Congressman Kucinich told me, in our interview,
We need to keep the discussion going about alternatives, because every discussion about alternatives puts the pressure in the direction of trying to come up with a better bill. And even at this late date, it would be a huge mistake to just look at the bill and call it a day. No, no no. We have to fight for the best bill we can get all the way down the line and if, despite our best efforts, it still can not meet the test of providing care for people instead of profits for insurance companies, then we have to reserve the right to oppose it.
And I asked him about the other progressive House signatories of the promise to hold firm for the public option. He replied,
When 77 members signed that letter, I'm the only one who's survived to vote against it. All the others with the exception of one who is no longer in congress, have gone against it. All the others have gone along with the bill.
I think the problem we have in the progressive movement is that when we take these positions, which are aimed, really, at trying to help people get a better deal and create something from a system that's so wretched at times, something that's really worthwhile out of the system. If we take a stand, as we did on the public option, and we say,we're going to stand and we're not going to vote for the bill unless it has a robust public option, and then, when it comes time for a vote, if we vote for it, it's as if, well, we really didn't mean that. We were just trying to see if we could push our way into it, but it didn't work. So what.No. That undermines our bargaining position. I voted for it (in committee,) then they stripped the public option.
Progressives need to understand that if you are going to take a position and it is based on principle, that you have to be prepared to follow through. Otherwise nobody will ever believe you any time. Why make the deal with you if you will cave in? That's something we have to deal with. And this isn't just about one person. It's about all of us. It's not easy to be here because there's a lot of pressure. There's partisan pressure, pressure from the president, pressure from back home-- everyone wants you to try to do the right thing. Sometimes you end up in a situation where you can't please everyone. So you have to make the best decision you can. And unfortunately, 75 members in congress who signed onto the letter have decided that they wouldn't keep the pledge that they made. And I think that has probably hurt our bargaining position down the road on a lot of things.
I said to Kucinich, "I was at the progressive media summit meeting yesterday, that is put on by the Senate Democratic Outreach Committee, and I talked to Harry Reid and Debbie Stabenow and a handful of other senators-- there about 18 senators there. I get the impression, that, one, Obama has done nothing to support the public option. He has made no effort to support it or get behind it, and, that if he did, it would probably happen. What do you think?"
He replied, "Well the president has said he supports the public option."
"But he hasn't backed it up," I responded.
Kucinich answered, "Well, I think, if his words were backed up by actions, we could probably still get it. So if the Whitehouse determines that they need just one vote, in order to pass the bill, I am sure that they know, full well, that I would (inadible-- possibly "cede") that one vote. And the public option-- a serious public option-- is the path to do it. And the president could, even at this late date, still do it. It could still be done. A vehicle is being put together to make it possible. Maybe something will still happen."
If one man, Dennis Kucinich, holds his ground, mountains may move. Kucinich is not a prick, as Moulitsas says. He's a hero-- a man of integrity and courage who is fighting for what Americans deserve, when the rest of congress settled for far too little. Thom Hartmann says, "His intransigence might cause the reconciliation to be stronger to satisfy him and if his opposition helps improve the bill, even if he doesn't vote for, that's a good thing. Instead of progressives putting him in their gun sights, they should be elevating him to sainthood."
He's demanded a robust public option and protection from insurers for state efforts at single payer. Every state should be given a the waivers to protect them from insurer ERISA litigation PLUS a million in funding to pay for feasibility studies for programs like single payer or other public option alternatives. It's crazy that with so many trillions at stake, a tiny budget can't be had by local grassroots groups to innovate. They should throw an extra $50 million in the health reform bill to cover such exploration.
I'm not going to judge Moulitsas or his other progressive attackers. They're buying the message from Democratic leaders that this is the best we can get. I don't buy it. I believe that Kucinich is right to demand more and that it can be gotten. Let Rahm Emanuel curse him out too. You can be sure the health insurers are not happy about him. Every thing he's calling for will hurt them.
There are ways to support legislators when they deserve support. You can send them money, sign petitions, post comments, write to your own legislators-- amazingly, both of mine-- Specter and Casey-- are on the record supporting the public option. Who would have thought that Arlen Specter would get behind it.
Just a few weeks ago, on February 24th, Joan McCarter, AKA McJoan on dailykos.com, recently called for an up or
down vote on the public option. At least it would out the Senate
democrats who have sold out to insurance companies. Moulitsas threated to "primary" Kucinich. How about threatening to "primary" the 18 remaining Dem senators who have not signed on to the public option? How about burying the whitehouse with messages supporting Kucinich, the public option and the state ERISA Waiver?
Some say that Kucinich could single-handedly kill the bill. I say he could singe-handedly SAVE the bill. And if he does, he will still not have a substantive piece of legislation that he wrote. BFD.
Here's a thought. How about standing behind the guy who's doing the right thing and helping him force the ones who have caved in, who are letting the insurance companies win and have settled for a lot less than they should? How about getting behind the one Democrat who has it right?
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