Even Some Republicans aren't as Reactionary as Lieberman

It's been a sad day for health care reform, what with Lieberman vowing to filibuster any Senate health care reform legislation that includes a public option...

Honorable Senator Lieberman: It is truly a sad day for CT and the United States overall to hear you pledge to defeat health care reform if it includes a public option. I can't fathom what misguided values are leading you to take such a counterproductive approach to dealing with one of the most important public policy issues of our generation. Without a public option, meaningful health care reform is impossible, because the RIGHT to have medical insurance means nothing if it isn't affordable. And given that the insurance industry either can't or won't make medical insurance affordable for millions of Americans means those without access to employer-provided insurance (like you, for one) need a guarantee that they'll be able to find affordable options. From what I have seen and learned, the only way to make that happen is through a public option. It's time for you to stand up and represent your constituents, not protect the insurance lobby. I will be watching your position closely.

Is This the Democratic Party I Belong To?

I was shocked to read about the last minute cave-in to the anti-choice lobby to secure passage in the House of health-care reform. Putting Stupack-Pitts together with the word "reform" has ushered in a new level of spinelessness for the Democratic leadership.

My quick note to Speaker Pelosi:

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

I am greatly disappointed with the health care reform bill you brought to the floor for passage, because of the complete sell-out of the abortion rights of lower income women. It is truly a sad day for the Democratic party—particularly when it enjoys a historically overwhelming legislative majority—that it to so cravenly gave in to the anti-choice lobby and tossed away years of hard-won victories to protect the health and privacy rights of American women.

I truly cannot understand why you allowed this last minute amendment to be offered without raising huge red flags. The efforts to play down the significance of the Stupak-Pitts amendment are disingenuous at best, offensive at worst. To suggest that women, especially those who can least afford it, should have to buy a rider to obtain medical insurance to cover their constitutionally protected right to reproductive freedom is nothing short of obscene.

I urge you to do everything in your power, and what you should have already done, to reverse this dangerous and ill-conceived precedent.

Sincerely,

JP