The White House wonders why there hasn't been more support for universal health care coming from progressives, grass-roots Democrats, and Independents. I'll tell you why. It's because the White House has never made an explicit commitment to a public option.
I urge you to make it absolutely clear to everyone you know, everyone who cares about universal health care and what it will mean to our country, that the bill must contain a real public option. Tell that to your representatives in Congress. Tell that to the White House. If you are receiving piles of emails from the Obama email system asking you to click in favor of health care, do not do so unless or until you know it has a clear public option. Do not send money unless or until the White House makes clear its support for a public option.
This isn't just Obama's test. It's our test.
This is exactly why I have yet to step up my efforts in support of the White House and of health care legislation. I have had enough of their efforts to seek a compromise with Republican corporate shills like Chuck Grassley, Mike Enzi, Tom Barrasso, but also with Democratic shills like Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, and Ben Nelson, just to single out a few of the worst.
It's time for the White House and the Democrats in Congress to show their hand, then I will decide whether it's worth supporting. Until then, they are making themselves look more and more like Republican Light: A tasteless imitation of an already unpalatable choice.
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