Obama never wanted the public option

[IndianaGreen]

Didn't he refer to the public option as just a "sliver." Sliver to him, a big deal to American workers!

Barack Obama, Inc.

Cenk Uygur
Posted: December 16, 2009 12:18 PM

On health care reform, Obama on the surface appears to be challenging the status quo in a major way and fighting for universal coverage. But what does that mean? The way the Senate bill is written now 30 million new Americans will get insurance coverage. That's great, right? Yes, it's great for the private insurance companies. They get all of those new customers and with the help of Barack Obama they defeated any new competition from a public option or expanded Medicare. And now there's a mandate that everyone must buy insurance from those same companies that Obama was supposedly challenging. Change you can believe in!

You might be thinking, wait a minute that was Lieberman who insisted that we kill the public option and protect the corporations. Yes, but there'll always be Liebermans in the world. Obama told us that he would fight for us against the corporate sell-outs of the world like Lieberman. And he most certainly did not. Instead, he ordered the other Senate Democrats to stand down and bow their heads to Lieberman. That's because Obama never wanted the public option. While claiming in public that he thought it was a good idea, behind the scenes he fought to kill it at every turn.

I wasn't predisposed to think this. I voted for Obama and really did think he was going to bring us some degree of change. I gave him the benefit of the doubt in a hundred different ways. But every time the public option came up, he sent Rahm Emanuel out to knock it down. But it's not just the public option.

The drug industry also received massive protection from the Obama administration. Some people think Obama is weak and that he can't enforce his will on stubborn senators. That's not true. When Byron Dorgan introduced a bill that would allow drug importation from Canada, Obama came down like a ton of bricks on Democratic senators and switched a huge number of votes so that in the end the drug industry won. That cost the American taxpayer nearly $100 billion in the next ten years alone. Score another victory for Barack Obama, Inc.

I could go on and on about the health care bill and tell you dozens of ways that corporate America was protected and how more customers were funneled their way. But there are so many other issues on which Obama has sold out to corporate America that I want to get to those as well. The biggest one being so-called financial reform.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/barack-obama-inc_b_394259.html

[tabatha]

1. How does he know this?

"While claiming in public that he thought it was a good idea, behind the scenes he fought to kill it at every turn." Was Cenk behind the scenes at very turn?

[O is 44]

4. I was just about to ask this question..

Where is the proof? And please no unnamed sources. I remember Obama talking about the Public option during the campaign. Why are so many so quick to believe the worst?

[TheWraith]

6. FACTS aren't important, dammit! Faith tells us what to think! Facts are elitist! nt

[krawhitham]

26. +1

[LittleBlue]

2. Amazing how many progressives have turned against Obama.

He had managed to turn staunch supporters into the disbelieving. In fucking 11 months. Wow.

[jillan]

3. I was thinking the same thing too while reading this. It wasn't very long ago when I was watching

Cenk all pumped up about Obama. I just can't believe this is happening so soon. I had alot of 'hope' for Obama.

[LittleBlue]

8. I feel the same way. I supported him before he announced his candidacy

I watched on that cold day he announced with pride brimming.

Man, do I feel like I've been had. Not that I expected I'd get 100% of everything I wanted, but I was hoping for one thing: prosecuting torturers (or at least not defending them), wars, reform of financial practices that got us into the recession, and health care reform.

I can't believe I got nothing.

[tblue]

22. We all had a lot of hope for Obama.

It's with great reluctance that many of us admit we're disappointed. There's no joy in it, believe me.

[TheWraith]

7. Obama didn't do much. It's simply a reality of the left that many have no loyalty at all.

Just look at the number of people willing to cut Obama's throat over the Iraq withdrawal taking three months longer than he'd thought during the campaign.

[LittleBlue]

12. You're right, he hasn't done much.

I never in my wildest dreams thought he would start this healthcare reform political process and then abandon it 5% of the way in. And then never get behind it, never propose anything we wanted, and now it's pared down to a pathetic shell that will ultimately (if it passes) be responsible for our eventual defeat.

Hard to imagine how such a victory turned into defeat in such a short period of time. It's got to be a presidential record.

[readmoreoften]

19. You don't like the left? Then don't bother us when your pro-war, pro-corporate candidates need votes

Frankly, we're real sick of people like you. You, who have loyalty to NOTHING except power, opportunism, and empty wins. No, we aren't loyal to your corporate shills and their bad ideas. We don't share values with you. AT ALL. AT. ALL.

You want us gone. Good. You've got your wish. Obama lost a good number of us. And many of us are done with the Right--be that the Republicans or the New Democrats (i.e. the old moderate Republicans)-- you know how you like to tell us we don't matter? Hope you're right for your sake, because you don't have us to bully anymore.

