to traitor Joe Lieberman demanding he help enact a strong single payer public option into law.
http://bit.ly/traitorjoe
fineman- dean’s comming out against bill significant. a frmr head of the party and widely respected liberal saying kill it is a crucial development here. fineman also- with dean now opposed who is close ot the prog cuaucs on the hill signals the bill may not pass. toss in stupak and oh boy.
sen brown caves\
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/brown-public-option-or-no-im-voting-for-this-health-care-bill.php?ref=dcblt
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 9, 2009
“I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/
I guess sometimes we just don’t listen…What American will get is mandate to have insurance with the private sector…and the poor will provide Billion of Dollars for Bonus….Now that is Change we can believe in it call permeate imprisonment by Corporate America with the help of your purchased elected officials.
Democratz……
It always amuses me to see someone advocating contacting a politician who has demonstrated, already, that they couldn’t care less about your opinion.
Why the hell would anyone contact this worm Lieberman? Has he given you any indication he gives a shit what his constituency wants?
Well pissed off American, you probably didn’t even read the web page because if you did, you would see a letter saying that until Joe gets a strong single payer public option enacted into law, we will not buy any products from his friends at General Electric. The more people send that letter, the less revenue that GE will get. Oh and the letter goes to GE as well.
Taylor: “House progressives and others who think the bill sucks get progressive cover by Dean speaking out.”
Agree, totally. I’m not so sure how many House progressives exist, but absolutely Dean’s statement helps them, and we need everyone we can get.