President Obama's statement before a group of medical people surprised me. He said it's time for an up or down vote on the Democrat's healthcare plan. After a year of standoff, he finally supported the Senate plan (slightly revised by him), and is pushing it. He admitted that it's time to move ahead, time to get something done without the Republicans. It's time for the process of reconciliation. Let's give him a good point.
But then he gave his reasons for moving ahead. He said, "Everything that can be said has been said. Everything has been on the table." Wait a minute. Single payer hasn't been on the table. Supporters of single payer have been removed from congressional hearings. They have been arrested when trying to raise their voices. Reducing the age for going on Medicare, Medicare for All, hasn't been on the table. It hasn't even been discussed in Congress. He gets two bad points.
Some Obama supporters were willing to compromise with the idea of a public option. It meant that the mandate to carry health insurance didn't benefit the insurance companies. It hopefully would keep them honest, and maybe reduce premiums and other charges for everybody. Of course this was strongly opposed by Republicans and insurance companies. So what happened? Congress removed it as an option. In the name of bipartisanship President Obama said it wasn't necessary to the final bill. Two more bad points.
On a scale of five points, we have four bad, one good. That gives Obama a score of 20% in listening to the American people, the ones who elected him.
Maybe we'll get some reform of healthcare. Watered down for sure, but necessary. Maybe we won't if the Blue Dog (Rahm) Reps don't go along. Obama doesn't really like to squeeze them. Do we even have 50 votes in the Senate?
Are we getting to know our President? What happened to "change and transparency?"
