The press WANT you to believe Obama is backing down on health care

[Radical Activist]

Before the state of the union I watched Chris Matthews and some other babbling jackasses talking about Obama backing down on health care. They discussed it with dour concern. Then Obama gave a very strong speech indicating that he wasn't backing down one bit. Obviously, the press was full of shit.

Less than a week later, headline after headline, and all of the corporate media's concern trolls went back to telling us that Obama is backing off health care. Do you know what all the headlines and punditry have in common? It's based on NOTHING. None of them can point to a firm statement or fact indicating that its true. It's always "it seems that" or "insiders say" or some other vague line. It's made up bullshit.

Here's a hint. The insurance companies have the corporate media over a barrel. The media WANT you to believe that health care will die. They want you to feel defeated and betrayed by Obama. They want you to stop calling your Congressman and to stop talking with your neighbors. They know that if they spread enough defeatist negativity that it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They win when we give up. STOP FALLING FOR IT!!!

What does the man himself say?
Obama: We Can't Back Off Healthcare Reform

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/07/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6183917.shtml

Holy cow! Can you believe it? He's not backing off!

I know why the corporate-owned press wants to spread defeatism, but what's the deal with so many on the left joining in? It's only hurting our own cause. Of course there are those who want us to give up on Obama and instead embrace the green party, socialism, direct action, or I-told-you-so-ism. But health care is more important than petty ideologies and grudges.
SO CUT IT THE FUCK OUT ALREADY!!!

We have a President pushing for a pretty decent health care bill that keeps getting watered down and blocked by the Senate. There's our target. Call off the circular firing squad and go get em!

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Radical Activist]

2. Keep nursing that cynicism.

Remember to think about all the revolutions in history that were fueled by bitter cynicism and a sure belief that nothing will work out in the end!

[Marr]

4. I will!

Thanks! And you keep using those ironic avatars.

[Radical Activist]

7. Sure. I could have quoted Che in my post

"Passion is needed for any great work, and for the revolution passion and audacity are required in big doses."

Or Fidel talking about Che: We lift our spirits to Che with absolute optimism in the definitive victory of the people. We say to him and all those who have fallen by his side, ‘Until victory, always!’

I couldn't find any about cynicism and hopelessness in times of conflict.

"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." - Che

Isn't funny that we have a President who constantly told us during the campaign that change would come through efforts by the people, yet many of the left apparently expect Obama to exercise authoritarian power on our behalf while we sit back and complain about the job he's doing?

I suppose you're right about the irony. In practice, Che was far more an authoritarian than I am.

[niceypoo]

All we have ever gotten from Obama on healthcare is talk

...nothing concrete. He wastes all of his effort courting the sociopaths who wouldnt vote for him to save their own children.

[Radical Activist]

8. And a bill passed through the House.

[niceypoo]

17. Oh spare us

A Right wing bill achieved by abandoning his base and bending over for Baucus and Lieberman that is going nowhere fast.

[Radical Activist]

29. Baucus and Lieberman are in the Senate.

Facts matter. Obama got a bill through the house. He has given us more than words. So why not put the blame where it belongs: the Senate. He's obviously using all the political capital he has to get something passed. If you don't like the Senate compromises then make a few Senators afraid they'll lose an election if they don't pass something.

[niceypoo]

43. Both want corporate healthcare or better yet no bill at all

Both were handed the bill to do with what they pleased, base be damned.

Bending over is not 'using political capital'. End result: No healthcare

[gulfcoastliberal]

40. That bill pays for "reform" by gutting medicare - to the tune of $500 billion.

It's yet another lobbyist-authored corporate giveaway package that does exactly zero as far as controlling premiums. The ultimate goal is the complete destruction of medicare and forcing seniors into private plans that will cost a hell of a lot more and cover a hell of a lot less. Signing this nefarious bill would go a very long way toward the realization of their objective.

