Despite having the support of 72% of the American public, a robust public health care option is looking less and less likely by the day.
Sadly, the main figures who will likely end up blocking the plan are actually not Republicans, but a small handful of Blue Dog conservative Democrats in the Senate.
Given that fact, you'd think that President Obama would be ratcheting up the political pressure on those few obstructionists. Trying to get them to support his plan. But instead, he appears to be setting his sights on a different target. His supporters.
The Washington Post reported that Obama "complained that liberal advocacy groups ought to drop their attacks on Democratic lawmakers and devote their energy to promoting passage."
He then went on to say:
"We shouldn't be focusing resources on each other... We ought to be focused on winning this debate."
Except the problem is, the people that need convincing, are the same people Obama is protecting. We don't have to convince the Republicans in the House or Senate. We don't have to convince the public. The public already wants it. We have to convince these few Conservadem clowns who are in the pocket of the insurance industry.
So, why would Obama use his resources to attack those who are fighting for him? There is, in fact, a perfectly rational explanation. That man is not Barack Obama and this is not our world. Clearly, he is BizarrObama, and we have obviously entered the Bizarro World. Don't believe me? Just take a look at the following press conference.
That has to be it, right? Why else would you attack those who are fighting for you, while giving a free pass to those who are fighting against you?
The only other explanation is that Obama, as a politician, is not willing to take the lead on what was supposed to be one of the signature goals of his administration.
Advisers like Rahm Emanuel operate out of fear -- like it's 1994 -- instead of operating like people who just won a huge mandate in 2008. They obviously haven't mastered the bully pulpit yet, which is a shame since Obama is a master communicator. If Obama insisted on the public option and held rallies in Montana, Nebraska, and Louisiana, it would happen.
The sad fact is, if Obama is not willing to fight for this, he's probably not going to fight for anything. Which is all the more reason for liberals, progressives, and advocates not to cease our attacks, but make them louder. You want us to stop? Mr. President, we want you to start.