Didn’t think so. How about instead of focusing time and attention on the last two people in the state likely to support health care reform, we bolster those notoriously skittish Blue Dogs instead? If John Barrow, Sanford Bishop and Jim Marshall can’t come through for the citizens of Georgia on this issue, they need to stop calling themselves Democrats. If we can’t convince them to come through, we need to stop calling ourselves activists.
Of the three, only Barrow mentions health care on his website, but not in the context of “reform”. He supports health care for Veterans. Good. He supports health care for children of low income parents. Great. He’s hosted “Health Fairs” around his district to offer limited free health services. OK, but not really a solution to the health care crisis.
From Barrow’s press release announcing the “Health Fairs”: “Times are tough right now,” said Barrow, “but folks can take advantage of these services, get some information about keeping their family healthy, and hopefully get some peace of mind.”
What would give me “peace of mind” Mr. Barrow, would be single-payer health care. Short of that, I’ll take the “public option”.
Make no mistake, fixing health care will be the heaviest lift Obama will make during his Presidency. It’s a moon shot, Social Security and Medicare rolled into one. The Republicans, Pharmaceutical and Insurance Companies will all go broke fighting this, because it’s not your life they are fighting for, but theirs.
Obama’s going to need all hands on deck and then some to push through even modest reform. How wonderful it would be if every politician and progressive organization in this state could check their own egos, issues and agendas for five minutes and all pull in the same direction for once.
Medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the US. Insurance companies are murdering people by denying care. Pharmaceutical companies are profiteering. Rising health insurance premiums are killing small businesses and American manufacturing alike. Doctors are quitting the profession because they are tired of pushing paper instead of practicing medicine. Nearly 46 million Americans are without health insurance. Those who have health insurance are subject to the whims of insurance companies. This all has to stop.
If you live in a “blue dog” district, please contact your Congressman. If you don’t, pick one of the three and share your story. Everyone has a health care horror story, or knows a friend or family member who’s been harmed. No one has been left untouched by this crisis.
I’ll be contacting John Barrow because he’s the one who keeps calling and mailing me for money. I’ll make you a deal Mr. Barrow. If you pledge to support Obama’s Health Care reform, I’ll be more than happy to contribute to your re-election campaign. Whatever it takes to get you to do the right thing for the people of Georgia, I’m willing to try.
9 Responses to Does anyone really believe there’s a chance in hell that Isakson or Chambliss will support Obama’s Health Care plan?
Help Daniel
The fact is, our deficit will explode if we don’t do something serious about healthcare. If they’re real fiscal conservatives and not health insurance industry flacks, the Dogs and the Dogs (Senators :p) will work to fix the system and not against the effort to fix it.
One in a 100. I’ll agree with what Z said above. I know, shocking, but it can happen I guess.
I’ll also say that there’s little danger in Johnny I playing coy with the press. Still there’s very little chance he’d ever vote for it. I’d say save the calls for our Dems. They need to hear it. JMP
[BTW: I'm also having trouble singing in using the new MT sign in block today. I used an older post to get here.]
I could see Isakson supporting the government option plan. It fits his usual MO to try to find a “third way”
I don’t think any Republican member of the Georgia delegation will ever vote for an Obama-supported healthcare plan under any circumstances. As for the Blue Dog Democrats, remember that Jim Marshall voted against every attempt to increase Medicaid funding and coverage in 2008 — the only House Democrat who voted against every version of the funding bill.
Also if memory serves, S-CHIP
“I could see Isakson supporting the government option plan. It fits his usual MO to try to find a “third way”"
The government option plan has become the left-wing spectrum band now that the Democrats started their discussion by kicking single-payer off the table (which was a bad move anyway you look at it to not at least put it under discussion). “Third Way” would now be something like not having a public option but slapping more regulations on the HMO’s or something.
I doubt that outside of the 4 Metro Atlanta Democrats, that we’ll get any votes for healthcare from Georgia. All the advocacy organizations I’m involved in are focusing on other states and haven’t said a thing about Georgia.
We’re left behind when it comes to progress again.
If the administration caves in on having a public option, some GOP members might vote for the bill.
“If the administration caves in on having a public option, some GOP members might vote for the bill.”
So will the 80 Progressive Caucus members, effectively killing it. As it should be killed.
A single payer system is the long-term goal, but the minimum compromise is a Medicare-style, public option available to everyone. That is the progressive movements’ line in the sand, as allt he major orgs and Congresspersons have stated.
If Obama wants to cave, well OK. Clinton already saw what happened in 1994 when you craft a plan that your progressive allies hate. They dont’ vote for it and don’t campaign for it and it dies. If they want that, tread at their own risk.
As a follow up,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr0P-MPIKRo
Why does Tom Daschle still think he’s relevant?