Paul Begala: Pass the Senate Bill, Please.

[jefferson_dem]

Pass the Senate Bill, Please

In an op-ed several months ago, I advised my fellow progressive Democrats to support health care reform even if it fails to include some of their cherished goals.

Now I'm begging.

I understand and share the frustrations of progressives. They compromised before the debate even began, giving up on Medicare for all and settling for its weak cousin, a public option. The progressive wing of the Democratic Party has been everything that the reactionary wing of the Republican Party has not: open-minded, pragmatic and respectful of the views of others. The Republicans' obstinacy has been rewarded by the voters, who sent Scott Brown to the Senate as the candidate of change who promised to defend the status quo on health care. So why do I urge further flexibility? Because failure is not an option and surrender is not a strategy.

I am convinced that Democrats lost the Congress in 1994 because we failed to pass health care. And yet today many Democrats are worried that they will lose the Congress if they pass health care. They are wrong. Here's why:

You're going to get the attack anyway, you may as well get the accomplishment. I don't mean to be rude, but if health care is the kiss of death, you've already been kissed. Now, I don't think it is -- not in the slightest. If passing health care would ensure Republican takeover of Congress, wouldn't those Rovian Republicans cut loose one or two senators to help it pass?

The Senate bill is progressive. No, it's not as progressive as the House bill -- but that's the wrong question. The right question is whether the Senate health care bill is better than the status quo. And that ain't even close.

<SNIP>

This is our last, best shot. Up to 40,000 Americans die each year because they lack health insurance. 40,000: a 9/11-size death toll every thirteen days. After our failure in 1994 it took 16 years before another president and Congress were bold enough to take on the challenge. If we fail now it won't be just 16 years -- or even 36. If we fail now, I doubt anyone old enough to read this column will live long enough to see universal health insurance.

If Democrats fail to deliver on a basic campaign promise, it will only heighten voters' anger and deepen their cynicism. But health reform that actually protects consumers and controls costs will soon join Medicare -- and the Massachusetts reform -- as unassailable accomplishments.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-begala/pass-the-senate-bill-plea_b_434700.html

[gkhouston]

1. okay, which of you assholes changed the definition of "progressive" on wikipedia?

The Senate bill is "progressive"? :puke:

[MH1]

7. You might want to look up "progressive" in an old-fashioned print dictionary

you might be surprised by what you find.

[HughMoran]

8. No, it's not "ass hole"

nice try

[dkf]

2. Why do they keep claiming it will control costs?

ARGH.

[gkhouston]

3. I'm trying to figure out which campaign promise they think it's going to

deliver on. Hmm, maybe it's not a campaign promise that was publicly made. :freak:

[dkf]

4. Yeah the campaign promise I remember was no mandate and

no middle income tax hike.

[ShortnFiery]

5. SnF: STFU Paul Begala, Please.

:eyes:

[Larkspur]

6. Paul, tell your senate buddies to pass the fixes to their HCR bill that the House Dems want

via Reconciliation process and then the House Dems will pass the Senate HCR bill plus the fixes.

It's so easy!