California Nurses Association: Shame on Obama for Not Pushing Single Payer

[brentspeak]

http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=899

Shame on President Obama for not pushing for single payer.

The Republicans have the courage of their convictions.

The Democrats don’t.

The AFL-CIO acts like Democrats in the Senate — their constituencies support single payer, but they don’t push for it.

And the SEIU is still an obstacle to single payer.

That’s the take of Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the California Nurses Association.

In an interview with Single Payer Action on June 2, DeMoro (as usual) pulled no punches.

(See video of complete Interview with Rose Ann DeMoro here.)

“The Republicans actually have the courage of their convictions and the Democrats don’t,” DeMoro told Single Payer Action. “So (the Democrats) support single payer but they don’t act on it. In effect they act against it by virtue of the fact that won’t even demand a policy debate on it. There is a conspiracy of silence — no question about it. This isn’t by accident that single payer — that everyone supports it but it’s not on the agenda. They think they can ignore it.”

DeMoro and her California Nurses Association just buried the hatchet after a bitter feud with Andy Stern and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Any agreement on single payer between the nurses and SEIU?

“Yes, they’ll support the fight for the state option on single payer,” DeMoro said. “They’ll acknowledge that single payer is the best option. In terms of day-to-day work, they don’t work with us on single payer and in fact we found the organization (SEIU) to be an obstacle in the fight for single payer.”

DeMoro said she’s disappointed in Obama, who once supported single payer, but now as President has backed away.

“The difference between Obama and a lot of these folks is that he actually deeply knows the difference,” DeMoro said. “He’s experienced the difference. A lot of these people here in this building (Congress) come from the upper middle class and have always had medical care. Obama had a different history. He’s felt the difference. And for him not to act on this and for him not to take leadership — this is just a lack of leadership. The Republicans are going to fight a public option as hard as single payer. . .The truth of the matter is, Obama should have led - we should have been following Obama on this issue instead of pushing him. So we’re horribly disappointed in the fact that he hasn’t done this. And we’re going to turn up the heat. Everywhere he goes there are single payer activists. There is no political action for keeping the insurance industry at the apex of power with an underfunded public option. I mean that’s ridiculous, it’s just ridiculous. So, you know — shame on him.”

[babylonsister]

1. Bully for you! You found another criticism. nt

[grantcart]

5. Its nice to have a hobby.

[dflprincess]

9. You neglected to suggest the nurses would be happier

if McCain were president :sarcasm:

That's the usual response when someone has the nerve to question Obama.

[omega minimo]

17. Arnold Schwarzenripoff would be happier if those dang nurses weren't around!!

:rofl: :bounce:

[nichomachus]

11. Sadly -- finding something to complain about is getting easier and easier

with each passing day.

Buyer's remorse is a bitch.

The way to stop it is to actually do something that benefits the grassroots people who came out to vote for him, instead of the corporations who stuffed his pockets.

[omega minimo]

19. "way to stop it: actually do something that benefits the grassroots who came out to vote for him"

"The way to stop it is to actually do something that benefits the grassroots people who came out to vote for him, instead of the corporations who stuffed his pockets."

Oh no you di n't!! :spray:

Maybe some of the voters anticipated the corporate control of Capitol Hill even more than Obama did. Wonder what it was like when he got "the talk"? Hillary or Bill might have warned him.

[frylock]

12. you sure are consistent with managing to get the first post in..

all the while having nothing to contribute but the same tired bullshit.

[babylonsister]

22. And your post was chock full of contributions!

:rofl:

I just know what to expect from the OP, and he never fails to deliver.

And ftr, nothing has been decided yet, so all the knee jerk complaining is baloney.

[Jakes Progress]

49. You often throw up

the "nothing has been decided" defense.

Could you tell me how you will react if we get a big old pharma/insurance company wet kiss of a health care plan? How will you react once things have been decided if the decision screws the public in favor of the insurance industry?

Would you like to tell us or should we check back later?

[Better Believe It]

23. He/She stalks people on this board that they don't agree with.

[mkultra]

44. do you know this because youve been watching her?