[AllentownJake]

3. The players were all selected in 2008, 2006, and 2004

My question is, given the fact that Lincoln Blanche, Evan Bayh, and Mary Landrieu face tough re-election campaigns is HCR more or less likely.

I say it is less likely that the bill will get better and more likely it will get worse and most likely there will be no bill at all because the GOP has no reason to provide a 60th vote after they've had political success trashing democrats on this.

Max Baucus fucked this up when he took his sweet time over the summer with a bill that was pre-ordained from the staff member he hired from Well Point to write it.

The only way a bill passes is if the Senate bans the filibuster (not just changes it to 55 votes because I don't think they have 55 votes after the loss in Mass).

You can call congress, protest, march do whatever your little heart contends. Elections decide legislation. Phone calls don't.

[Radical Activist]

9. If elections decide legislation

then this bill should have passed already. Democrats have the largest majority in decades, even with Brown. Republicans never had a majority of this size when Bush was in office and they pushed their agenda through.

If the left is better at intimidating elected officials than the tea-party crowd then the Democrats you mention and one or two Republicans will support health care. Isn't it pathetic to be out-organized by an astroturf campaign of confused teabaggers? Hey, maybe we should try some new tactics.

[AllentownJake]

11. No public officials are worried about Tea Baggers electorally

People on DU are.

Independents split off the party in VA, NJ, and MA and Bayh, Lincoln, and Landrieu have people with better pay grades that me that looked at the polling data.

Tea Baggers are Code Pink. There was a Tea bagger on the ballot in each of those elections, the GOP won despite of that. The only election the GOP lost in the big elections was NY24 where the Tea bagger became the candidate.

[Radical Activist]

12. I don't think you know how easily scared politicians are.

Some angry people at a few public events back in their home state makes a big impression. They make decisions based on the fear of not getting re-elected and we've allowed Republicans to portray voting FOR health care as a threat to re-election.

And if you're right that they don't care about the teabaggers, then they should be happy to go along with the majority of Americans who support health care. Which is it?

[AllentownJake]

13. Oh I know how easily scared they are

and I've also been in the room when their paid rational people explain to them what is really going on using actual data.

A majority of Americans support a reform bill, they don't support the bill in the house and the senate as evidenced by Scott Brown winning saying I will kill those bills.

[Radical Activist]

14. Bullshit

Polls do not show support for a weaker bill and there were many reasons for Brown. The polls will fluctuate between now and November and any politician with half a brain knows that.

[AllentownJake]

15. Did I say a weaker bill?

Most people object to mandated health insurance and the lack of cost controls.

The Public Option was the most popular idea. Mandated insurance was one of the things the President beat Hillary Clinton with a stick over in 2008. It worked, he can't act surprised the GOP is beating him up over it now. I prefer single payer, but that isn't happening.

[HughMoran]

19. Wrong.

Most people I know aren't concerned about the mandate as they already have insurance. They are simply afraid of the idea of healthcare reform and how it might make their now OK company insurance worse. Scare tactics on the right have been working & the Democrats haven't done a good job of explaining that this bill will not hurt people who already have insurance. The people I know who don't have insurance would love to be able to have affordable insurance and are mad that the process is stalled.

[AllentownJake]

22. Hugh

The bill is an insurance coverage bill and most people you know who have insurance are worried about cost and this bill does not do much to address cost.

Drug reimportation was shot down as well as several other provisions that were in the plan that was campaigned on. Also most Health care professionals I know give it a thumbs down.

The people I know in real life, who don't have insurance, have been more interested in this process and think the bill is a piece of shit with different degrees of outrage, with the exception of one person who was a field organizer who could be slapped in the face by the administration and say thank you sir give me another. However, that person gives me grudging respect on this issue, because I called the Public Option death in August and other provisions going down as well in September to December in our discussions.

Insurance is the problem, it isn't the solution. It is similar as giving money to bankers and being surprised when the bankers speculate and take the gambling benefits and do nothing about the bad loans on their books requiring you to start buying them with the Federal Reserve and now Freddie, which should be quite the interesting scandal in about 2 weeks.

