White House Attacks Progressives?

White House Attacks Progressives?

I'd like to give a big thank you to Dr. Howard Dean for having the courage to say what millions of Progressives nation wide are thinking. Where is the actual reform in the Senate Health Care Reform Bill? Where is the competition to the Private Insurers to keep costs down? From the start, we saw the single payer plan most Progressives preferred taken off the table before the first bargaining session even started. That was big compromise # 1. Now, in recent weeks we've seen the public option, the medicare buy in, opt ins, opt outs, triggers.... all disappear too? Did the White House expect Progressives to be o.k. with the endless compromising? Bad political calculation.

Compromised by one cranky old bitter Sen from Ct., who represents the will of the Insurance Industry instead of his constituents, and a handful of Private Insurance Industry money taking "Blue Dog" Democrats. Why such a small minority in the Democratic party have been allowed to wield such power over the party majority in shaping what the final bill looks like, is puzzling and very disappointing. The White House and Press Secy Gibbs deciding to go into attack mode against Dr. Dean for their own failings, and for the Dr. speaking the truth to power, is shameful and going too far.

What has the White House response to the traitorous tactics of Joe Lieberman Been? Answer, zero. Crickets. What did the White House have to say to the 40 delaying, obstructing, filibuster threatening Republicans in the Senate? Again, zero, crickets! But slamming Dr. Dean is their response? Does the White House really feel it's smart policy to now put Progressives in their cross hairs for merely expecting Pres Obama and Senate Dems to not cave in on his campaign promises? There's an old saying "careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

Let's put the blame for why a REAL Health Care Reform bill has been compromised to the point of not being worth passing, where the blame really belongs. The huge money contributions from Private Insurers that so many Senators receive, is probably the biggest single factor. As I stated above, the willingness to let a minority of Blue Dog Senate Dems get their way on everything they demanded, played a big part too. President Obama and his inability to demonstrate strong leadership also played a big part. Instead of taking August off and allowing the tea party teabaggers to frame the debate with death panel and pull the plug on grandma lunacy, he needed to get out in front on this. He didn't, and soon found himself off his message and defending himself from the lunatic claims.

Press Secy Gibbs is not a medical Doctor, nor was he ever DNC chairman. Gibbs and his personal opinion have a lot less credibility than Dr. Dean concerning the issue of Health Care Reform. Press Secy Gibbs is the White House spin doctor. A big difference from an actual Doctor.! If he keeps up his uncalled for attack against Dr. Dean, his own credibility will soon rival his predecessors Perino, McClellan, Fleischer... He owes Dr. Dean an apology.

President Obama, if you really want to put rightful blame for the failure to deliver real Health Care Reform, you need to look no further than the bribe taking Blue Dog Senate Dems. You also need to look no further than your own reflection staring back at you in the mirror.
Strong leadership, and the ability to get your own party in line, is what has been absent from the start.

Jeff Morris- Saugerties, N.Y.- DeJaVu57.

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