DFA Opposes the Opt-Out For the Public Option

[masuki bance]

By: Jane Hamsher Saturday October 10, 2009


When Howard Dean made a statement saying that he would vote for the public option opt-out over the Baucus bill, many took that as an endorsement. But it was so loaded down with caveats I had a hard time believing that it represented the ringing endorsement that many assumed it was.

Charles Chamberlain is the the Executive Director of DFA, the grassroots political organization founded by Howard Dean. I asked him where DFA stood on the opt-out. His response:

Every American deserves the choice of a public option, not just those who live in Democratic states. Further, it is impossible to allow states to opt-out and still be a national plan. It would be a morally unacceptable compromise if Democratic Senators let Republican states opt-out because too many Americans would continue to suffer and in some cases even die without health coverage. It’s time for Democrats to stop negotiating with themselves in an attempt to get Republican votes. The majority of Americans want a public option and are depending on the Democratic Majority in congress to pass real reform with a national public option available to everyone on day one. We have the majority votes needed in both houses of Congress to pass a public option now, It’s time to get the job done.

Proponents of the veal pen opt-out argue that it’s necessary because there “aren’t 60 votes in the Senate” for a public option. What they are saying is that there are members of the Senate Democratic caucus who would take the unprecedented step of joining with the opposition party to break a filibuster-proof majority and keep their own bill from coming to the floor.

But they have failed to produce even one Senator who will publicly say that. They’re capitulating without forcing those members to pay the political price of making that public admission. Does Joe Lieberman or Ben Nelson or Blanche Lincoln or Mary Landrieu have the political courage to do that? We may never know, because the veal pen “opt-out cop-out” protects them from that exposure.

...

DFA is right. Leaving red states behind in a health care overhaul is deeply immoral. That’s consistent with what Howard Dean told the Huffington Post — opt outs are not his ideal for health care reform, and they shouldn’t be considered unless there is absolutely no other option.

If the veal pen organizations want to promote the opt-out, they need to prove that there is no other option. They need to force Lieberman and Landrieu and Nelson and Lincoln to say they will filibuster a health care bill with a public option. But they have failed to do that. And in doing so, they’re protecting these “centrists” from the consequences that should result in them losing their power in the Senate. Contact them and ask them to speak out against the opt-out like DFA has. And if they won’t, ask them why.

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/10/10/dfa-opposes-the-opt-out-for-the-public-option/

There is no reason to give away a robust and truly significant public option.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Of course it doesn't "leave red states out". It allows red states to LEAVE THEMSELVES OUT...

This reverse-psychology game is really, really fun to watch.

I might have been slightly misconstruing it initially, however. I assumed the reverse-psych was aimed at republicans. It may be aimed at our shittier Democrats.

[SPedigrees]

2. DFA's gone downhill since the days of local meetups all across USA to elect Howard Dean.

Lately I've been getting barraged by this group with telephone calls (probably asking for money.) The last time I was disturbed in my home I warned them that they would be going the way of Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International, and Rails-to-Trails if they keep this up. These groups will never again have me on their membership lists since they crossed the line in years past, regardless of how worthy they are. It's too bad fundraising people from organizations don't get the fact that annoying your supporters and invading their privacy is not the way to go..

And, on edit, DFA has clearly strayed from the path carved out by Howard Dean.