Are you stalking a stalker?

[omega minimo]

15. Please don't overlook the issue or their dedication & hard work due to a perceived slight.

Their dedication & hard work on behalf of all Americans. :thumbsup:

[Better Believe It]

21. Why are you attacking the nurses and their union? Leave that up to the Republicans!

They don't need your help.

[Cleita]

2. The nurses have been tireless in promoting this.

They deserve a prize and recognition when this struggle is finally over.

[EFerrari]

54. One of their reps was on Amy's show today.

I'm sorry, don't remember her title but she may have been the CEO.

This is the clip with Bernie Sanders and Rose Ann Demaro:

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/9/sen_bernie_sanders_and_nurses_union

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Thanks to the Nurses for their tireless work

as professionals and as advocates for not for profit health care!

[slipslidingaway]

4. "...we found the organization (SEIU) to be an obstacle in the fight for single payer.”

:(

[avaistheone1]

52. The single payer organization locally said SEIU has been a thorn in their side too.

:thumbsdown:

[truedelphi]

6. It begins with our vote locally. As long as we ONLY vote for lawyers and

Others of that mindset, we will never get the real activists that we need in positions of power.

How many nurses would get voted into a local position if they ever were to choose to run?

"The truth of the matter is, Obama should have led - we should have been following Obama on this issue instead of pushing him. So we’re horribly disappointed in the fact that he hasn’t done this.
"And we’re going to turn up the heat. Everywhere he goes there are single payer activists. There is no political action for keeping the insurance industry at the apex of power with an underfunded public option. I mean that’s ridiculous, it’s just ridiculous. So, you know — shame on him.”

[asphalt.jungle]

7. Then they should have been just as active on the campaign trail

supporting a candidate that would champion single payer. This is no different than some republicant complaining about Obama's tax policies when he campaigned on doing just that. But in fairness to them they were actively campaigning for a candidate that would enact the kind of tax policies they agreed with.

[slipslidingaway]

8. Video is also in the PV forum, could use some recs as well...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=321862&mesg_id=321862

[Thrill]

10. They knew Obama's healthcare plan throughout the campaign

It was on his website then and its still up there now. He never was for single payer as a Presidential candidate.

Single Payer isn't going to pass Congress. Its a losing battle.

[paulk]

16. so that means people shouldn't advocate for it?

what's your point?

that we should all just sit on our hands?

damn glad those that fought for civil rights, voting rights, etc., did not have your attitude.

[LWolf]

43. So did I.

I adamantly opposed his nomination, and saw it as a huge loss for the nation.

I still do see it as a huge loss, all the way around.

When I protested his platform during the GE, DU told me to "first help him win, then go after him on policy."

Of course, when we do that, now it's "we knew his plan throughout the campaign."

[avaistheone1]

55. When was the moment that Obama went from passionate advocate of single payer

to his bland health care plan? And more importantly why?


Obama certainly did not win the presidency based on the health care plan he was offering up.

[omega minimo]

13. “The difference b/w Obama and a lot of these folks is that he actually deeply knows the difference"

The CA Nurses Assoc are at the forefront (like the doctors arrested in D.C.) of universal health care for years.

:yourock:

[vaberella]

14. As a side note---did HRC push single payer during the primaries?

I don't remember that being the case. Would we still be receiving the same amount of complaints I wonder? In any event...Obama always pushed a public option during campaign.

[paulk]

18. ah, the argument of last resort!

:rofl:

[omega minimo]

20. "A" public option. Just not the one most people want, the one that he advocated in 2003

[vaberella]

30. Yeah. 2003 was not the primaries. Actually it's 3 years BEFORE the primaries.

That being said. You and I both know that no one in the majority of the Senate (Maybe 90%) no matter who the hell is President would allow Single Payer. If you can tell me more than 10 people in the Senate who would pass this I'd be surprised. Don't mention Congress---If it doesn't get past the Senate it's done, we all know that.

