The Sunshine Empire

In the past few days in speaking to the conservatives that I know about health care reform in Congress keep going back to a video of then State Senator Barack Obama saying that he prefers a single payer health care plan. He also mentions that a single payer health care plan cannot be done at once, but must be done in small steps. The argument invariably goes to whether he was taken out of context or if the speech is edited. Both of those matter not to the overall point. The main point from conservatives is to say that much like everything associated with President Obama, this is a secret conspiracy. That Kenyan Muslim President is just trying to bait us into little changes so he can spring socialized medicine on us when we are unsuspecting. The fact is I’m sure that President Obama does want a single payer health care plan for America, but I want to date Megan Fox. It doesn’t mean I will get my wish and ignores the realities of our political system.

Despite historically broad majorities in both the House and Senate, the realities of having such larges margins is that there are diverse groups within your caucus. People who understand the House and Senate and the conference committee process know that with Blue dogs and conservatives fighting cost while progressives look for as much a public option as possible, the final product will not be single payer and most likely wont even include a public option. The President’s words 5 years before he was elected take on more meaning than what is actually happening in Congress right now. The question has to be asked, if the President and Democrats can’t get a single payer health care plan through Congress with a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, when exactly are they going to pass it?

Related posts:

1. I’m Sick Of The Health Care Reform Argument
2. Huckabee Bears False Witness To Scaremonger On Health Care
3. Historical Perspective On Health Care Reform Before The West Coast Swing
4. Lying Works In The Fight Against Health Care Reform
5. Health Care Reform Enters The Red Zone