As I said recently in a comment replying to Lars Thorwald's excellent and IMHO much needed diary on the recent DKos hang-wringing epidemic, coming here lately frequently makes me sad to be a Democrat these days.
So I was particularly heartened to see this headline over on HuffPo today:
Progressive Lawmakers Plead: Don't "Get Cynical About The President"
Um, this sounds to me like a message that this community needs to hear right now. If you agree, follow me after the fold for the pertinent quotes.
(If you don't, well then falme on, I guess! )
From Sam Stein's article:
Two progressive members of Congress who have pledged not to support a health care bill without a public option came to the White House's defense on Thursday against charges that President Obama is caving on the critical provision.
In a conference call with reporters, Reps. Raul Grijalva, (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison, (D-Minn.), said that they were heartened by the administration's response to recent questions about Obama's commitment to the public plan.
(emphasis mine)
DKos, take note! These aren't faux progressives, these words are from progressives who have PLEDGED TO TAKE DOWN THE ENTIRE BILL if there is no public option.
In a conference call with reporters, Reps. Raul Grijalva, (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison, (D-Minn.), said that they were heartened by the administration's response to recent questions about Obama's commitment to the public plan.
"The fact is this is no time for progressives to get cynical about the president," said Ellison. "If you raise your voice and you let the president know how strongly you feel about the public option, I think the president will do the right thing because he has been consistent about it all along."
(emphasis mine)
But before anyone thinks that faith in our President somehow equals a lack of commitment to the public option....
...the two congressmen did stress that more than 60 members of the House of Representatives would vote against the bill if it didn't include a public plan. An alternative that included health insurance co-ops, they said, would face similar hurdles.
See?! This message isn't coming from a Baucus or a Reid, it comes from two Democrats who HAVE drawn the very line in the sand that progressives have demanded!
A final thought from these two gentlemen:
We are not just doing this to be obstructionist or to divide the party or to try and embarrass the administration," said Grijalva. "We are very serious about [our position]. We not only bring the political support for the public option. We also bring a level of grassroots support for getting this done. And I think we have got to be seen in a different light. Not as a moving part or a group of opposition to contend with... but as an ally in the strategy. And at this point we haven't become allies in the strategy but I think we are getting there."
This is why I have come around to this game of hardball, even though some would argue that we can't make the perfect the enemy of the good. I have come to believe that to half-ass this reform now, even if the bill contains some good stuff, would be to doom any real reform efforts going forward. If we can't get a good bill with the political stars aligned as they are now, it's not going to happen in our lifetime, so this is the time to take that stand. Knowing some of the good stuff that would likely be in even the weakest bill makes this position tough, and even nerve-wracking, but hey... politics ain't beanbag. (I hate that expression, but still.)
But Lords of Kobol, yes, It IS possible to fight for the public option without badmouthing and distrusting our new (yes, NEW!) President, without using opposition talking points to question his motives, and generally contribute to the aura of clusterfuckedness surrounding this whole debate.
I'm broke until tomorrow, but Congressmen Grijalva and Ellison are my new progressive heroes, and I will let them know via my wallet by racing my ass over to their Act Blue pages as soon as that direct deposit goes through.
Here's the link to both if you want to do the same:
Rep. Ellison
Rep. Grijalva