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Bernie Sanders is not buying the myth that reconciliation would not work for real health care reform.
“If I had my druthers, I think reconciliation is an absolutely appropriate way to go,” he said. “I think what people who oppose that will tell you is that you can’t have the kind of comprehensive legislation that the Senate is trying to deal with now—and that may in fact be true—but there are a heck of a lot of things that you can do that would strengthen our health care system in a cost-effective way that could be a giant step forward for the American people.”
Many Democrats in Washington have worked diligently to cultivate this myth about reconciliation, but Sanders is not buying it. You can pass significant health care reform by using reconciliation. It would probably end up a much better reform package than whatever Liebercare ends up as.
One can only hope that Sanders would learn a lesson from Joe Lieberman. If Sanders demanded they use reconciliation they would have no other choice but you use reconciliation.
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I got all excited for a second, I’m not used to your jokes.
I hope FDL will be included in those who learn from the latest Joe L. episode. The HealthCare sellout has NEVER been about Joe Lieberman, or Stupak, or Conrad, or even (especially) about Rahm Emanuel.
I’m SURE many FDL supporters thrive on the information edge you provide us. But, it’s important you stay just as frank about the reasonableness of the spin driving the info. Over and over it seems to me you fall for obvious head fakes & then respond with fury at the outcome. I’d love for you, Jane & team to get ahead of the curve, to try disbelieving a little earlier on.
HealthCare has been about only one thing since word broke: Did Obama make a deal with PHARMA? (Please note, I didn’t say Rahm Emanuel, I said, Obama.) How many denials did we hear? How much effort and good faith was put on the line by Democrats who couldn’t accept he’d squander such a special opportunity?
Information is great but so is common sense. I understand not buying into talk of a PHARMA “deal” early, but your team took way too long to connect the dots. NO ONE should be surprised by what’s happened, even Dick Cheney could’ve predicted it.
Sen. Sanders, you do have your druthers. Your vote is as key to 60 votes as Lieberman’s was. It’s nice to hear Sen. Sanders be the last man standing for real reform through reconciliation, but unless he follows through on it, it’s meaningless.
Maybe you missed it, but FDL was the most out front of the progressive groups in exposing the truths of the health care debate and opposing the capitulation of the White House and Congressional Democrats. While MoveOn and HCAN were waiting and seeing, FDL was digging up the real dirt. Maybe FDL doesn’t satisfy you because they didn’t proclaim on January 1 that health care reform was part of a conspiracy of the Council on Foreign Relations…if so, start your own group.
He follows through and either kills the bill or forces reconciliation or he proves himself to be just another lying sack of shit.
He cannot get away with saying purdy things but doing ugly.
Money. Mouth. Together. Or shut up.
Can’t be said enough.
Walk, Senator Sanders, don’t just talk.
Mikesong, Me thinks thou doest protest too much – about nothing!
Yes. And if he follows through and pulls real healthcare out of the fire at the last minute, Sanders for President in 2012! I don’t know anything about him, really. But achieving real healthcare would be an order of magnitude better than anything this President has achieved.