[omega minimo]

33. So what? My post stands, you can fight about the primaries if you like, not with me tho.

[avaistheone1]

56. Now that the country is in a deeper ditch than even Obama knew

before he took office, he should have the vision and the compassion to see and understand that his campaign health care plan will do little for the working and middle class of this country that have been devastated by this economy.

When things change plans should change.

Obama said that we are are the change. And single payer is what the people want. Now we need Obama to lead.

[EndElectoral]

24. I like Obama, but the timidity of not actively pushing Single Payer is a mistake

[Jennicut]

26. He is not being timid. I think he just never liked the option.

Or was his words and website during the campaign wrong?

[paulk]

27. not really,

he seems to think that it's ultimately the best way to go.

http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2008/01/05/fact_check_obama_consistent_in.php

"If Obama Were Starting From Scratch, He Would Support A Single Payer System. Obama said, "Here's the bottom line. If I were designing a system from scratch I would probably set up a single-payer system...But we're not designing a system from scratch...And when we had a healthcare forum before I set up my healthcare plan here in Iowa there was a lot of resistance to a single-payer system. So what I believe is we should set up a series of choices....Over time it may be that we end up transitioning to such a system. For now, I just want to make sure every American is covered...I don't want to wait for that perfect system...The one thing you should ask about the candidates though is who's gonna have the capacity to actually deliver on the change?...I believe I've got a better capacity to break the gridlock and attract both Independents and Republicans to work together." <http://iowa.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/Ames>"

[Jennicut]

35. Right, if it was from scratch. Its not going to be.

He does not want to try single payer right now, it has no votes to pass. Actually, I think we have no votes to pass anything but crap.

This is pretty much why health care has always failed, the industry is near impossible to take on.

[paulk]

40. it's his job to get the votes...

It's his job to lead - to lead the American people, and through them the Congress, to what he knows is right, and that's single payer. So far his lack of leadership on healthcare may cost him even a public option, and if he loses that he will have failed at the issue the majority of the people who voted for him put at number one...

[Jennicut]

41. It was not the # 1 issue, the economy was

Now one can argue that health care costs hurt the economy but it was not the # 1 issue.
Also, when Congress is bought and paid for by big industries (in every aspect: foreign autos, health insurance, pharma, banking, etc.) there is not much a President can do except buy votes himself with more favors (sounds lovely, doesn't it?) or twist arms Dick Cheney style (so much for separation of powers). Face it, the Senate is a millionarie's club and its been running this way long before Obama came and will be that way long after he leaves.
I am for the public option but many here seem to want to fight the wrong people or give up altogether if they do not get exactly what they want. Obama is pushing against years of entrenched ways. Very very few of our Senators vote the way they do out of some moral code. Maybe Sanders, Feingold, Boxer, Kennedy. Like I said, very few. They could care less about the "people". What they need is to be scared into voting a certain way. The public needs to put pressure on them but I see the public as very split on what kind of health care they want. Some want single payer, some want some kind of public option, some want incremental changes. Now I do agree its up to Obama to pick an option and go all out for it.

[slipslidingaway]

37. He liked SPHC when he was running for the US Senate and

speaking to a group from the AFL-CIO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE

The reasons he gives now for not advocating for SPHC is that we are not starting from scratch...we had employer based HC and insurance companies in 2003.

:shrug:

[scheming daemons]

25. Shame on California Nurses for not paying attention to Obama's words during the campaign

[paulk]

29. in other words

they should just shut the fuck up and not advocate for what they believe in....

-----

you know - some of you more partisan Obama supporters really need to start listening to yourselves.

[vaberella]

31. Oh no they could advocate. It's just not Obama's shame as the title suggests.

It's their own for not paying attention. He advocated for Public Option...if they want the public option then advocate for that. But single payer is COMPLETELY different from Public Option.

[scheming daemons]

32. No.... they should continue to advocate...

But saying "Shame on Obama" for sticking with his campaign promises is ridiculous.


He's doing exactly what he told the voters he would do... and since he was elected, he should assume that the majority of voters agree with his platform.