[HughMoran]

24. Still wrong

Nobody I know even knows what you're talking about - all red herrings that miss the big picture - we're losing the public opinion battle because people on the left including many Democrats are shivving our own people in the back.

[AllentownJake]

25. I think I run with a different crowd than you do

;-)

My mother is nurse, 70% of the friends I talk with on a regular basis are actively involved someway in the democratic party and the other are up in an American Legion post. I even bowl every Sunday with some aghast look, conservatives.

We lost the public opinion battle when OFA sent people out with "Public Option" signs all summer and than told them it was no longer that important in the fall. Forgive the public for being confused.

Blaming the left on this issue is about the most "fucking retarded" thing you can do, to quote a certain Chief of Staff.

[HughMoran]

32. Justification.

Everybody I am talking about is a Democrat also, but they are more of the typical person who gets their news from the MSM or doesn't even like watching news. Trust me - there's a large majority of people out there who aren't political junkies.

[AllentownJake]

33. Well those people don't volunteer on political campaigns

So I wouldn't be calling them or talking to them that much.

I have three hobbies, helping out at the local live theater, bowling, and politics. The people who are at the theater tend to be more educated on what is going on, even if they choose to stay out of it.

The people that go out and talk to the people you are talking about are experiencing a malaise and disillusionment right now. They also tend to be a little more liberal. They are less likely to do more work right now, the die hards, like myself will always be there, even though I'll tell party leadership they are idiots. They ask me to do favors for them for free, what the hell can they do to me, not ask me to do things for free? More time bowling or at the theater than.

You can raise all the money for literature you want to, someone's got to carry it to the doors for free and talk to people.

[HughMoran]

36. Winning and leading is definitely tougher than being the opposition

I can't blame some people for wanting to take a break, but we aren't going to get it done until people on this side show a willingness to support 'getting things done' - even imperfect things. Fighting for the best possible compromise is what it's all about. Giving up is for losers.

[AllentownJake]

37. I'm working on two campaigns right now

Where have I "given up."

A state house race and a gubernatorial race, as we chat, I'm cutting turf for petition gathering.

Politics is wonderful, I can choose what I do, and who I choose to help. There is never a shortage of people looking for help. I have chosen not to help OFA because I don't like their strategy nor do I like the Health Care plan.

My Gubernatorial Candidate endorsed a single payer Health Care plan for PA at the state committee in fact all of them did, because we have worked on that in PA within the party. Do I think he can get it done, no the GOP has a 10 vote edge in the state senate and they will be doing the redistricting in 2010 thanks to a poorly run State Supreme Court race, but getting the top of the ticket to say it is the best option is progress on the issue here in PA. We'll work on the State Senate races next.

I know how the system works, calling congress is a useless endeavor. Congressional offices are little more than customer service hot-lines. The players are in place and they have made up their mind.

[HughMoran]

39. Wasn't referring to you

Was referring to the lackadaisical people I know and the discouraged door knockers you know. It still wouldn't hurt if people realized that compromise is how it's always been done and pushed for what is possible, not simply yelling about water under the dam.

[AllentownJake]

41. Yeah well I tell the discouraged door knockers

that my candidates are not Barack Obama, support your values, and have endorsed Single Payer.

I get a little more work out of them, than arguing whether their anger is justified ;-)

Unless you are a professional therapist in a controlled setting, its best not to argue with an angry person on what they are angry about.

[laughingliberal]

5. From the article:

Mr. Obama said one reason healthcare reform cannot be abandoned is that a major insurer in California, Anthem Blue Cross, just announced they are increasing their premiums for customers who buy coverage individually and are not covered by a group policy by 39 percent. "That's a portrait of the future if we don't do something now," he said. "It's going to keep on beating down families, small businesses, large businesses; it's going to be a huge drain on the economy. We're going to have to do something about it, and I think we can."

