Daschle Doesn't Have Stomach To Fight For Public Option

On Wednesday, Tom Daschle, the man who President Obama initially selected to be his nominee for HHS secretary, said:

While I feel very strongly that consumers should have the choice of a national, Medicare-like plan, my colleagues do not. . . But we were concerned that the ongoing health reform debate is beginning to show signs of fracture on the public plan issue, so in order to advance the process of developing bipartisan legislation and to move it forward, it's time to find consensus here. We've come too far and gained too much momentum for our efforts to fail over disagreements on one single issue.

First of all, Mr. Daschle, you don't feel "very strongly" about it if you're willing to drop it now. Not getting a public option now is unacceptable. Sure, a lot of conservative Democrats are saying they will vote against a public option, the truth is, when it's all laid out on the line and the grass roots health care movement has time to focus on the few Senators standing between us and our goal, you have your votes.

I really hope the White House understands that this issue is not something the people are flexible about. Health care is a right. If we are not covered, very many of us will not be in a hurry to move forward to the next item on any agenda. The fact that single-payer is not steamrolling toward passage is sick and unacceptable. The public option is a half-measure to begin with. Do not take that away.