With news that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has urged Harry Reid to cave into the demands of Joe Lieberman, Rahm suddenly finds himself persona non grata among the progressive wing of the Democratic coalition. Sam Stein reports that the group Progressive Change Campaign Committee has released an ad in Chicago -- Emanuel's former district -- attacking him for this move.
"Playing off the widely-held belief that Emanuel will eventually return to elected politics, PCCC is set to air the ad solely on Chicago television," Stein writes. "But it will run only as many times as fundraising permits. The initial goal is $50,000 worth of spots."
Here's the ad, followed by a transcript:
Stein reminds us that Rahm Emanuel once called progressive ads attacking Democrats over healthcare reform "fucking stupid," but let's look (broadly) at what we're talking about here:
You know what's fucking stupid, Rahm? Calling this legislative pile of shit "reform."
"Playing off the widely-held belief that Emanuel will eventually return to elected politics, PCCC is set to air the ad solely on Chicago television," Stein writes. "But it will run only as many times as fundraising permits. The initial goal is $50,000 worth of spots."
Here's the ad, followed by a transcript:
My family has lived here in Chicago for 30 years. Rahm Emanuel was our congressman. When I had spinal surgery the medical bills were enormous. My insurance company tried to get out of paying bills they clearly were responsible for. That's how they make a profit, by denying people care. Many families in our situation would have gone into bankruptcy. Luckily my wife is a doctor and she knew how to challenge the insurance company. So after months of paper work we got the bills paid. But not everyone has a doctor in the house who knows how to fight back. We need a public health insurance option now. That is the only way to drive competition and keep the insurance companies honest. Anything less is not reform at all.
All of us back home hope Rahm Emanuel is fighting for people like us as White House chief of staff. But if he sides with insurance companies and undermines the public option, well, he won't have many fans in Chicago.
Stein reminds us that Rahm Emanuel once called progressive ads attacking Democrats over healthcare reform "fucking stupid," but let's look (broadly) at what we're talking about here:
Negatives:
There's no public option.
There's no Medicare buy-in.
There's no cost containment.
There's no regulation on the pricing of prescription drugs.
The government still can't negotiate lower prices for drugs prescribed to Medicare recipients.
There's no drug reimportation.
The "donut hole" in Medicare Part D isn't closed.
People will be forced to buy private insurance, regardless of their finances.
Positives:
Modest subsidies for low income people.
A ban on denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
You know what's fucking stupid, Rahm? Calling this legislative pile of shit "reform."
3 comments:
It's nice to finally put such a handsome face on the legend, by the way. =)
And just because I don't comment all the time, doesn't mean I don't care. =) I visit this blog every single day!
But the whispering word is, they can pass this watered down bill and move to reconciliation for anything else sometime next year. They can do Medicare buy in, a Public Option, or make owning a monkey mandatory if they want all through reconciliation. So there's hope, still.
As for Rahm, I wouldn't bet on him being a two-term COS. Hell, he might not make it through the first term.
You're not going to see Bernanke and Robert Gates around for too much longer, either. Two years, tops.
This is still a crisis presidency, as well as a presidency transitioning away from gross negligence, incompetence, unconstitutional criminality, and institutionalized fuckdoofery, and the assault is still coming from all directions on many different fronts. But he's getting a hold of the reins, I can see it, and slowing this wild horse down so we can all jump on board the carriage and take a slow ride through the park.
I have patience and confidence that Obama's going to do what's best for the country. The guy used to walk the streets of the SouthSide of Chicago with holes in his shoes fighting for low income housing and seniors. Voting drives and organizing citizen activism.
This is not a guy who's in bed and loyal only to the rich and powerful, contrary to conspiracy theorists.
This is America and the rich and powerful are Americans too, though. It's just that for too long (especially the last 30 years) there's been a criminally disproportionate recognition of fairness and equality. So there's a lot of work to be done pushing back against the status quo and the wind is definitely in his face.
This shit isn't easy, man. You can see the struggle to win back some justice for the majority of the people. It's a very visible struggle and it's going to take some time.
Stuff's getting better.
I'm not saying this wouldn't be an improvement. All of the negatives (except one) apply to what we have now, so the two positives add up to a net gain. What I'm saying is that it wouldn't be much of an improvement and reform it just plain ain't.
"institutionalized fuckdoofery" <- LOL. Nice...
Yeah, you can ask the very simple question:
Who benefits more from this "reform?"
The American people, or the health insurance corporations?
Not. Even. Close. Bud!
When you see Joe Lieberman smiling, and Max Baucus "excited," you damn well better know who got the raw deal.
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