There are many things I don't understand about contemporary U. S. politics. Perhaps someone can explain this one to me. No matter how much damage the Democratic loose cannons in the Baucus "we work for the health insurance companies" caucus do to President Obama's struggle to reform health insurance coverage, he never calls them out. But at the same time he throws the embattled New York State Gov. Patterson to the wolves . In addition to the fact that Patterson is one of only two Black governors currently serving (Massachusetts's Deval Patrick is the other) and he will almost surely be replaced by a white man - Democrat or Republican - it would seem that a Democratic president would support a Democratic governor.
So why are the extreme right-wing obstructionist Blue Dog Senate Democrats untouchable, while Patterson (in current media parlance) gets thrown under the bus? Any answers?
2 comments:
Hey, Democrats! Although I left your silly party over a decade ago, my heart is still essentially with your platform and agenda. That being said, I would ask all of you to think of me as Dr. Degan, your loving and trusted family veterinarian. After a complete and thorough examination of your beloved pets, it grieves me to offer you this final diagnosis:
Your Blue Dogs must be put to sleep.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Two things are getting mixed together, I think. Let's separate Obama and the Congress re Health Care and the politics of NYS, including Gov. Paterson. (Note:one
t in Paterson, which is right in the
tags.)
See the criticism of Obama in re
health care legislation on Black Agenda Report, by Bruce A. Dixon,
several articles going back several weeks, at least.
www.blackagendareport.com
Obama was for single payer when
running for IL state senate or already in it, as seen on video on Black Agenda Report and other places. Obama as President is not for single payer, not anything that means real change in health care for all - except possibly giving more money to the health industry via grants to low income people to buy the rotten insurance.
(I listened to his recent speech
very carefully - including his saying "no federal money for abortion" and "people are best able to negotiate with health insurance companies on premiums" (the latter is close, very close).
The President is moderate to Right. No change.
I have been in David Paterson's district since he got into the
NYS Senate. I remember when he
voted to end the commuter tax. (I
even called Shelly Silver's office in support of Paterson's becoming minority leader in the NYS Senate,
way back when.) I voted for Paterson for NYS Senator every time. He did a few things that
really bother me:
When ADAPT (www.adapt.org) and
other groups protested cuts to Medicaid, Gov. Paterson said, "I don't care how many people in wheelchairs you roll out, I'm not
changing my mind.".
He appointed a conservative to fill the NYS Senate seat of Hillary
Clinton.
The irony is that Gov. Paterson is no liberal now. Like Pres. Obama, he said good things. What's he done that's good for regular folks in NYS?
Pres. Obama has not delivered
change for the good. I did vote for
Obama (as did 79% of my fellow and sister Jews), but I don't think I shall again.
Post a Comment