Evans Politics, for liberal politics news you can trust and good entertainment. by Paul Evans
This morning Evans Politics led with the news from AlterNet on Obama's giveaway to Big Pharma, Obama's $80 Billion Deal with Pharma Is a Very Bad Deal for Us. However, in thinking about President Obama, the structured deals being worked out behind closed doors in committee meetings, and what is really going on with Obama and health care reform, I came to the conclusion that Obama is totally in the progresssive's corner, and that, far from rebelling against an Obama giveaway and sell out, we should be thanking Barack Obama.
In my commentary, "Commentary on Obama and Health Care Reform: We Should be Thanking Barack Obama," I explain why:
I think there are a couple of points that are important to make about this: In the first place, all the decisions as to the health care reform bill's content are being made by closed door committee meetings, where big pharma and the health insurance industry are sitting at the table.
Why is this? Exactly why did it have to be structured this way, when a progressive President and a Democratic Congress are in control: simple - this time, failure would not be an option. This time, Health Care Reform would be enacted, trotz alle dem, and the White House and the Dems made the decision to do it behind the scenes, where there could be no interference. Whatever deals absolutely had to be made to get this to gather enough support (read votes in the Senate), were going to be made. Not that Obama WANTED to make giveaways, but what had to be done, would be done.
Now it appears pretty clear that the White House is working hand and glove with those committees to partially subvert the single payer option and make any bill that comes out of committee (at least on the Senate side) a hollow giveaway with cosmetic programs that doesn't really institute the reforms progressives hoped for.
To the casual progressive observer, it appears to be a travesty that the White House decided they'd work this bill up behind closed doors. It would also seem like Obama is a sell out. It seems to be a travesty that no single payer supporters were at the table, and it also seems to be a travesty that Barack Obama has decided he's willing to totally cave to corporate interests in order to get this bill passed.
But you have to consider this: In fact, to get any bill through the Senate you'd need either 100 percent Democratic support or a couple GOP Senators to sign on. Given where a few Blue Dogs stand - in the pocket of corporate America - that's not going to happen in any bill with the pure, effective reform we'd hoped for.
Reality is the vote tally on the Senate floor. Not what the President would want, not anything EXCEPT what the votes of a few (damn) Blue Dog Democrats who are owned by Korporate America turn out to be. That's reality. Nothing else counts.
The White House is acknowledging reality, and it seems that they set it up this way in the first place. The Presiden't people ALREADY KNEW how the votes are going to line up. THINK: They WANT real reform. But Obama, the ultimate pragmatist, is going for the gold. The White House is going to get the best bill they can PASSED, NO MATTER WHAT concessions they have to make to do so. Of COURSE it stinks and it's too bad. But don't entirely blame Barack Obama.
America is not a very progressive place and unfortunately it elects meathead Congressmen who do not represent the needs of the American people. That's reality.
If no health care reform overhaul passed, it WOULD, in fact, "be Obama's Waterloo." The gloating GOP commentators are right. It would probably mean GOP gains in 2010 and, to some extent, a crippled Obama Presidency.
That is not something the White House will allow.
I don't think Obama wanted to make this deal with Big Pharma, I think Obama thought he had to. You know what? I trust his judgement. Rahm Emmanuel and team Obama are a lot smarter (and a lot more progressive in their hearts on domestic matters) than the columnists give them credit for. But they are totally committed and they know EXACTLY what the score is (for instance on a Senate vote tally), and how far they have to compromise their ethics and actual wishes for what they'd like to see in the final bill.
As to what Barack Obama REALLY wants in health care reform, I suggest you watch this Media Matters for America video from August 4, "Hannity on Obama's 2007 remarks: 'He wants government health care. ... They're purposefully being dishonest'," which we also carried on Evans Politics. In 2007, Obama was crystal clear that he wants universal government health care, but he also says he thinks it'll take ten or fifteen years to get there:
Give the man some credit.
Health insurance reform is going to happen. It won't be what we want, it won't have a "pure" public option, and it will, in some major aspects, be at least a partial giveaway to Korporate America. But Obama will not suffer the fate of Bill Clinton's failed health care reform efforts.
We'll do what it takes, and we WILL get health care reform in America, this year.