Let's be clear, Wednesday night has to be a game changer. It is not optional. President Obama has the chance to make a speech of historic proportions. However, just as msblucow so eloquently wrote today, no matter what Obama says regarding health care policy, the ultimate success of the speech will rest on how the President connects and creates a permanent image in the minds of his audience.
[The Obama Campaign] took a demoralized activist base beaten down by 8 years of quasi-fascist rule and lifted us up with three simple words and one simple concept - "Respect, empower, and include" and "CHANGE".
Day after day, they used these concepts, ritualized them, repeated them, made them into a mantra.
If Obama does not define the narrative, the media will. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that Obama provide them with the make or break definitive statement/sound bite.
The 4 Magic Words: President Obama should ask Congress for an Up or Down Vote on the Public Option.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has written given us the playbook. It is now time to take the ball and run with it.
I think the strategy should be to say, it doesn't take 60 votes to pass a piece of legislation. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster. I think the strategy should be that every Democrat, no matter whether or not they ultimately end up voting for the final bill, is to say we are going to vote together to stop a Republican filibuster. And if somebody who votes for that ends up saying, 'I'm not gonna vote for this bill, it's too radical, blah, blah, blah, that's fine.'"
After giving an incredible heartfelt and fact based speech, the President has to hit the messaging portion of the speech of the park. I have no doubt that he can do it. But we need the soundbite to be remember. We need the "Ask not what you can do for you country", the "nothing to fear but fear itself" moment.
Let's be clear. The media will pummel Obama, and probably rightly, if Obama does not make news Wednesday night. He can not just give a speech and eating into their profits with another prime time speech. The media wants red meat, and the President will be well served to give it to them to kick-start the debate into a new direction.
The meme has been defined and went viral this week. Now, it only needs those 4 MAGIC WORDS added to them.
No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. I am asking Congress to give my plan to make this a reality an Up or Down Vote.
Game.Changed.
Yes, I am recommending throwing the words that we have heard over, and over, and over again right back in the Republican's face.
"What is out of the mainstream is the denial for United States senators to be given a up-or-down vote opportunity" - Bill Frist
"It is about majorities," said Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican. "Elections have consequences."
Let's get back to the way the Senate operated for over 200 years, up or down votes on the president's nominee, no matter who the president is, no matter who's in control of the Senate. That's the way we need to operate - Mitch McConnell
"The fact is, all this rule of the Senate does is allow a majority of the Senate to take a position and pass a piece of legislation, support that position," said Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), who now bemoans the idea, in 2005. "Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don't think so."
Go ahead Mr. President, quote Judd Gregg, your former Administration nominee in your speech. It is time to take the gloves off. They want it to be your Waterloo. Do you?
And more importantly, this one demand would put immense pressure on the moderate/conservative wing of the Democratic party to declare their true allegiances. Feel free to vote your conscience, but do not attempt to eliminate the opportunity for others to vote theirs. This means you Senators Nelson, Landrieu, and Lieberman.
The Senate obviously is where this will mean the most, but the American people will not care and most likely don't even realize that the house doesn't have filibusters, or know what cloture is. So this is a great opportunity to educate the public. It also has the secondary impact of laying the groundwork for reconciliation if necessary.
But clearly, the President would have to get Majority Leader Reid in line with this as it could cause a serious issue with some of the caucus, but that is really only their fault. To do this, Obama needs to offer Reid some type of carrot that will help in his re-election bid. If that is what it takes to get a public option, I will be more than happy to make that trade.
I am a big fan of poker. In poker, when someone raises you, you can either fold because you know you are beaten, or you can raise and put your opponent to the test to find out if they are truly committed. More often than not, simply calling is the worst option. In this case, attempting to call by suggesting a trigger or co-ops would be the absolute worst of all worlds.
However, even if he decides to go with one of those two options, my recommendation still remains. He has to take control of the narrative and that can't be done discussing rescission and talking about bending the curve. Bive Democrats a easy to understand talking point that they can repeat mindlessly until people get sick of hearing it. Remember, emotion as well as facts.
It has been reported that the President to the Congressional Progressive Caucus in a meeting yesterday that they need to worry about their fellow members in districts that voted with McCain in '08.
Mr. President, I have news for you. The members of the Progressive Caucus do not represent those districts, they represent their districts. This is a new day. Progressives will no longer be held hostage by Blue Dogs who hide behind the excuse that they represent their districts. Progressives do too, and it is far past time for them to stand up for their constituents.
Now, as most know, I am a strong supporter of the public option and I was one of the first people to start writing diaries stating the Administration was attempting a walk back as early as mid July. However, due to the unbelievable work completed by the likes of slinkerwink, nyceve, math4barack, budhydharma, and MinistryOfTruth, this site has continued to fight and adjust strategy to do our small part in keeping the public option on the table. We have now reached the critical moment where the rubber meets the road. We will find out whether we will be fighting with or against the President in the next critical weeks as health care reform legislation is finalized.
And make no mistake, we will be fighting, just as the President asked us to during the campaign.
I would much prefer to fight WITH the one candidate in my lifetime that has given me hope that we can continue to form a more perfect union and that the entire game of politics and governance is not just a big charade.
Mr. President, keep that hope alive. The door of opportunity has been opened. Do not be afraid to walk through it. You have the opportunity to go down as one of the greatest Presidents and Americans in history simply by doing what you know is right. We will support you and we have your back if you have ours. We only ask that you lead by taking that critical step through the door with us and give us the marching orders.
Give us those 4 MAGIC WORDS, Mr. President.
Support an Up or Down Vote for the Public Option.
No Guts. No Glory.