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June 21, 2009
Be LBJ
So as we rattle off an endless list of polls that show overwhelming super-majority support for the public option, Congress continues to act in its own interest and contrary to what you want -- in defiance, even, of what 50-66 percent of Republican voters want -- in defiance of what up to 76 percent of crucial independent voters want.
They're being paid by the health insurance lobby to kill the public option and to require everyone to buy private insurance at whatever premium they'd like to charge you.
This leaves us with the president to crack some skulls. Robert Reich had some good advice for President Obama:
Be LBJ. So far, Lyndon Johnson has been the only president to defeat American Medical Association and the rest of the medical-industrial complex. He got Medicare and Medicaid enacted despite their cries of "socialized medicine" because he knocked heads on the Hill. He told Congress exactly what he wanted, cajoled and threatened those who resisted, and counted noses every hour until he had the votes he needed. When you're not on the road, you need to be twisting congressional arms and drawing a line in the sand. Be tough.
I've resisted this "Obama should [fill in the blank]" advice in the past, but the level of corruption in Congress demands that the president throw his considerable popularity in the faces of these sold-out bastards. It's a perfect storm of push-back against Congress. Super-majority support for the public option, and an overwhelmingly popular president to deliver those numbers to the asshats who refuse to acknowledge anything other than Frank Luntz's hackery.
Be LBJ, Mr. President. Go!
Adding... This Reich bit is also important:
Put everything else on hold. As important as they are, your other agenda items -- financial reform, home mortgage mitigation, cap-and-trade legislation -- pale in significance relative to universal health care. By pushing everything at once, you take the public's mind off the biggest goal, diffuse your energies, blur your public message, and fuel the demagogues who say you're trying to take over the private sector.
I seriously believe we should all take this advice. This has to be the priority. If for no other reason than we are being sold out and it has to stop here.
Filed under: Healthcare || President Obama's Leadership Style || Public Option || Robert Reich
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Posted By Bob Cesca | June 21, 2009 10:06 AM
Comments
Couldn't agree more.
Time to stop taking names and start kicking some butt!
Posted by: kansasdem ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.bobcesca.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 21, 2009 10:29 AM
Abso friggin' lutely.
Time to bring out the big guns and get it on. if the thugs don't want to get on board then get the hell out of the way.
Posted by: Jan at June 21, 2009 10:51 AM
Have you sent this article to President Obama yet? Mabe you should use it to start a petition, hand delivered to the President.
Posted by: mary from TN at June 21, 2009 11:10 AM
But the Gays don't see it that way.. and I know I will probably get yelled at.. but I had a huge argument with one on twitter in the middle of the Iran mess over this.. still crying because the president isn't doing enough about DOMA and DADT.. They think he should drop everything and focus on them.
They are pissed and having a fit he hasn't done enough for them and just going to take their marbles and go home.
Posted by: Annette at June 21, 2009 11:11 AM
You're so right Bob! Here's what I'd like to see on the upcoming healthcare special on ABC Wednesday night. After quoting from all of the polls showing support for the public plan, President Obama produces a list of the House and Senate members who are taking the most money from the insurance industry. Just out their asses on national tv. It would likely initiate a high number of calls to these bastards from the folks in their states. This should carry more weight than the calls they've received nationally because these folks are the ones they'll need to get re-elected. If nothing else it will show these spineless weasels that the President means business.
Posted by: roxsteady at June 21, 2009 11:12 AM
IMO, the GLBT community has let their misplaced anger towards Obama fester for so long it's now become hate. It's the reason why they're now demonizing people who are suppose to be on their side.
Posted by: LTMidnight at June 21, 2009 11:24 AM
I concur.
Obama needs to "explain" it to these sleazy bastards.
Isn't that what Rahm is on the payroll for?
Posted by: Wolfe_Tone at June 21, 2009 11:25 AM
While I sympathize with the Gay and Lesbian community, they have to know that if the President began his adgenda with their issues, it would have played right into the hands of the Republicans and Conservatives sparking national debates and stoping his adgenda for the entire country before it got started. I think that healthcare has to be the priority right now. If the economy begins to turn around next year and job losses begin to turn around, he will have emassed considerable political capital. With so much at stake, patience is truely a virtue.
Posted by: roxsteady at June 21, 2009 11:26 AM
I hate to beat a dead horse, really I do. But, none of these Senators seems to be wringing their hands about the high cost of providing primo health care to them. If the public option is so terrifyingly expensive, I think that we should get rid of the public option for everyone. Let Congress pay for their own health care.
I'll bet that a bunch of those guys have pre-existing conditions.
Posted by: ec at June 21, 2009 12:50 PM
Enough with the memos to the President already. Some of it is constructive advice, such as Robert Reich's, but do you really think that Obama hasn't heard these things before?
I think it's unfair to say that he is not fighting hard enough - the man has a special coming up on ABC and I am sure that that is not the last of it. Plus, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. This is not like the campaign where we were able to see and hear him counter all attacks on a daily basis.
Keep posting names and numbers of the cowards who are blocking the public option, though.
Posted by: Allonfla at June 21, 2009 1:00 PM
"Robert Reich had some good advice for President Obama"
And his advice to the President and to us is excellent.
Obama is not as progressive as I would have liked. He never claimed to be. That said, I am very pleased with the job he has been doing.
My complaint and fury is aimed at congress. Those are the scumbags that have been paid to drop the ball and they are doing an outstanding job of dropping every ball they are handed.
Health Care Reform is being sabotaged by the insurance lobby. The tools the lobby relies are are our so-called representatives and senators.
The target of our wrath and fury must be Capital Hill. Aiming it at the other end of Pennsylvania avenue is like nuking the choir.
Posted by: SillyGit at June 21, 2009 2:06 PM
Just watched a repeat of last night's Bill Maher. Spot on!
Posted by: roxsteady at June 21, 2009 2:37 PM
Make that Friday's Bill Maher!
Posted by: roxsteady at June 21, 2009 3:39 PM
Both of Reich's suggestions are spot on. We all need to be active on this issue if we are to have any hope of success, but the President most of all.
Posted by: andrewdski at June 21, 2009 4:49 PM
