BlueDogs, Liberals, President Obama - Forget Bipartisanship. Americans Want A Public Option

[berni_mccoy]

This is a request to all Democrats in Congress and President Obama: 77% of Americans want a Public Option (recent poll results here http://minnesotaindependent.com/42444/surveyusa-given-a-choice-77-percent-of-americans-like-public-option ). You cannot ignore the will of the people The Republicans can, but they are a severe minority. You must drop the desire to be bipartisan. Clearly there are some Republican CITIZENS who want a Public Option and the vast majority of Democrats and Independents demand it. That's all the bipartisanship you need.

Why are your approval ratings so low on this issue? Because you've let the Republicans go wild and take you off message. It's not because you haven't put out a good bill. HR3200, the one that came out of the Education and Labor committee in the House, supported even by the Progressive Caucus, has a good public option. But because you've allowed the "Gang of Six", who ought to be called the Gang of Sicks, have allowed the Insurance backed Republicans to dismantle the progress by misinforming the public on it. One of the greatest fear mongerers: Grassley, who has openly admitted he has not been negotiating in good faith. He, along with other Republicans, has been sabotaging the entire bipartisan effort.

You've done your job in reaching out. They've smacked down the hand of brotherhood and trust. They've said one thing while having no intent on supporting negotiation. It's all been a stall tactic and a ruse. Now it's time to get the job done. Own the message now and show the Public what these rich fat Insurance-backed politicians are all about. They don't want reform. They don't want healthcare for all. They don't want negotiations.

Show them what the Will of the People want: A Public Option. Or better yet, Medicare for All. With the former, you have the votes to get it done in the Senate. If the Blue Dogs are too cowardly, they don't have to vote on it. But they have to support breaking a filibuster to give it an up-or-down vote. And Medicare-For-All would be the easiest to pass. Changing the age limit on Medicare would qualify as a Budget Reconciliation move and that would allow you to pass with a simple majority, no filibuster possible.

As Rahm Emanuel stated, it's Time For War With the Republicans. It's Time To Hit Them Hard and Fast. It's time to shut them up. And if you do follow through with this, you can be assured that this will only help your chances in the next mid-term Election. Republicans will lose more seats as they've shown themselves to be obstructionists to the Will of the People.

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. If we're going to stop playing nice with the Repukes (and we should)

then let's go all the way with it and go for single payer. The public option itself was a compromise, albeit an acceptable one that any reasonable Congress should have passed within a week.

If they passed single payer right now, there wouldn't be a Repuke congress for another 40 years. Or hopefully longer. And I honestly think that scares the DLC'ers and Blue Balled Cowards more than it does the admitted Repukes, because it would mean their mission to sabotage the Democratic party from within was a failure.

[jma10131]

2. Totally piontless.....

I can without any doubt, understand why President Obama is pushing so hard for bipartisanship. As President of the United States, Obama must set a standard, and lead by example. However, it is stupid and pointless to sacrifice everything your Administration can do, just to give the GOP a chance, when they're going to stab him in the back. This is the problem with democrats in congress. They're weak when it comes to passing their agenda. If Obama continues to play nice with the GOP, he'll lose in the end. He needs to play rough.

[berni_mccoy]

3. Welcome to DU.

[Curtland1015]

4. While I DO want a public option, I have a hard time believing anything that came from a poll...

That very same organization (SurveyUSA), for example, ran a poll just days before that one which said that 45% of all Americans wanted the Government to stay out of healthcare reform (45% yea, 45% nay, 10% undecided).

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. I used to think that this bipartisanship mess was Obama's fault. I've come to the conclusion

that it is not.

This is the fault of the Blue Dogs in the Senate.

The House is on board. In fact, Nancy Pelosi is the only Democrat in a leadership position that is demonstrating true leadership on this issue at the moment. Ironic, isn't it??!?!?