'Public Option' Non-Negotiable, Democrat Sayshttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081901773.html?hpid=topnewsFormer Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean is emerging as a thorn in the side of a White House that effectively swept him out of Washington, regularly challenging President Obama and Congress as he crisscrosses the country preaching his progressive vision for universal health care.
Although he is lending voice and brand to the liberal cause in the intraparty health-care debate, Dean hardly considers himself a spoiler. Rather, he sees his role as fighting for progressive values, asserting again and again that health-care reform without a government-run insurance option is hardly reform at all.
When he visited this tranquil corner of New England last weekend, Dean warned that if Democratic leaders abandon the "public option," they surrender their principles to politics.
"The worst thing that could happen is to pass a bill without a public option," he told about 200 union workers and Democratic volunteers in a fiery speech at a pep rally and picnic here Sunday. "Then we'd put 60 billion new dollars a year into the health insurance industry that is busy taking away your health insurance when you need it most, stopping you from getting health insurance, taking it away if you lose a job and not giving it back to you if you get it back."
"We all voted for change we can believe in. If we don't get it, we'll get some more change in 2010," Dean roared, the crowd applauding between bites of hamburgers, hot dogs and macaroni salad.
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"I think Howard Dean would've loved to have been in the room hashing out health-care reform, whatever the role," Trippi said. "I think he would've relished that. He's passionate, he's a doctor, he knows it. But, look, that wasn't in the cards, and to his credit he didn't walk away. He's leading the charge on issues he cares about."