Sen. Sherrod Brown: The White House ' SHOULD NOT Take Progressives For Granted '

[Segami]

Source: ThinkProgress

Yesterday in an interview with TPMDC, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said that a public option is still the “most important thing” to him in the health care debate, and he wants progressives to keep speaking out:


“The White House should not take progressives for granted,” an animated Brown told me. “It’s not just the conservatives he needs to be in the fold. It’s the progressives who’ve been in the vineyards fighting for reform for years.”

“The most important thing is the public option,” Brown said. “I don’t know for sure if I would support it with out a public option but it would be hard to get there…. We’re not going through this to write some namby pamby bill so we can check a box and say we did health care reform.“


In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) yesterday said that any bill “without a strong public option will not pass the House.”

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/brown-namby-pamby/

[Political Heretic]

1. The sad thing about this so-called "public option" is that it isn't what most think it is.

The CBO says that the only public option even being discussed is so limited in scope and applicability that it would only likely cover 10 million people. It's not - as proposed - a serious tool against corporate recklessness. It is, at best, a foot in the door hopefully leaving a framework in tact to come back and build on it...

[Segami]

5. Then what kind of health care reform are we truly fighting for or should I say,

why are we fighting for more of the same (just repackaged) health care reform illusions if thats the case?

[Political Heretic]

19. We're fighting for a foot in the door.

[nashville_brook]

12. don't take this the wrong way, but do you have a link -- i'd like to read more on the subject.

[Political Heretic]

20. I would never take that the wrong way, but I've been at the free clinic all day...

...getting my health care needs addressed, so I just got back.

Let me see what I can find. Unfortunately, the stat about the CBO was reported on MSNBC, so I don't have a print link to that one.

But I'll go search and see if I can find a print story for you.

[Political Heretic]

21. Oh hey! It's right on DU. Go Duers! :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4007525&mesg_id=4007638

[dflprincess]

25. I just switched computers and realized I hadn't copied the links

I have for this over to the new one yet. If you google HR3200 you will be able to get to bill. Then google CBO hr3200 and that should give you a link to the CBO report.

[lark]

28. True

but without this limited option, there are 10,000,000 PEOPLE and FAMILIES without coverage. Even a foot in the door is better than a shut door, which is what the insurance co's, big pharma and Repugs want. If this was nothing, why are they fighting so hard? Because they know even this limited front will really push them and their obscene profits and salaries and that's just abhorrent to them. It proves their venality and sets the stage for increases, same as happened with social security. It's totally worth fighting for, rather than the meaningless, enrich the fat cats approach that now seems to be favored by Obama so that he can win favor with Repugs who will never do more than spit on him.

Grrrrrrrrrrr

[No Elephants]

31. Disagree. No bill is better than a fairy tale about a foot in the door.

That is going to do nothing but give insurers a payday while dooming real economic reform. Please see Reply 30.

[No Elephants]

30. Sorry, but the "foot in the door" paradigm is a fairy tale. Health care reform will FAIL without a

strong, attractive public option, at least as far as the finances are concerned. We will give the insurance companies both a huge payday AND give them the confidence that they are safe from reform. Worse than no bill at all.

And, we are not going to have sixty senators, the WH AND the House again any time soon. In fact, we don't have 60 right now, Massachusetts looks as though it will slow walk Kennedy's replacement, Byrd is damn frail and my crystal ball for 2010 is not rosy at least not in a way that is good for Democrats.

And, instead of selling Progressive ideas, like a strong public option, the WH is instead labeling them as "the left of the left." making even a modest proposal sound like some lunatic notion. (Which is a LIE. The public option is not the left of the left at all. Government ownership and management of hospitals, clinics, etc is the left of the left. Then comes single payer, then public option. Apparently, anything that is not Repblican approved is now "the left of the left."


If we could not get a decent public option now, I doubt we will get one for a long, long time, maybe not in any of our lifetimes, if ever. (Teddy Roosevelt was the first to propose universal health care. Truman did, too. So did Nixon. So did Clinton. If this is the best Democrats can do with both houses of Congress, 60 Senators and the WH, we are so screwn.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. I wish Nancy would introduce a strong public option. I'd have more confidence if she did.

