The Truth About Why the Public Option Went Down...Investigative Report..

[KoKo]

The Truth About Why the Public Option Went Down...Investigative Report..


http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/22/study_revolving_door_between_capitol_hill

And ..there's a Transcript there on the Site for our DU'ers who don't have access to read this any other way. It's a good read, really. Or I think many DU'ers will find it a good watch or READ (if you are accessing it from your local library)

Anyway..it's interesting.

[Atman]

1. Thanks for the synopsis.

Not.

.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Former Kennedy staffer: "It was going to have to be something that appeals to moderates"

From a link to Chicago Tribune article by Andrew Zajac in the OP's article:

How health lobbyists influenced reform bill
Former staffers of lawmakers from Harry Reid to Mitch McConnell push clients' agenda

-snip-

Health industry contributions to congressional candidates have more than doubled so far this decade, rising to $127 million in the 2008 election cycle from $56 million in the 2000 election, with disproportionate sums going to the party in power and to members of committees that oversee health care, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

But lobbyist and former Kennedy staffer Andrew Rosenberg said political conditions, not big money or the predispositions of lobbyists sidelined a public option.

"You could see this coming from a long way off. The Democratic Party is now the big tent party. They have to get to 60 votes. That is the reality," Rosenberg said.

"It was going to have to be something that appeals to moderates" opposed to expanding government-run health insurance.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-health-lobbyists_bddec20,0,5453763,print.story

That's the reality of it, the reality of our majority in congress.

And blaming the president is a distraction from where the work really needs to be done: citizens lobbying congress members and dumping them for better if need be.

:patriot:

[KoKo]

3. I know there are many saying that Ted would have pushed this Bill..flawed as it is..

including his widow..whose heart is in the right place and presumably would know what her husband would have wanted.

HOWEVER...THIS BILL is NOT WHY we ELECTED OBAMA! AND...TEDDY TOLD US TO VOTE FOR HIM....

I can't reconcile the disconnect between what the Kennedy's before Teddy would have WANTED and the OLDER TED...was PUSHING FOR with Less than Half a Loaf for Americans needing Health Care for All and his "Elder Statesman Compromise" when most of his family was gone and he was dying, himself.

:shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

4. I doubt he would have "pushed" it. I think he'd have fought hard to prevent it becoming so bad.

And then, whatever it had become, would have been sure that it passed.

[KoKo]

5. I understand what you say.....you say he would have pushed for flawed bill after everything he would

have tried to do to make it better.

He's gone, though...and Progressive Dems have waited too long in the wilderness pushing for Voting Reform, Iraq War Prosecutions/Gitmos/Drones/...and all the other stuff you know about...to have not even pushed back against Ted Kennedy for "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN" that OBAMA promised.

I hope you can see where I and others who are "Mad as Hell and Aren't Going to Give Up" are coming from?

:shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

9. I appreciate your ability to speak to the issues and circumstances, and not be personal & hyperboli

Sincerely.

And I can join you in the Mad as Hell, Not Giving Up, group.

Where I and many critics part company is in how to constructively get there and in how we feel Obama is helping or hurting.

To that last matter, I maintain that he's doing much of it from a strategically neutral position, and not the more progressive and bold position we'd prefer.

I don't however, think his heart was never on our side and I still expect him to pull some impressive moves during his first term.

Plenty of disappointments, sure, but not many surprises to me.

:thumbsup:

[KoKo]

12. It remains to be seen...but that the lobbyists had such a big influence

might be important. Perhaps his somewhat "hands off" of supporting parts that were so important to those who voted for him might be to allow exposure of the lobbyists influence before the bill goes to reconciliation?

I have hoped for too much too long figuring our Dems since Daschle was in Reid's position to expect much, though. But, I guess I'll try to keep a little bit of an open mind. Not looking good, though, so far.

But we shall see.

[get the red out]

6. Government just isn't pretty

It is slow going, I am glad something is being done. I really didn't expect any health care reform at all, perhaps because I live in a red state with brain washed people screaming "socialism" all around me but getting anything done on this in the face of incessant propaganda is good. Progress because we just won't get perfection in this country, people's fears and attitudes change so slowly. Appealing to moderates is the only way to start down the path of progress.

[Cha]

8. Thanks SKP.

[yurbud]

16. in other words, a bag full of cash

[cliffordu]

7. Good read...

K&R.

[Lindsey]

10. Yes. Good read. Hey, at least we have a starting point and

are moving forward. I think that's actually the definition of progress isn't it? Moving forward. Where would we be if McCain/Palin or any other Republicans were in power? My God, I'll never forget the Bush/Cheney years as long as I live, NEVER.

[KoKo]

11. The article (transcript)Video is about the lobbyists who influenced the bill, though.

I think "moving forward" with that in mind is upsetting in a way...don't you think?

[bertman]

13. It's upsetting only if you aren't cashing in on some of that $635 million that got spread around.

We 'underlings' still cannot grasp that this is the way that "things get done on The Hill".

Being powerless is what's upsetting to me.

[KoKo]

14. "...its like we have a Republican Majority and no one to defend or stand up for our interests."

DU Poster, earlier today said the above...and I think many of us now feel that way, these days.

--------------
QUOTE:

INdemo (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Dec-22-09 08:24 AM
Response to Reply #166
173. Emanuel probably keeps him shielded..

And that is where i think most of the problem is,,Emanuel is way out of his league with his position..Oh yes he was a congressman form Chicago area and in charge of the DCCC but he is giving Obama the wrong advise..Now as for Obama did he put up such a front that he convinced the voters he was a progressive and all along he was a far right politician?..I think so..

When Bush was President we knew he would do everything and anything to favor corporate America. And Democrats were constantly working to keep his policies to a minimal damage. But with Obama its like we have a Republican Majority and no one to defend or stand up for our interests.
Obama has lost my trust and even in a year if things change and his governing style changes I still wont trust him..He has lost my support completely.

[bertman]

15. I agree 100%, KoKo.