The only way to get a true single-payer system is to institute public financing.

[blueclown]

One would hope that despite severely abusing the private financing system during his first presidential run, the President would make a commitment to public financing for the good of America and his re-election campaign, and then make federal public financing a plank of his late first or early second term.

The only way to get a good single-payer system is to get the insurance companies and Big Pharma out of the business of political lobbying.

Everything is connected. Please don't tell me public financing is way down the list on Obama's priorities. It shouldn't be.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Durbin's bill, S.752, has three co-sponsors. All in tough 2010 campaigns.

Bernie Sanders has not signed on to this bill--perhaps for good reason?

S.752

Title: A bill to reform the financing of Senate elections, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard (introduced 3/31/2009) Cosponsors (3)

Related Bills: H.R.1826

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

COSPONSORS(3), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)

Sen Dodd, Christopher J. - 5/14/2009
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - 5/18/2009
Sen Specter, Arlen - 3/31/2009

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. How did Obama "severely abuse" private financing in his election campaign?

[blueclown]

3. Bundlers raised a significant amount of money for his campaign.

[Occam Bandage]

4. Bundlers are perfectly legal and have been used for decades. nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. How is this different from any other candidate?

[Occam Bandage]

6. Not gonna happen. The Dems finally figured out how to raise more than the pubs.

Besides, all that public financing would do is massively increase the role of 527s.

[Oregone]

7. True, but they also raised it from a bunch of motivated people

And if the people are less motivated the next time around... (from lack of health care or two perpetual wars)

[flpoljunkie]

8. Our money and 'boots on the ground' would definitely harm the Dems chances in 2010.

If they think they can finesse healthcare reform, without a viable public option, they may well be in for a rude awakening.