[NorthCarolina]

53. +1

:fistbump:

[AndrewP]

55. +1

[Jamastiene]

60. +1

[cornermouse]

36. You're right.

He didn't do much after he threw us under the bus. Real leaders create loyalty by the way they treat people.

[Mithreal]

47. Quite the exaggerator and take a look at the mercenary/contractor numbers

of your so-called withdrawal.

http://rebelreports.com/post/116277092/obama-has-250-000-contractors-in-iraq-and-afghan

[Mithreal]

49. How about loyalty to America, the Constitution, and the American people?

Talk about loyalty to a leader who does not represent us all you like.

Your whining makes me sick. I always had higher loyalties than a mere President.

[O is 44]

9. That says more about them then it does him n/t

[LittleBlue]

13. Yeah, his biggest fanboys Olbermann, Cenk, etc. all traitors

Yeah, that's logical thinking. Accusing everyone within the party of lack of loyalty (to a politician lol) is definitely our ticket to victory.

This is fucking sad.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

32. Yes. People on a Democratic messageboard supporting a Democratic pres. are like Nazi sympathizers

and murderers.

Wow.

DU never ceases to amaze.

[O is 44]

27. I do not believe they are traitors,

instead I believe they are being short sided and not willing to be in it for the long haul in recognizing you can not get instant gratification on everything you want in one fell swoop. These are entrenched interest, if it was so easy it would have been done before now. By the way you used the words traitor and loyalty, I did not.

[IndianaGreen]

29. They are entrenched interests indeed, that Obama welcomed into the White House

PhRMA deal rings a bell?

[LittleBlue]

30. I would totally support Obama 100% on this issue if he fought and lost

Because I can see him fighting for us!

Watching him not enter the ring, and indeed make backdoor deals with his opponent (the American people's opponent) is too much for me to handle.

[jefferson_dem]

11. It says much more about "progressives" than it does about Obama.

Many of these "staunch supporters" have proven themselves to be nothing more than over-the-top, self-centered drama queens who have a pedestrian understanding of contemporary American politics, at best.

[LittleBlue]

16. Never imagined part of the left would surrender their beliefs for a cult of personality

I really can't believe what I'm witnessing: a fan (like myself) who worshiped the ground Obama walked on since fucking 2007, before he even announced, accused of being a drama queen. When I'm trying to help people not die by getting quality healthcare that they can afford; this is now being a "drama queen."

Wow.

[jefferson_dem]

23. No need to be defensive.

Point of clarification: I was not (necessarily) referring to progressives on DU. I was referring to Cenk, who is one in a string of do-gooder "progressive" opinion leaders (Greenwald, Taiibi, Sirota, etc) to complain about how Obama has yet to deliver, has yet to cater to their personal whims.

Cult of personality? Now, that is funny.

[tblue]

25. As if being called such names will change how we feel.

As if our opinions are so baseless and insincere.

We are nothng but Drama Queens. We are not respectable American citizens with valid opinions. We don't really care about war or healthcare. Not really. We don't "understand" how the "real world" works. Stupid, shallow us. Yes, all of us are wrong. Only Obama is right. Damn us.

[AndrewP]

57. +1

**Sigh**

I'm not sure how often I'll have to defend myself, but here it is.

I'm 100 % liberal. I am loyal to the Progressive movement.

I'm not at all loyal to any single politician. If they do the work of the Progressive movement, I will support them. If they whore themselves to Pharma and Corporations, I will not support them.

I know the cheerleading squad doesn't like that, but oh well. It's not a fucking video game, it's real life.

As soon as President Obama starts to support Progressive ideals, I'll be more than happy to sing his praises. I just haven't had a chance yet.

[avaistheone1]

48. +10

[treestar]

45. A few internet posters

All anonymous. As for the columnists, they just see that as the way to gain attention, by creating controversy. They are part of the controversy industry.

[Better Believe It]

50. It's even more amazing how much Obama has turned against progressives!

[NorthCarolina]

51. Maybe it's because he is not very "Progressive" (nt)

[jefferson_dem]

5. Good lord. Another mind-reading blogger who doesn't want to be left behind in the whinefest.

It's perfectly legit to say Obama was not a forceful public advocate of the public option. The gigantic leaps Cenk takes from there are silly.

[mcablue]

10. Non-blogger Russ Feingold agrees with the blogger

FEINGOLD: ""This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place."
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/12/the-bill-he-wanted.html

[O is 44]

14. Why couldn't Feingold convince his own

colleagues to do the right thing? I wish this Senator would stop whining and take blame for his own legislative body’s failures.

[jefferson_dem]

17. I will not parse Feingold's statement but I bet there's more to it if put in context.

No doubt we could also find quotes from legislators who defend the president's motivations and efforts.

[girl gone mad]

15. Here's a hint: "blogger" isn't considered a dirty word..

by most of the people here.

[jefferson_dem]

20. Oh. Are you the word police?

:scared:

Here's a hint: Cenk posted this on ... a blog. :wow: Deal.