[Connie_Corleone]

3. That's MY Senator!!

:yourock:

[Berry Cool]

13. Mine too!

:yourock:

[cmd]

17. He's the best!

Sherrod will be there for us.

[HughBeaumont]

26. Sherrod Brown - "So shines a good deed . . . in a weary world"

:toast:

[msongs]

4. wow a democrat who talks like one, lets hope he acts like one too. nt

[troubledamerican]

24. Sherrod voted YES (with GOP) on Military Commissions Act of 2006,

authorizing the "suspension of Habeas Corpus".

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/b000944/key-votes/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Commissions_Act

Is Sherrod a DLCer? Ask Paul Hackett.

[No Elephants]

32. He's made a good point on critical legislation. Let him have this one.

[laughingliberal]

6. God Bless Him for Keeping Up the Good Fight

But I don't think we're going to get there. Just heard David Gregory report Obama's message to liberals will be that it's time to be a good soldier and go for what's possible. Here is my email to President Obama today:

I just heard David Gregory report that your message to liberals will be that it's time to be a good soldier. In essence we need to cave on the public option. Might have been nice if the Blue Dog Democrats had ever been asked to be good soldiers. Seems to me they represent a smaller percentage of the population than the progressives. Does lead me to believe this is what you wanted all along especially given the incredibly insulting statements your chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, made about 'the left.' I might feel differently if I had ever seen anything other than really tepid support for a program on which you campaigned . But I did not see that. Had I seen that I would be inclined to think you put up a good fight for the people and been sorry it failed. Now, I just think we have been sold out again. I'm 54 years old. One of the most vivid memories of my childhood was my parents coming home from a meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis. They were always so inspired to stand up for the rights of people who were being oppressed. Two days later he was killed. I have never stopped believing in civil rights and trying to stand against the opponents of it. Health care and corporate control of our country are civil rights issues in my mind. There is no one left to stand for these principles now. I suppose it is time to resign myself to the fate that Senator Kennedy met. I will not see Americans released from the tyranny of this health care system in my lifetime.

[ima_sinnic]

29. +1 my sentiments exactly.

I've written so many e-mails to the White House, I don't think I'll bother anymore.

[No Elephants]

34. Respectfully, this is not the time to give up. I fear that time will come soon enough, but this is

not it. I write or call once a week. See also Reply 33.

[No Elephants]

33. I've sent similar messages, but I add that I will not vote for him if he signs a bill

without a strong public option, let alone donate to his campaign again. I'll go Green first.

I tell my Senators and Rep the same thing about voting for a bill without a strong public option. I'd rather have no bill at all.

That is the only leverage I have that any of them MIGHT pay attention to.

They think Democrats have nowhere to go BUT the Democratic Party. However, if Democratic politicians are to win elections, they have to keep as many independents in the fold and maybe even win over some Republicans. So, they take Democrats for granted and skew right. Well, they can't take this Democrat for granted anymore.

[bkkyosemite]

7. The President said there would be a strong Public Option because he felt that Single Payer would not

be able to pass. Now we have Olympia Snow DECIDING what kind of healthcare bill we have. It does not matter to Ralm or the President that the majority of people of this country voted for a democratic legislature and President to see dramatic change and we are gonna let Snow a Republican decide on a trigger option. I am just livid. Think I'll call her office.

[Segami]

11. Why bother supporting ANY political parties if once elected, no one will be

listening to any of your concerns or grievances except when it comes time to cast your vote or donate to their campaign?

[No Elephants]

36. Because if you support none, you send the wrong message. Remember Perot?

He did not win, but both parties sure got the message that a significant number of people were concerned about the budget deficit.

Since then, Democrats and Republicans held hands to make it harder for third party candidates to make a decent showing. However, when you vote third party, or even write in your candidate, you send a clear message, be it "I'm for going further left" or "I'm for going further right."

When you just stay away from the polls, people just think you'd rather shop or nap than vote. Or that you don't care, one way or the other what D.C. does.

[No Elephants]

35. Is she your Senator? If not, I recommend calling those who know

you can vote for or against them instead, or in addition. (Please see Reply 33.)

