Health-Care Reform "Must" Include Public Option; So Obama Once Said...
Remember the President's words: "Any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."
Many disgruntled Americans who voted and supported Obama's candidacy rallied behind his impassioned commitment to pass true health care reform, which included a public health care option. How quickly promises are forgotten behind closed doors. So what happened to the "change that we can believe in?" Once again, the puppets of big business are all too ready to betray the will of the American people and the voting majority. Americans who helped elect Barack Obama voted for their hopes. Millions voted for the hope that health care reform would provide access to affordable medical treatment before the need for expensive emergency hospital care became their last and only option.
Obama had inspired millions to believe in the public option, as the best method of cost control and the best opportunity for all Americans to have access to quality health care. There was no surprise when the National Journal first announced that the Health Insurance industries had started running ads designed to scare Americans away from the pubic option. And, to some extent, there was no great surprise when blue dog democrats sheepishly sided with the Insurance companies and Republicans in their opposition to the public option. But, when President Obama recently rescinded his promise and commitment to fighting for the public option, a stake was driven into the heart of Obama's base. Now, where is this change that they can believe in? Where is the commitment he had made to his voters? Without a public option, there can be no real change and the insurance companies will remain in control of a system that excludes millions of Americans.
Withdrawing his promise to fight for the public option has angered millions of Obama supporters . Too many of them remember his words, "Any plan that I sign must include a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest"? Will the American people speak up to remind the President of his commitment? Before they can hope to find a way of keeping the insurance companies honest, they must first find a way of keeping their President true to his promises. Has President Obama lost his way in the gauntlet laid down by special interests and Washington politics?