The Audacity of Bullshit [View All]

[AllentownJake]

It was a cool rainy spring day back in March of 2008. Senator Barack Obama was coming to Allentown to speak at Muhlenberg college and everyone was excited. I had my special "red ticket" which entitled me to a special seat at the event. I had taken the day off of work and invited my friend from Philadelphia to come up. My mother got red tickets too and she got to sit on the risers behind the President and shake his hand. A great day for the AllentownJake family and friends.

I remember the speech. Particularly the part on Healthcare. The Senator trashed the Clinton plan for including mandates and sold what would become to be known as the public option. I knew the plan well. I went door to door and organized a team of volunteers for the Senator. I remember explaining to people why Single Payer now would be too soon. I remember ruthlessly trashing the Clinton plan for the mandates. I remember selling the public option but it wasn't called the public option back than that I can remember. I even recall calling mandates a gift to the insurance industry, it was a talking point of the campaign.

Flash forward to October of 2009. What is in the bill being debated, why mandates? What is the most controversial aspect of the bill that the democratic party and White House communications team can't seem to wrap up their support for or details of, the public option. Mandates the most controversial issue of the primary is the least controversial part of the current bill and the public option the least controversial aspect of the primary (both plans had one) is the most controversial part of the bill.

Oh if Hillary Clinton was still in the Senate, she'd be having a great time with this. She was beat over the head by the President and his army of volunteers myself included over mandates. Good thing she has a nice position at State where she is doing a supurb job. I always respected her, even if I preferred the Senator from Illinois.

Now, I'm getting emails from President Obama asking me to phone in support for a bill, that includes a provision he relentlessly campaigned against as a handout for the insurance industry.

Politics...ain't it fun!