Four gutless Dems kill single-payer in California

[phantom power]

If the drama of the first two years of the Obama presidency is any indication, it's obvious that single-payer healthcare won't be coming at a national level any time soon. Fortunately, however, individual states can carry the torch where the national system is too corrupt to do so. While single-payer has passed in Vermont, the real reforms will come when big states with negotiating leverage enact it and begin to drive costs down in a big way while expanding and ameliorating coverage. California seemed like the likeliest big state to begin this process: after all, Governor Schwarzenegger twice vetoed a single-payer bill that had made its way through the legislature. So with Jerry Brown in office, it seemed reasonable to expect that the same bill would make it to the Governor's desk for a signature.

...

The problem is the gutless Democrats in blue districts who have nothing to lose by voting against single-payer healthcare when there's actually a chance of passing it, except for the wrath of insurance companies if they go for higher office. But rather than voting for or against the bill, they simple abstained, in the most gutless move possible. jpmassar at DailyKos has a rundown of who they are and their contact information:

Senator Alex Padilla (Pacoima/LA area)
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Senator Juan Vargas (San Diego area)
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Senator Michael Rubio (Fresno/Bakersfield area)
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

Senator Rod Wright (Los Angeles area)
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


Some of them have tougher districts than others; Padilla, for instance, is utterly inexcusable as he's in a solid blue district. But it doesn't matter. Regardless of how tough the district, and even if one grants the unlikely theory that taking a "yea" vote on single-payer would be career suicide, this issue above all is a bill to fall on one's sword for. The opportunity to really and truly pass single-payer healthcare is why one gets into Democratic politics. It's the equivalent of taking the game-winning shot at the buzzer in Game 7 of the finals, or kicking the winning field goal in the Super Bowl. And these sniveling cowards didn't just miss the shot; they didn't even pull the trigger.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/four-gutless-dems-kill-single-payer-in.html

[RC]

1. Why do we continue to assume that just because they have a (D) by their names, they are Democrats?

We need to get over this fiction.

[xchrom]

3. +1

[RKP5637]

8. Exactly my thoughts as I read this. Often R=D, we are misled by the

name tags. We have some supposedly D's around here that run as politicians in primaries that are more RW than the RW republicans, yet they have a D by their name.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. This^

[phantom power]

10. I'm hard pressed to think of any core requirements for Dem membership

[xchrom]

2. ...

so what's the profile on their campaign contributions look like?

who have they been having lunch or dinner with?

what's the list look like that has been visiting their offices?

[tabatha]

4. Fresno/Bakersfield area

Is that not where the Freeper center is?

[uponit7771]

5. It looks like they're are close, just have to work on the paid off dems

[kctim]

6. So you are saying

elected officials should not represent those who voted for them?

[2ndAmForComputers]

15. So you are saying

every vote by a legislator is proper representation of their constituents? And an opposite vote would not be?

[ZombieHorde]

7. Healthcare is one of the main pillars of Democratic philosophy.

I rarely use this term, but they're DINOs.

[Citizen Worker]

11. Another example of why working people must have a party of our own instead of having to rely on

Business Party #2 to do what is right.

[Jester Messiah]

12. They're not gutless, they're just bought. [nt]

[Broderick]

13. Sadly I believe

it takes mere thousands to buy off a politician.

I kinda know.


But, it affects MILLIONS.

[phantom power]

14. I think the "gutless" comment was because they abstained...

as in, they didn't even have the courage to vote "no"

[Fantastic Anarchist]

16. Fuck them.