I sincerely hope the President, if he intends to fight for reform, intends to do something about this situation. There is nothing in the Senate bill to lower premiums. If he has ideas for improving that situation, good for him. I'll be behind him on that 100%. But I'm not of the belief that any bill is better than no bill.

[AllentownJake]

6. California Health Care cost are going through the roof

state subsidies to the health care system were cut last year and that is being passed onto the consumers.

It is easy to trash Blue Cross on this, but Hospitals are charging more for services because they aren't getting as much money from the state to cover their overhead.

[laughingliberal]

16. I was quite disappointed that nothing much was mentioned about the for profit hospital industry

during the whole HCR debate. They are one of the driving forces behind our out of control health care costs. Since our hospitals changed over from a mostly not for profit system to for profit, publicly traded corporations, the costs have skyrocketed and quality of care has plummeted.

[AllentownJake]

26. well they were in the room with Pharma and Aetna.

when this was negotiated.

[laughingliberal]

42. Discouraging. nt

[FrenchieCat]

10. You are correct on this.....

But folks will believe what they want to believe,
even around here. They'd rather believe the fucking headlines
even when they know the truth. Point is that it isn't only
the Republicans, the Insurance companies and the Media that
wants to see health care die and Democrats defeated.
They can't call off the circular firing squad,
they've invested too much on the ammunition,
and are damn proud of it. It's the American way.
If it doesn't help one directly in every way,
than many just aren't interested....and teaching anyone a lesson
seems like a more affordable hobby.

[branders seine]

18. Yack, yack, yack

Where's the leadership?

[upi402]

20. The media is worse than the President.

but Obama is STILL trying to be bipartisan. Uhhhh, I'm no expert... but the past couple decades tells me that's a non-starter.

[CBR]

21. DU complains about the media constantly until they say what

DU wants to hear. DU, like the media, is constantly trying to create a narrative and nothing will change that creation.

[EFerrari]

23. Storytelling is what distinguishes us from the other great apes. We can't help it.

:)

[blindpig]

27. right....don't believe your lying eyes....

Don't need no MSM to know that this is going to be a sack of shit. Let's see, single payer doesn't even make it to the table, the shitheads who are gouging us are at the table...

Who are you trying to fool?

[rocktivity]

28. The coporate media have a financial stake in keep the health crisis status quo

in the form of ad revenues.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Hell Hath No Fury]

30. Dude, he ALREADY backed down on healthcare!

Remember when he called it "healthcare reform"? Then it became "health insurance reform". Then he said any plan he signed must include a public option. Then the public option was tossed in the trash. And he said reimportation was am important element of reform. Then the Dortgan reimportation bill has axed via Rahm. Now he's saying the left/Dems have to compromise even more.

I am sorry, but are deaf dumb and blind to what has been going on???

He has done nothing but BACK THE FUCK DOWN on this issue. :mad:

[Better Believe It]

31. There is little or nothing left to water down in the health insurance industry bill.

Hopefully the Health Insurance Industry and Big Pharma Protection Act will die!

[asdjrocky]

34. All talk.

Just like the OP.

Sorry man, people out here are dying, we need more than words.

[kenny blankenship]

35. How do you "back down" from a prior cave-in, following a total sell-out?

The bought and sold presidency won't back down! No we won't back down! We won't be beat for low prices!

[Individualist]

38. +1

[timeforpeace]

44. Generic bad guy: "I had to try." Outlaw Josey Wales: "I know."

[stillwaiting]

45. Obama killed drug re-importation and has NOT fought for real reform.

His "reform" further entrenches the insurance company parasites so that any REAL reform will be only that much harder to ever achieve.

He will get zero credit from me in actually fighting for real reform. I don't give a damn what the media says about him if a bill ever does pass.

He empowered Lieberman and did nothing, absolutely nothing, to fight the few conservadems that sabotaged health CARE reform. It's pretty clear he agrees
more with them than the majority of voters who put him in charge.

[ProSense]

46. The final plan is going to be posted online before the summit. n/t