Rep. Kucinich Officially Changes His Support On the Current HCR Bill

[berni_mccoy]

In his presser just now, Kucinich announces his reasons for switching to a Yes.

Paraphrasing:

/begin paraphrase
Health Care Reform has an urgent need. I've taken this fight further than anyone else and as far as I can. I take HCR personally. It's become clear that the vote on the final HCR Bill will be very close. I take this vote with the utmost seriousness. The bill will be a minimum recognition of the need for HCR in the context of a for-profit system. I have doubts about the bill, it is not the bill I wanted to support, even as I work to the last minute to modify the bill.

I have decided to count my vote in favor of passage.
/end paraphrase

Well said sir, and I thank you, not only for taking the fight as far as you have, but also for your support.

[NYC_SKP]

1. We have to start somewhere.

We have to start somewhere.

I don't know what part of that people can't understand.

Thank you Dennis for all you do and for coming around to do the right thing.

And thanks for the news, berni.

:kick:

[zipplewrath]

22. The part where 15 year old GOP ideas are "progressive"

"I don't know what part of that people can't understand."

It's the part where 15 year old GOP ideas are being represented as a "progressive advance". He has serious, doubts, I have VERY serious doubts. I'm sure he's concerned about the "Kennedy Lament" situation here. Also, as someone who is a player in the game, he still has some anticipation of being able to make significant future changes to the law in the progressive direction. Some of this see it differently, especially since we aren't players in the game and never can seem to get truly progressive bills passed. This, in the end, is the bill the insurance companies wanted, and there's a reason for that. It will keep them at the lead position in a game they want to play. I'm sure that Dennis is aware that he may become a new kind of lament, the kind that let the trojan horse in.

[NYC_SKP]

24. We can only do what we can do with this congress, and breaking the ice is progress.

Finding a chink, any chink, in the armor and changing the inertia is what counts.

The boulder at rest which has been HCR is about to experience momentum.

[zipplewrath]

37. This isn't HCR

This is the concern of many, and we become more concerned as the supporters continue to avoid this distinction. This is NOT health CARE reform. It is the health insurance stimulus act. This bill, as Dennis mentioned, does little to address the increasing cost of health CARE. It barely does anything to address the increasing cost of health INSURANCE. Mostly, what it does in great DETAIL is to MANDATE the purchase of health INSURANCE.

You call in a chink in the armor, many of us see it as increasing the thickness. This bill codifies into law the role of health insurance companies in the business of health care. It demands, by law, that everyone acknowledge and participate in that business. The "bolder" is about to get a whole bunch of flying buttresses installed to keep it EXACTLY where it is.

[Maru Kitteh]

45. Right now, insurance is a big part of our healthcare systems so YES, it is HCR.

[zipplewrath]

47. It will be now

This bill ensures that the insurance companies will be the ONLY conduit between us and the health care system. Quite a progressive accomplishment.

[NJmaverick]

2. Dennis thank you for finally doing the right thing

and thank you President Obama for being the adult and doing what it took to make Dennis happy and get his vote for the historic and important bill.

[BeFree]

3. Well

Who ever doubted that Kooch would stand against true progress?
What idiots were those?

Sure, it could be better, but then we could all live scott-free of bad things, but we don't. It's called reality and the fight for better is what makes us progressives, and that's what the Kooch is doing, fighting for progress, all day, everyday.

Kooch speaks for me more than most. Thanks, Dennis.

[SoxFan]

4. 3...2...1...

[KittyWampus]

13. your icon goes where a stale cliche can no longer reach!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

26. +1

[WI_DEM]

5. I can't wait to see the faces of the republicans, insurance companies, media--all who have fought

this so hard when HCR becomes the law of the land.

[Nikki Stone1]

6. He was humiliated by the president yesterday, and we don't know what they did behind the scenes

Kucinich was a better man than the rotten bastards who are betraying us.

[berni_mccoy]

7. Oh Bullshit. Get over it. He was HONORED by the President yesterday.

And the President used reason to bring Dennis around.

[dionysus]

9. are you huffing glue? obama spoke highly of him!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluerthanblue]

16. bullshit- He isn't being 'forced' to do anything, any more than any

of us who don't like this bill, but still support it are.

He is making a choice to do what he can to change a system that desperately needs changing.
It's a BEGINNING- And he won't stop fighting to make this reform BETTER.

I respect his decision, and look forward to his continued efforts to improve the lives of everyone.

:hi:

[Ikonoklast]

21. What planet are you from?

Dennis will probably have a nice box of goodies to bring back to the people of his district, and President Obama was very gracious in his remarks concerning Rep.Kucinich.

Dennis realizes that the perfect is the enemy of the good...do you?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

30. So he's a liberal stalwart who caved because Obama mentioned him?

:rofl:

[sufrommich]

33. I don't think Kucinich gives a shit about "humiliation". He

works for a constituency in Ohio. Are you inferring that something "was done" to Kucinich behind the scenes?If so, like what?

