I Don’t Care About Olympia Snowe – Let me clarify that. I have nothing against Ms. Snowe, I think she is a smart woman who has courage of her convictions and I wish her the best. Its her vote I don’t care that much about. This weekend I heard that while Harry Reid has apparently joined the mainstream and is pushing for a strong public health care option, White House staff has been pushing for a trigger option that might appease Olympia Snowe. If this is true, I don’t get it. Why is President Obama so set on the notion of bipartisanship? Since he has taken office, the Republicans have done nothing but say “No”. I applaud the Administration for taking so much time in trying to get bipartisan solutions to some of the major issues facing us as Americans today, but the time has come to stop.
When George Bush barely won the popular vote for his second term in 2004, his Administration was quick to claim the victory as a mandate to advance his stated agenda. If that was the case, then Obama’s landslide victory in 2008 was a demand from Americans to move this country in a new direction. Obama has made a great start of that, despite constant opposition from Republicans. The health care debate is a prime example. Even after amendment after amendment being added to the Senate Finance Committee bill, not a single Republican voted for it, except Snowe, whose “yes” vote was accompanied by a disclaimer reminding us that she probably will not do that again. And this is who Obama gives a shout-out to after the Bill passesd?
For now I’m going to give the President the benefit of the doubt. After all, much of what has happened in the last few weeks of the health care debate has been surprising, since many people considered the public option dead. With White House support, now we’re arguing over what version will probably make it into law. For my vote, I’ll stick with the “robust” option the House has been pushing. As a small business owner, citizen and father I think it’s the best chance we have of significantly lowering costs and covering millions more people. If the White House is really advocating another version, I’d like to hear why. If it’s a sound reason, great! However if it’s just to get Snowe’s vote to be able to say they had “bipartisan” support, then we’re in trouble. After all, most Americans don’t run around and wonder “What would Olympia Snowe Do?”
