This is the kind of strong leadership we need. Maybe it's Obama's strategy to let the most progressive voice come from elsewhere instead of the White House, but I'm afraid he's waiting too long and demanding too little.
Sanders says even Democrats who plan to vote against it should vote to allow the vote to take place, which will take all of the Democrats plus Independents to get to 60 votes. Here's Sanders:
"I think the idea of going to conservative Republicans, who are essentially representing the insurance companies and the drug companies, and watering down this bill substantially, rather than demanding we get 60 votes to stop the filibuster, I think that is a very wrong political strategy," Sanders added. . . ."I think that politically that is something everybody can handle. You say, 'Look, I think there should be a vote. I'm gonna vote against it for A, B and C reasons. But I think the process has to move forward and it's unacceptable that Republicans keep trying to stop everything. . . .
"I think it would be great if we could have 100 senators voting for this, but what is important is the product that you get, not bipartisanship. So we should ask Republicans to support it. If they choose not to they do so at their own political risk. The focus should be on a strong bill trying to get Republican support rather than a weak bipartisan bill."
Amen. And an Independent shall lead the way.
Unfortunately, because Sanders is sometimes identified as a Socialist, the Repubs will probably pounce on this and redouble their shrill cry of "socialized medicine !!" I wish someone had the courage to push back and just say, as Dick Cheney responded when reminded that public opinion was against his position, "So?"
Ralph
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