[DesertFlower]

18. yes. he said it was a sliver, but he also

said it was needed to keep insurance companies honest. why didn't he say that he would not sign it if it did not have a public option?

[Goldstein1984]

21. Mind reading aside, Obama campaigned on public option

and didn't do much to deliver.

He campaigned on open government, and he didn't deliver.

He's sending tens of thousands more of America's unfortunate to serve as fodder for IEDs is a an un-winnable war.

He sided against democracy in Honduras.

There's a long list to disappoint progressives. Dogs come running loyally back after being kicked, U.S. citizens shouldn't be expected to.

[ind_thinker2]

28. I support Pres Obama, but I donot approve his job on HCR issue

He has shown no leadership, I would signed up for McShit, atleast he has spine. This guy is a dud... so far...

I will pray for him...

[virtualobserver]

31. I have a question for Obama critics..........

How did you expect to get meaningful reform past Joe the friend of the insurers?

[Mithreal]

33. You mean Obama's mentor, that Joe?

The Joe we told you couldn't be trusted, that Joe? The one that lost the primary and we were told we must make nice with by Obama, that Joe? Or maybe the Joe that Rahm told Reid he must cave to immediately?

I suppose we should have insisted upon sitting in on the WH backroom dealings with insurers and PhRMA?

Your point could apply to Rahm as well as any number of other people.

And "Obama critics"! If we were so naive, how naive was the entire Democratic Party for not insisting upon removing corporate money from the equation first? We have how much money for war and how much for publicly funded elections?

And "Obama critics" again! We told you all that passing over Howard Dean for HHS meant Obama was not serious about HCR.

Yeah, the critics are so unfair and naive.

Your question is bogus.

[virtualobserver]

37. my point was..........

that the Congress isn't quite progressive enough to pass the type of health care bill that you would like. The absence of Rahm or addition of Dean, or being mean to Lieberman wouldn't have changed anything.

[Mithreal]

40. Ok, but still unclear. Single factors that you listed, agreed.

And how do you know what I would like versus find acceptable?

Bush had 49 to 55 senators during his two terms and passed most of their agenda with a glaring exception. Are you telling me President Obama could not lead the same kind of successful agenda using reconciliation?

We can get what we want out of the Senate now with reconciliation but even that is not the only path.

Why preach failure? I know, loaded language but that seems like what you are accepting or advocating?

[virtualobserver]

43. I don't desire failure......

but when I saw the Stupak amendment pass in the house, and I watched Blanche Lincoln speak on the Senate floor.......my hopes for a excellent bill were greatly diminished.

I'm just waiting to see what the joint House/Senate product looks like.

[Mithreal]

46. Ok, and good morning.

[AllentownJake]

34. Joe seems to have more support from the White House than Bernie Sanders nt.

[cornermouse]

35. I'm starting to equate this to life in a small town.

Those who have been there for years are better accepted due to the length of time they lived there. The newbies are and will be newbies for at least the next 10 years. Sanders is a newbie. Lieberman is accepted due to time spent in congress. For the moment Obama is accepted because he leaped to the topmost position however, if things go badly during the midterm election or Afghanistan they could turn on him. Democrats walked away from Clinton and Carter, the last two democratic presidents we had who just happened to be governors (outsiders) instead on long standing members of congress; never really supported either of them. Obama's advantage so far? He's the first black president and he did spend a scant 2 years in congress, when he wasn't campaigning for president. I think that's probably going to be pretty thin protection if things start going bad.

[virtualobserver]

39. It is because Obama has done the math...........

First a version must pass the Senate. Then it can be improved in conference.
W

[Mithreal]

42. Then he has proven to be inadequate, ineffective, impotent.

Take your pick because that is how it will play.

[virtualobserver]

44. I'll reserve my judgment until the last act.

n/t

[Better Believe It]

52. He's only needs 51 votes and Obama doesn't want an "improved" bill. So what's your point?

President Obama doesn't want an "improved" bill with a strong public option and importation of drugs coming out of a Senate/House conference. That would violate his sweetheart agreement with the private insurance industry and big Pharma.

[polichick]

38. There's no explanation except that he's carrying water for the industry...

...and that isn't acceptable.

[VMI Dem]

41. Of course he didn't.

If he did, the negligence and ineptitude he has displayed on the issue would be staggering.

[David Zephyr]

54. K&R.

I wrote the same thing back in August: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/David%20Zephyr/42.

It was always a negotiating tactic and used cynically to keep the progressives on board until the last moment before dumping us.

Russ Feingold said it best: Obama is getting the bill he wanted from the beginning.

K&R.

[freddie mertz]

56. ProSense told me he would never sign a bill without it.

So this must be wrong.



:sarcasm:

[Mithreal]

59. Prosense says a lot of things

[kixat2550]

58. Indeed