Open Left

Polls Schmolls (4.00 / 3)

There have always been issues out there where politicians go against the polls and have had no problems getting re-elected.

The signal has been that Democrats can get away with catering to business as long they cover their flank with abortion and minority rights and an occasional bone to unions.  Me, I'd happily trade EFCA in order to guarantee a legitimate public option for health care if I could find good faith bargaining partners.  If the center-left majority would just stand firm for once on an economic issue like health care and act as if deviance on that is less tolerable than deviance on other issues, then maybe the politicians would pay attention.  But some on the left seem way more interested in histrionics on culture war issues.

This is why I think one thing progressives should do is promise a primary challenge against whoever is the most liberal opponent of health care to demonstrate that we really do prioritize this issue.

The other thing I feel strongly about is that Democrats should pass a sufficiently liberal health care bill even if Republicans stick in some stupid gun rights amendment or Lieberman adds on a stupid torture photo amendment, because health care is just much more important.


Things You Don't Talk About in Polite Company: Religion, Politics, the Occasional Intersection of Both

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by: Anthony de Jesus @ Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 19:58:44 PM CDT

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