With all due respect to those who are worried about defending Obama from progressive angst [View All]

[Tom Rinaldo]

Relax, Obama does not now need to be vigorously defended from attacks by Democrats who are worried about what exactly health care reform will ultimately include. He has shown himself more than capable of handling attacks from sources far more potent than disgruntled progressives on the blogsphere.

Obama never promised anyone an immediate Single Payer system so complaints about that represent water under the bridge, down the river and deep into the ocean in so far as they are relevant to attempting to influence the legislation that is emerging now.

Concerns over whether or not Obama is doing all the right things as best he can to deliver a public option plan that many of us are seeking from health care reform legislation, will start sorting themselves out organically within the next few weeks as the final plan emerges. If bloggers are satisfied with the results, no one will be complaining. If people are not happy with the results, let the blaming and defending commence. That is when Obama may need defenders against unfair accusations, or fair ones, you pick.

For all I know Obama is currently pursuing a result I will find desirable to me with the skill of a grand chess master. Then again he may be blowing it in one way or another. I can make guesses but I really don't know for sure. Nor do any of us. For better or worse I do know he is involved in the nitty gritty of it all now. If ever Obama was standing back and leaving it to legislators to legislate alone, he isn't any more. Olympia Snowe may get daily briefings about the negotiations going on to hammer out amerged Senate Bill, but Rahm Emanuel is one of the small handful of people actually sitting in on every minute of those negotiations.

My priority is simple; keep our eye on the ball. The actual contents of the final health care reform that will emerge from Congress hangs in the balance NOW. If people feel strongly about what should or should not be in that legislation, now is the time to make sure that those who have some direct influence over what emerges know exactly how we feel about it. If some of us go over the top and make an unfair accusation against Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama or Ben Nelson in the process, it little matters. The record will be set straight shortly. Now is the time to focus on getting our messages across to our leaders on this matter. Sometimes shouts speak louder than words.