[paulk]

39. it's not so much about his campaign promises

it's that he once advocated for single payer and has now backed away -

--------

"DeMoro said she’s disappointed in Obama, who once supported single payer, but now as President has backed away.

“The difference between Obama and a lot of these folks is that he actually deeply knows the difference,” DeMoro said. “He’s experienced the difference. A lot of these people here in this building (Congress) come from the upper middle class and have always had medical care. Obama had a different history. He’s felt the difference. And for him not to act on this and for him not to take leadership — this is just a lack of leadership. The Republicans are going to fight a public option as hard as single payer. . .The truth of the matter is, Obama should have led - we should have been following Obama on this issue instead of pushing him. So we’re horribly disappointed in the fact that he hasn’t done this. And we’re going to turn up the heat. Everywhere he goes there are single payer activists. There is no political action for keeping the insurance industry at the apex of power with an underfunded public option. I mean that’s ridiculous, it’s just ridiculous. So, you know — shame on him.”"



Yes, you're going to argue that there is not the political will or support for single payer, but isn't that what the bully pulpit is for? DeMoro is correct, AFAIC, about Obama's lack of leadership on the issue of healthcare. Obama is in danger of losing even the public option, and if we don't get that, the insurance companies will have won and Obama's Presidency will, in effect, have been cut off at the knees.

[mkultra]

45. The article is meant to smear Obama

It attempts to cast him as someone who both campaigned on and now has changed his position on single payer when in fact he never campaigned on it. He may at some point in time advocated for SPHC, but not during the campaign.

"DeMoro said she’s disappointed in Obama, who once supported single payer, but now as President has backed away.

whats more disappointing is people who carry water for these asshole journalists.

Fact is that MOST people are NOT in favor of SPHC. and neither am I.

[paulk]

46. there is broad support for single payer

http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html

All it needs is for a leader to take the reins.

Some of us had hoped that leader would be Barack Obama.

[mkultra]

58. yes, those polls ALL pit SPHC against our current system

It is safe to say that most people favor change from our current system. But far more people support a public option system.
here is one such poll putting support at 79%
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/poll-73-of-voters-think-h_b_173398.html

Obama didn't campaign on SPHC and he is not going to push it hard. Those of you who hoped Obama would change direction from his campaign and, frankly, from vast public support will probably just have to be let down. Im not saying you should stop advocating. in fact, i encourage you to step of the advocacy of SPHC if that's what you believe in. There is no logic, however, in doing it on the back of Obama bashing.

[EFerrari]

53. LOL

[invictus]

28. Thank you, CA nurses, for standing up for what is right!

nt

[Bodhi BloodWave]

34. Since i am curious

Is single payer the only 'right' choice, or can there be other options that works just as well?

[Jennicut]

36. Well, there are other options.

But some want single payer or bust.
I really don't have an option I totally dislike or like.

[zulchzulu]

38. In trying to get single-payer on the first attempt, we will get NOTHING

I'm for single-payer and have been for years. That said, the political realities of single-payer becoming a reality on the first round of healthcare reform is like thinking my puppy can be an astronaut.

It has to be incremental. And it's too bad if people can't see the obvious truth in that.

[grillo7]

47. Agreed. We should advocate for a real and strong public option instead. n/t

[LWolf]

42. CNA gets it right. nt

[BlooInBloo]

48. (shrug) Obama agrees it's better. He just doesn't think we can get there from here...

Maybe he's wrong, but I don't see anything particularly *shaming* about it.

[AtomicKitten]

50. Their message would have been better served without the shaming. n/t

[avaistheone1]

57. Who was shamed when single payer was not invited to the White House Consortium on health care?

Who was shamed when the single payer was not invited to the table at the Senate Finance Committee meetings? Who was shamed when the doctors and nurses made their voices known they wanted to be represented at the table, and as a result were promptly arrested?

[asteroid2003QQ47]

51. Ya gotta love the nurses!

The time has arrived to help millions of Americans living without a full measure of opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health . . .
and protection . . . against the economic effects of sickness.
--Harry S. Truman, September 19, 1945