MSNBC Countdown Ripping Obama Unhelpful #p2 #hcr #politics

Lawrence O’Donnell sitting in for Keith Olbermann on MSNBC’s Countdown gave a very hard hitting attack on President Obama’s statement that he never campaigned on the Public Option as well as his current support for both taxes on Cadillac insurance programs and a mandate which he campaigned against. While O’Donnell is correct for exposing these, his exposé lacked the nuance that every president must adopt in order to get policies through Congress.

By no stretch of the imagination is the current bill the bill most of us progressives and liberals want. Given the structure of the Senate it is likely close to the only bill we can get. While I was of the false opinion that the President did not work as hard as he could for the public option or a Medicare buy in, upon reflection I believe he did but simply had to take the best he could get. After all, which Senator wants to have his constituency see him overtly pushed around by the President.

Instead of riling up our left flank, it would be more productive if we give the President a watchful pass on this bill since it would be a historic advance towards Universal Healthcare for all. Coalescing now and starting the fight for modification while educating the average American going forward should be the task at hand.