Health Care Watch: President Obama v. Senator Dianne Feinstein

By GottaLaff

Here's something that puts all that media focus on the Mark Sanford affair into perspective.

"Why would (a public insurance option) drive private insurance out of business? If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care; if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical." -- President Barack Obama, June 23

I got an e-mail from the Courage Campaign. Read it please, then take action if possible:

President Obama is right, of course. But, unfortunately, it appears that Senator Dianne Feinstein may not agree with his logic.

Last night, the President went on national television to explain his plan to reform our health care system to the American public.

President Obama's plan includes a "public option" for insurance -- insurance provided by the government that will cover millions of uninsured people. According to the Wall Street Journal, 76% of Americans support a public option while a New York Times poll shows that 72% support it.

But Sen. Feinstein has not committed to supporting a public option and is now undermining President Obama's plan, speculating on CNN that the President may not have "the votes right now" to pass a bill and that "there's a lot of concern in the Democratic caucus" of the Senate.

Understandably, the media interpreted these critical comments -- by one of the most powerful members of Congress -- as a lack of support for President Obama's plan when he most needs it.

With health care reform -- and a public option -- hanging in the balance, now is the time for Sen. Feinstein to stand with President Obama, stand up for Californians, and stand against health insurance corporations.

We need to act immediately. Will you sign our letter within the next 96 hours and ask Sen. Feinstein to take a stand? Sign on before 9 a.m. on Monday and we'll deliver thousands of your signatures to the Senator's office -- and film the delivery so you can see what happens:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StandUpSenator

We're not alone in this fight. For months now, our friends at CREDO Mobile, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org, True Majority, Health Care for America Now and so many others have been pushing hard for a public option.

And now, all eyes are on Sen. Feinstein, as MoveOn.org wrote in an email to their members on Tuesday, announcing a new TV ad that will air in California:

"Her statement is a big deal: Political momentum could make or break health care reform this year. And one of the Republicans' key strategies in stopping reform is to say that it's too complicated, too hard, and will never happen.

So when a senior senator like Dianne Feinstein says on national TV that health care reform might not be possible -- at a time when every other Democratic leader is saying we can't afford NOT to fix health care this year -- it undercuts the whole effort."

We've got 96 hours to show Sen. Feinstein the depth of public support for a public option. We've got 96 hours to collect as many signatures as possible. Please sign on to our letter before 9 a.m. Monday and we'll film the delivery of your signatures -- and send the video to you ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StandUpSenator

We don't have much time to spread the word. Please sign this letter today and then tell your friends.

Thank you for asking Sen. Feinstein to stand up before it's too late.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

This is too important to ignore.