Republicans splintering on public option!..a prominent Republican came out in support...

[ProSense]

Republicans splintering on public option!

by itskevin

Did you notice that a prominent Republican came out in support of a public insurance plan over the weekend?

<...>

It's Olympia Snowe - sensible Republican from the great state of Maine.

The New Republic reports that Snowe addressed an HCAN rally over the weekend, and had this to say:

Congress must implement long overdue insurance market reforms such as the guaranteed issue of a policy for every American and no refusal or adverse pricing of policies on the basis of health status or gender. We also must insure that those plans include a very strong benefit package, from preventative services to comprehensive medical benefits. And offering extra assistance to families who need help in affording a plan must be part and parcel of any legislation.

I believe that the reforms we are creating will result in more competitive, affordable and innovative options for Mainers, yet we can all agree that we must not leave universal access to chance. That is why I also support a public plan which must be available from day one.

So I urge all of you here today to join me in partnership to secure for our nation that which every other developed nation already embraces, the provision of health security for all of its citizens. The time has long come, and I promise you I will continue to work to move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Now, it's possible that Snowe's idea of a public plan is much less potent than many of us would like. But at least she's seriously considering our proposals, and is open to supporting them in some form. I'm also impressed that her commitment to reform seems genuine and deep (e.g. "move heaven and earth") - and unlike some other "centrists" whose motives are questionable, she seems to have a record of meaning what she says.

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[Thrill]

1. WOW

.

[Kingofalldems]

2. Blue Dog(s) now in a state of shock!

A repub now supporting what they won't.

[BlooInBloo]

3. I'll be damned. It really is just a game of chicken.

[Soylent Brice]

23. not to be arrogant,

but i've been saying that for a couple of months now.

all along it's looked like a big ass expensive and time consuming game of chicken.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. She's smart enough to want tobe on the right side of history nt

[HopeOverFear]

5. there ya go

[babylonsister]

6. Great news on her support of the public plan! nt

[Peacetrain]

7. Just wonderful.. wonderful!!! NT

[JimWis]

8. Good news. Let's hope it spreads to other Republicans.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

9. Sweetness.

[firedupdem]

10. Excellent n/t

[Arkana]

11. Holy shit!

Snowe's on board? If that's true, the Republicans will try to kick her out.

[Odin2005]

12. They are CRACKING! Keep up the pressure!!!

CALL CONGRESS RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!! :D

[yellowcanine]

13. NIce but not that surprising. Olympia Snowe is one of the few remaining moderate Rs. I would not

make too much of it. Unfortunately it appears that there are more conservative Democrats than moderate Republicans, at least in the House.

[City Lights]

14. Thank you Senator Snowe!

:patriot:

:toast:

Recommended.

[saltpoint]

15. It's a rare moment when I have anything nice to say about any Republican, but

Olympia Snowe is a class act.

I like her.

I don't think much of her political party.

But I like her a lot.

[Arkana]

21. She'd be a better Democrat than some Democrats.

I don't know why she won't join us.

[Egnever]

26. Agreed

I dont always agree with her but sheems to be very sensible most of the time when i hear her talk. There have been times where she dug her feet into the ground and spouted the rupublican line but on average she comes across as one of the better senators. Always thoughfull in here questions and rarely doing the grandstanding so many on either side seem to want to do.

She would make a decent Dem.

[saltpoint]

27. I'd welcome her. If it had to be a trade, I'd be willing to give up

Ben Nelson or Evan Bayh!

[Arkana]

28. I'll give up Nelson.

He's actively talking about sabotaging Obama. Bayh is bad, but he has no spine, meaning Rahm can wedgie him into voting our way.

[saltpoint]

29. Evan's seat is safe, so far as that goes, so I think you're right --

Obama could make an offer through Rahm that could win him over. It would be a coup to get Lugar to sign on, too. That's a bit of a long shot, but what a feather in the cap it would be.

Nelson it is. I'd even help him pack and drive him to the bus station!

[DrToast]

16. Suckers...

Snowe’s version of this “public option,” as it is more commonly known, would be available in states where private insurance companies fail to offer an acceptable range of affordable plans.

[Inuca]

18. Why is this such a horrible thing? n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

24. Because it bears as much resemblance to a true public option

As the BK triple Whopper does to a Vegan diet.

"Hey... look there's lots of vegetables here! Lettuce, pickles, tomatoes. The bun's made from wheat, that's a plant. Ketchup is a vegetable, Ronald Reagan said so. What more do you ideological purists want????"

[camera obscura]

20. And yet that still makes her more sensible than several of our "Democrats".

[Laelth]

17. They secretly want it.

Who wouldn't want a national mandate that forced every person in America to buy your product, or face criminal sanctions if they didn't? Schumer up and admitted that the Democratic Party intended to give the insurance industry 40 million new customers. The insurance industry is giddy. They want this bill to pass.

The Republicans, for their part, have to appease their base. The ones in more conservative districts have to oppose, on principle, anything a Democrat does just to appeal to their rabid base, but, secretly, they know their real masters (the insurance companies) want this bill to go through.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed public health system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[AzDar]

19. Putting the Blue Dogs to shame.

:thumbsup:

[backscatter712]

22. Blue Cross Democrats, that is...

Right now, Obama has the House Blue Dogs in a fireside chat with him...

That is, the Blue Dogs sit in the fire, and Obama sits to the side and chats with them. :evilgrin:

[sofa king]

25. Maine, we could use your Senators.

Why not encourage them to cross the aisle? They're not doing you any good as members of the most criminal party in our nation's history. But we could shut that party right the hell up and send about three quarters of them to prison with just a few more votes in the Senate.