We Have Some Real Challenges Ahead!! So Game Faces On Everyone!! The Real Battle Starts Now!!

I don't know what Rick Scott is so confident about but it scares me.  According to this article from politico, Rick Scott the leading liar (I mean spokesman) for the insurance industry he says the public option is doomed.  From the article: "I am very confident, after meetings on the Hill this week, that if Congress does not pass a health care bill with the public option before Labor Day, the public option is dead."  

Rick Scott vowed to use the August recess to step it up:

"We must meet them head on and continue with ads, news events (particularly in the grassroots), media appearances, etc, to finish off the public option, which is no option at all as it would be devastating to patients, our economy and our health care system."

This guy is a fraud.  Just google Rick Scott fraud and you'll see what I'm talking about.  It gets worse.  According to an article from firedoglake.com,  http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/07/23/baucus-snow-enzi-bipartisan-deal-close-in-finance-committee/

"According to sources familiar with negotiations on the Senate Finance committee, there is a "bipartisan" deal in the works between Baucus, Enzi and Snowe that will not include a public plan, which could pass in the next couple days.  It will include John Kerry's plan to tax insurance companies on their most expensive plans (those valued at over $25,000 a year). 

Sources indicate that this is all expected to move quickly -- although the situation is still extremely fluid, it could happen in the next few days." 

If I could I would say this to Obama and Reid:

"Is sacrificing the heart of healthcare reform really worth it just to get Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to vote for it so you can claim 'bipartisanship?'"

Those of you who watched Obama's press conference last night will notice he didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement to the public option.  He didn't even mention it in his opening remarks (when he laid out the most important aspects of reform).  He only discussed when someone asked him about it.  Same thing at his town hall today!  Is it any coincidence that the day after Obama's critical press conference on healthcare in which he doesn't emphasize the need for a public option, Baucus and Reid totally screw us over (see story above)?  Let me get back to my original point for this thread.  

The delay of healthcare reform by Reid (and maybe Pelosi but I'm not sure) is bad because it means the momentum has been broken and the insurance companies will spend the next five weeks with misleading and scary ad campaigns designed to intimidate Americans into calling their Congressmen and asking them to eliminate the public option.  They'll also spend millions more lining Baucus's pockets (not that he needs convincing) and other key leaders and wining and dining them (in case you didn't know Baucus has what some have referred to as 'Camp Baucus' where he's been having healthcare lobbyists to his mansion in Montana for hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding and catered food, Baucus said to one of the lobbyists-actual quote- "fun for the whole family" at least he doesn't have a conflict of interest) to water down or kill the public option.  Now is the time everyone!!  Go to StandwithDr.Dean.com and find the office number for your rep./Sen. and let them know you support nothing less than a robust public option available to every American on day one (or A.S.A.P!).  These next five weeks will determine the future of healthcare in America for generations to come.  Be as involved as possible because the insurance companies will stop at nothing to kill the public plan!!