Thanks for the diaryfrom MT on Bennet supporting the public option.
The only problem is that it doesn't list the REAL reason why Bennet has changed to supporting the public option, and that is the entry of Andrew Romanoff into the race, creating a primary.
from Colorado Pols
The campaign of Sen. Michael Bennet is doing everything it can to show Democrats that Bennet is a strong health care reform supporter who supports the public option. Reaching out to proactively show Democrats that Bennet is firmly behind the public option is a great way to garner support from the left.
It's just two months too late.
The entry of former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff into the U.S. Senate race was the absolute worst-case scenario for Bennet, and while it's impossible to know if Bennet could have prevented Romanoff from mounting a primary challenge, he should damn well have done everything in his power to prevent it from happening.
As a blogger who travels Colorado, I heard early and often about the displeasure of the appointment of Bennet by Ritter, because no one knew Bennet, he had never run for office, and Ritter passed over several other candidates, such as Romanoff, Perlmutter and DeGette.
So I helped organize a volunteer movement to draft Romanoff in February
as listed on this website
and we even got a few facebookfriends along the way.
More from the Denver Post
(Bennet's) silence on a few contentious issues, such as the Employee Free Choice Act, prompted Republicans to deride him as "Silent Senator Bennet."
But we don't think Sen. Michael Bennet's silence was for lack of an opinion; rather, he was hoping to stave off a primary challenger from his left, knowing it could prove to be costly both politically and financially. His war chest — more than $2 million raised in nine months — also was meant to ward off all comers.
But no one bothered to tell former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who apparently is preparing to launch a challenge to Bennet, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Bill Ritter.
Bennet may not like it, but we say the more the merrier. Coloradans deserve a choice, not a coronation.
My point here is that Romanoff deserves the support for making the public option a priority for Bennet, now that he is being primaried.
We all know from Rachel Maddow that Bennet was part of a centrist movement to be bipartisan (read as weak kneed) on Climate Change and Healthcare.
Also, Bennet did himself no favors by being silent on Employee Free Choice Act - which earned him this damning video from his own party
I am supporting the people's choice for Colorado, Andrew Romanoff.
you can too here.
My main argument here is that primaries are the best way to get our voices heard. Good luck to Sestak as well.