[Maru Kitteh]

46. He's a martyr! He's JESUS! He's Che! He's a victim! He's

a politician. Who wudda thunk it?

[liquid diamond]

8. The guy has been pissing me off for months over this issue,

but I give him props for finally getting on board.

[NorthCarolina]

10. Yes, shame on him for trying hard to improve the legislation.

:eyes:

[liquid diamond]

19. We can do that down the road. We've been saying that for months.

[NorthCarolina]

25. Good luck with that.

Like they say...wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.

[KittyWampus]

11. Good. It's a step in the right direction. History is being made.

[HereSince1628]

15. Isn't history being made everyday? Regardless of what events happen?

I know Pelosi and the supporters of this disappointing legislation have pounded on that meme. But wouldn't a defeat on the bill be just as much a piece of history as the passing of it?

[KittyWampus]

17. This legislation is historical in nature, just as the beginning of social security was.

It isn't a meme. It's reality.

I suppose the first African American POTUS wasn't historical either for you.

[berni_mccoy]

20. LOL! wait... oh, never mind...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[bigtree]

18. his eventual acquiescence to the bill

. . . put dissenters in a new light. Kind of a lot of flak flew toward folks arguing for meaningful and important changes in the legislation. I hope there will be more consideration of those concerns the congressman has raised after he gives his vote for this effort to proceed.

[berni_mccoy]

23. That flak flew both ways bigtree.

His opposition was a source of division. And it was unnecessary. I'm glad it's over and we can get back to facts instead of hero worship.

[bigtree]

27. many of the issues he correctly raised in opposition are still valid

I think the flak against the congressman was unnecessary and short-sighted. The bill will still need 'fixing'. The process of reform shouldn't (and won't) end with the passage of this incomplete bill. In that effort, I hope the congressman's ideas, concerns, and initiatives will get more attention and support after he votes to allow the process to move forward.

[nolabear]

14. Finally. Let's Roll.

It's time to start this thing moving forward. I hope it goes far, but think it will take time and this helps remind the right that they don't OWN this country.

[Romulox]

29. "Let's Roll"? Last time I heard that phrase, things didn't work out so well...

Ummm... :hi:

[Jester Messiah]

34. It's a common phrase.

And more than that, it was used by a brave, doomed man as he rose to stop the use of the plane he was on from being used to kill his fellow Americans. Regardless of politics, I think we should all respect that, and in no case should we use his words as some sort of political shibboleth.

[GreenArrow]

38. "helps remind the right that they don't OWN this country."

No, corporations and Mammon own this country; what we see in the political sphere are by and large either their public representatives or outright dupes.

[90-percent]

28. Dennis

Dennis was my first choice for the Democratic nomination for President in 2008. Edwards was second, then, finally, Obama.

-jim

[eyepaddle]

32. That's a rather poignant statement.

I do say the reader can take whatever they may want from it.

[berni_mccoy]

40. Same with me.

[90-percent]

42. thanks

Thanks for the comments to my post above.

I knew full well when I gave money to Dennis he would not ever end up President. MSM and all our Corporate MICC overlords hate everything the guy stands for and would never allow him to become President. But, I'm a very hardcore progressive and populist and that's always been what Dennis was all about. I really wanted his message to be a part of the debate for as long as possible back in '08.

Supporting Edwards, in light of his scandals, was an obvious mistake, but he had a lot of anti-corporatist vibe and seemed to be more people oriented than corporate oriented.

I am glad to have supported and voted for Obama. I helped elect our first black President! That in itself is something all Americans should be proud of. I'm currently suffering from cognitive dissonance over the conflict between Obama's campaign rhetoric and his actions once elected.

As a Professor of Constitutional law, I thought it would be a SLAM DUNK that some of his first actions would include dismantling all the anti-constitutional stuff like the Patriot Act and wire tapping etc. That he has allowed that stuff to stand and has actually become complicit in it leads me to believe he has to stay on a short leash or he's a sociopath incapable of human empathy.

Or is he still trying to effect as much progressive change as he possibly can without getting assassinated? How long would "they" allow a reincarnated FDR to be President in this day and age, after all?

-90% Jimmy

[Orsino]

44. You are not alone.

I'm glad that Dennis has stuck around longer than Edwards.

[liberal N proud]

31. I think it was the parachute that Obama handed him on Air Force One Monday

As he flew from DC to Cleveland, maybe Obama handed him a parachute and asked him what was it going to be.

[Renew Deal]

35. His statement is what most of us are thinking..

It's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement over the status quo.

[freddie mertz]

36. I am sure it was a great struggle for him.

I don't know what I would have done under the same circumstances.

But I have no problem with his decision, and hope that maybe, just maybe, he got us something good in exchange for the switch.

[UTUSN]

39. K&R big #5!1 Thank you, Good Dem DK!1 n/t

[Scurrilous]

41. K & R

:thumbsup:

[crazyjoe]

43. flip flopper.....makes him look weak