Besides, if she's not your Senator, she's not the one letting you down. No sense bashing the one Republican who is actually trying to compromise. In fact, no sense trying to talk sense into any Republican, even one who is probably gettins seen as radical.

[MasonJar]

8. Thank you, Senator Brown and Speaker Pelosi. Obama will not get his bill without a public option

I hope. If the House does not pass a bill there will be nothing for Obama to sign. He will not like that and so he had better get his act together and get behind the public option. I only hope that it isn't taken out in conference between the House and Senate. The reason Clinton could not get his bill was because the House would NOT pass a bill because they knew the Senate would screw it. Obama is not for the public option; that much is clear. He'd better look to his own future and pretend because he is going to lose next time if he doesn't. The GOPers still have all the election machinations in place and the only reason (since the dems are too mamby pamby to correct the situation) we won in 2006 and 2008 was because of the turnout. It was too big for the GOPers to overcome
with their fraud. Next time a lot of us liberals will stay home. I being one of them.

[No Elephants]

37. I'd rather have no bill than what is under any serious consideration.

As far as staying home, please see Reply 36.

[frylock]

9. no, they shouldn't..

but they will. and when the democrat's capitulation turns into lost seats, the progressives will be blamed for the shortcomings of the party.

[Segami]

10. Sounds like the same ol' cyclical mindset. Quite predicable to say the least.

[No Elephants]

38. Not necessarily. See Replies 33 and 36. Let's also clarify: Public option is

not socialist or even progressive. It is only slightly left of Republican. Please see Reply 30.

[Doremus]

14. Fvck the Blue Dog centrist Corporatists. I'm going to put every ounce of my support behind

people like Sherrod Brown (my Senator!), Anthony Weiner (who succeeded in getting an up or down vote for HR 676), Dennis Kucinich (who has been pushing for single payer for YEARS), and similar unsung heroes who have been advocating for US.

The rest of the double-dealing, two-faced assholes can piss up a rope next time they want my money. Here's a big FUCK YOU to take to the bank.

[Segami]

15. If only every other Democrat shared your (cough cough) passionate sentiments and called out every

other " double-dealing, two faced asshole " for delivering a complete 180 on campaign promises AFTER they're elected.

[Doremus]

16. I think you forgot something.

To make a point.

What might it be?

[Segami]

22. What I was trying to say is yes, I agree with you regarding the " unsung heroes who have been

advocating for US ". I want to lend my support to those who have strong convictions & principles once elected never forgetting their campaign contract they made with their electorate in exchange for their vote. Its always troubling to see an elected representative get silly-drunk over their newly acquired political powers and begin distancing themselves from campaign promises that was totally responsible for getting them elected in the first place.

Those who promote their positional platforms throughout their campaigns and then do a complete 180 degree turnaround once in office and lobbyists have had a chance to twist & mold them should be called out for their deception!! Their elected status is a direct result of voters casting their votes for them based on their campaign promises and positions.

[bkkyosemite]

18. Okay I have seen your comments and this is what I can tell you. If we do not get a strong public

option and other things that need changing that haven't been changed per promises, i.e., not allowing seniors under $50,000 to pay taxes on the SS...Habeous Corpus back etc. I am done with the whole party, election, vote scenario...because I will be too disgusted to continue to support, work hard for and donate to those who only want power and money. Could care less what those they are supposed to serve think. We shall see......waiting....anticipating.....but do not have high hopes. This could really affect me big time to the point where I will live my life to the best of my abilities and not watch any news related to politics again. I was such a hard worker for the campaign. Thrilled at Obama winning because we were going to get "Change We Can Believe In"........I'll wait for his speech that is all I can say.


edit: And I just emailed this to the White House by saying this is what will occur no support, donations or voting:::then I posted the above.

[fascisthunter]

23. you are not alone

I don't think folks in the Beltway get it though. I think they are really so far up their own weasle-asses that they think they are somehow pulling a fast one.

[No Elephants]

40. Agree, almost 100%. Please see Replies 30, 33 and 36.

[No Elephants]

39. Please also see Replies 33 and 36.

[xchrom]

27. kick

[No Elephants]

41. Call Brown's office to thank him!