Joe Conason on our 'centrist' Dems: Masking Inaction with Drivel

[flpoljunkie]

November 23, 2009

Masking Inaction with Drivel
By Joe Conason

The puzzling thing about politicians of either party who claim to be "centrist" or "moderate" is how much they sometimes sound like party-line right-wing Republicans. Distinguishing among these species of politicians can be almost impossible during the current struggle over health care reform, especially when a senator like Blanche Lambert Lincoln of Arkansas tries to explain herself.

Like so many of the Republicans they try to emulate, the conservative Democrats claim to worry about spending and deficits -- except with respect to programs that benefit them, their favorite constituents or the lobbyists who pay their campaign expenses.

Facing re-election and plummeting poll numbers, Lincoln voted to commence debate last weekend. But then she turned around and warned that she would probably join a Republican filibuster against the Democratic health reform bill. Why? Because the Democratic legislation, favored by a clear majority, is likely to include a public option.

Last July, Lincoln published an essay on the op-ed page of the largest daily paper in Arkansas that stated clearly why a public option should be part of a broader reform plan: "Individuals should be able to choose from a range of quality health insurance plans. Options should include private plans as well as a quality, affordable public plan or non-profit plan that can accomplish the same goals as those of a public plan." That makes perfect sense in her state, where Blue Cross–Blue Shield controls 75 percent of the insurance market, and throughout much of the South, where similar monopoly conditions prevail.

more...

http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/masking-inaction-drivel?page=all

[Cha]

1. Rec'd for Joe Conason!

Thanks~

[avaistheone1]

2. Great article.

Conason does a nice job taking the faux centrists to task.

[HughMoran]

3. Lincoln and other Dem traitors are idiots

Kick them to the curb.

[tularetom]

4. When it's a choice between serving her constituents or saving her ass

I think it's pretty easy to predict which way Lincoln is going to go.

[pundaint]

5. Worthy voters would not allow those goals to be divergent.