Ever wonder why Republicans aren't holding live town halls on health care?
You hear leading Republicans say that the U.S. has the best health care system in the world.
They say that at press conferences.
They say that during interviews on cable news networks.
They say that to the Washington Press Corps.
But will a Republican dare say that in front of their own constituents at a live town hall?
Imagine a 53 year old woman stands up and says her husband died of cancer last year. She says he had limited coverage but couldn't afford the out of pocket costs for treatments that could have saved his life. Now she has cancer and her insurance company just rescinded her plan. She's too weak to work now. She asks "Senator Shelby, what am I going to do?"
Would Senator Shelby have the spine to tell her what he's been telling everyone else in the media? That the U.S. has the best health care system in the world?
Would Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell fare any better at a live town hall? Imagine a recently unemployed steelworker in Kentucky stood up and said "I've got three kids and our family has been denied health care since I got laid off last year. Senator McConnell, have you ever been denied health care?
What would Senator McConnell say? "Well, no, my government-funded plan guarantees that I have health coverage for the rest of my life, even when I'm no longer a Senator. But trust me, you don't want the government involved in your health care."
The fact is, Republicans cannot talk to Americans about health care. They can talk a big game to the press. They can recite pre-fabricated think-tanked talking points on the Senate floor. But their bluster would shrivel away if they dare come face to face with real Americans. This is why they stay well inside the safe confines of the DC bubble where they are protected from engaging in an honest dialogue about the health care atrocity in America.
President Obama, on the other hand, does not have to dislocate himself from Americans. He's out there holding town halls and answering the tough questions. He's face to face with people who are dying. With people who are under-insured, not insured, or facing bankruptcy because of the outrageous contemptible cost of taking care of a loved one.
It's important to recognize, especially in times of crisis, just who has the courage to talk honestly and directly to Americans and who does not.
I understand that there are plenty of Democrats, not just Republicans, who are cowering in the face of a public option. And we really need to exert unrelenting pressure on these Democrats to support legislation that would not only pass--that would not only be a step in the right direction--but would represent the kind of leap in reform that every American can count on, in good times and in bad, in sickness or in health.
They must demonstrate a commitment to Americans before Americans will demonstrate another commitment to them.
They say that at press conferences.
They say that during interviews on cable news networks.
They say that to the Washington Press Corps.
But will a Republican dare say that in front of their own constituents at a live town hall?
Imagine a 53 year old woman stands up and says her husband died of cancer last year. She says he had limited coverage but couldn't afford the out of pocket costs for treatments that could have saved his life. Now she has cancer and her insurance company just rescinded her plan. She's too weak to work now. She asks "Senator Shelby, what am I going to do?"
Would Senator Shelby have the spine to tell her what he's been telling everyone else in the media? That the U.S. has the best health care system in the world?
Would Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell fare any better at a live town hall? Imagine a recently unemployed steelworker in Kentucky stood up and said "I've got three kids and our family has been denied health care since I got laid off last year. Senator McConnell, have you ever been denied health care?
What would Senator McConnell say? "Well, no, my government-funded plan guarantees that I have health coverage for the rest of my life, even when I'm no longer a Senator. But trust me, you don't want the government involved in your health care."
The fact is, Republicans cannot talk to Americans about health care. They can talk a big game to the press. They can recite pre-fabricated think-tanked talking points on the Senate floor. But their bluster would shrivel away if they dare come face to face with real Americans. This is why they stay well inside the safe confines of the DC bubble where they are protected from engaging in an honest dialogue about the health care atrocity in America.
President Obama, on the other hand, does not have to dislocate himself from Americans. He's out there holding town halls and answering the tough questions. He's face to face with people who are dying. With people who are under-insured, not insured, or facing bankruptcy because of the outrageous contemptible cost of taking care of a loved one.
It's important to recognize, especially in times of crisis, just who has the courage to talk honestly and directly to Americans and who does not.
I understand that there are plenty of Democrats, not just Republicans, who are cowering in the face of a public option. And we really need to exert unrelenting pressure on these Democrats to support legislation that would not only pass--that would not only be a step in the right direction--but would represent the kind of leap in reform that every American can count on, in good times and in bad, in sickness or in health.
They must demonstrate a commitment to Americans before Americans will demonstrate another commitment to them.
