Both Robert Reich and Paul Krugman have recently declared that Health care reform will make or break Barack Obama. They have both further argued that the only real reform must included a robust public health care plan. They offer very persuasive arguments. Which makes it very troubling to learn that Rahm Emanuel has been trying to do away with the public option.
According to the Huffington Post:
Rahm Emanuel suggested that the White House would be comfortable with legislation that had a public plan "triggered" in only by worsening economic conditions.
"The goal is to have a means and a mechanism to keep the private insurers honest," Emanuel told the Wall Street Journal. "The goal is non-negotiable; the path is" negotiable.
It was, White House aides insist, far from a commitment to a trigger option. But a source close to the administration, who has been in contact with the White House on health care matters, said that Emanuel has been "floating" the trigger compromise since January.
"Rahm's problem with this is he is on the more conservative end of the Democratic Party and he is a very political guy," the source added. "He is working for a way out without a bloody fight. The problem is he doesn't mind taking that fight to the left. And what I worry could happen is the left will just quit."
Obama, quickly tried to reassure us all that Emanuel over spoke. His statement, however, is both vague and timid. All he said was that he'd really like a public plan and hopes it happens. Not very comforting.
I am been nervous about Rahm Emanuel from the time Obama chose him as chief of staff. His unapologetic pro-Israeli occupation of Palestine, his ties to corporate lobbies, and now this!
Emanuel may have undone health care reform. He has certainly worked against the position of his boss. Perhaps Emanuel should resign or be dismissed from his position. He harmed health care reform and 50 million uninsured lives are at risk because of this.
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