There is a lot of rumbling from ‘centrist’ Democrats in both the House and Senate who are upset with the prospect of passing health care reforms similar to what Barack Obama spent all of 2007 and 2008 running on. But, what’s unusual is that the Democratic National Committee and it’s subgroup Organizing for America are running television and radio ads in these ‘centrists’ home states and districts. Harry Reid says it is a waste of money to run advertisements against Democrats, but then it’s his job as majority leader to defend his caucus members. I don’t begrudge him that. He basically has to say that. In reality, those ads are going to help him accomplish his goal and I hope he secretly welcomes them.
A lot of the time, I feel like the powers-that-be in the Democratic Party make promises to us that they are only too happy to break with the excuse that they don’t have enough members of Congress to carry them out. This time looks different. It isn’t pleasant to see infighting, but the willingness by Obama to use the DNC as a weapon against dues-paying Democrats is a welcome change. He wouldn’t be doing that if he wasn’t serious about enacting health care reform with a public option.
I don’t know if he will succeed, but I give him credit for giving it an honest and authentic try.
It is a valid argument and a sincere effort to try to save Obamacare.
But the Village has decided that it has to go down, and Obama along with it. He was only supposed to get elected, you see. To actually keep one of his promises to the Dirty F’ckin Hippies…well, the Village can’t have that.
You thought they hated Bill Clinton? Keep watching.
Haven’t seen the ads, so have to ask: are they really “targeting” Dems? Are they really “a weapon against dues-paying Democrats” or are they just policy ads that run in DINO states and districts? Seems like they’re not the same thing. Unless they’re calling out the waverers by name, I don’t see how this is “infighting”. It’s standing up for principles, it’s entering into debate, it’s trying to keep a promise. Presenting it as an internal battle seems counterproductive.
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Except they apparently are not “ads against Democrats”, but ads for a bill. If our so-called party leadership is incapable of making a distinction between advocating for a program and attacking Democrats we’re in really serious trouble. I try hard to give Reid the benefit of the the doubt, but he doesn’t even seem aware that HE’s the one dividing the party with his stupid and untrue allegation. WTF’s the matter with him?
Many of the centrists represent fairly conservative districts/states, and their argument/excuse is that they have to vote their constituents. This ad campaign is an effort to change the landscape that the centrists have to work from, so if the centrists are being honest then it is actually an attempt to help them to do what’s right, but if they’re simply using their constituents as a cover for their own preferences (personal or purchased) then this is indeed an attack on Democrats – removing their fig leaf, displaying their lack of endowment for all to see.
Clearly, such Democrats ought to be attacked…
Many of the centrists represent fairly conservative districts/states, and their argument/excuse is that they have to vote their constituents.
Which we know is bullshit. Just look at Jim Cooper. He’s one of the worst Blue Dogs, yet Obama won his district pretty handily. Also, I have to call bullshit a second time. If that is the case, why doesn’t a guy like Jim Gerlach vote his district? Every Democratic nominee going back as far as Gore has won Gerlach’s district, yet Gerlach only crossed party lines in election years(and remember … it was Gerlach’s vote that was the deciding one .. when the Bug Man held that infamous vote open on the House floor for like 3 extra hours .. trying to twist arms) .. most of the Blue Dogs are corporate whores .. that is what it boils down to
The ads do not mention senators by name, nor do they mention either party.
Yeaaaaah, so, they’re just policy advocate ads. And you’re trying to spin them as…what…some kind of historical pwogwessive victory thanks to God-Emperor Obama? Shit, Pwogman, stick to Nader bashing. You’re an awful spin doktor.
Harry Reid says it is a waste of money to run advertisements against Democrats, but then it’s his job as majority leader to defend his caucus members. I don’t begrudge him that. He basically has to say that. In reality, those ads are going to help him accomplish his goal and I hope he secretly welcomes them.
If Reid did his damn job, no one would have to worry about this, would they?
It’s show time. Obama realizes that the present system can’t continue. He has said himself that in ten years at the present rate of growth, medical care will consume most of GDP (Defense will consume the rest). It’s a bubble and it has to burst (McCain solution) or be deflated (Obama solution). Characteristically, he is trying to change it as little as possible, but he knows it must change. Those centrist Dems that are in pocket of the insurance companies are truer enemies of the Republic than the conservative Republicans. McCain’s solution, banning insurance, would at least work to contain costs, albeit with great suffering. But leaving the current non-system in place will result in the same thing. The cost of insurance is already equal to minimum wage in many states. When it reaches the median wage, there will be (my guess) twice as many uninsured as insured. From that point, medical costs will resemble the costs in the German hyperinflation as fewer and fewer policyholders have to assume the burden on non-payment at hospitals and there are fewer and fewer policyholders to provide profits and bonuses.
Harry Reid’s job is to protect his caucus members? Geez, I thought it was to serve the American people, of whom seventy something percent want health care. These centrist democrats want only one thing – protection for their largest donors. It’s balls to the wall time and Harry Reid needs to step up or step down.