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What President Obama Didn't Say
What President Obama Didn't Say
By Dennis Kucinich | Esquire
The gentleman from Ohio — the last man standing on health care, as he put it in this conversation with Esquire.com just before Sunday's vote — reveals the personal moments behind his decision, and how the fate of a nation, if not a presidency, could have turned out a lot differently had he said "no"
The meeting that took place on Air Force One was the fourth in a series of meetings that I had attended with the president in the last few months. There was a meeting on March 4 where the president called nine members to the Roosevelt Room at the White House, and eight of the members had voted for the bill when it passed the House last fall. I was the only one who voted against the bill. I thanked the president for inviting me even though I was a "no" vote. And in the more than hour-long meeting, the president covered a lot of territory about what he thought was important to consider. I sat quietly and listened carefully and took some notes. And at the end of the meeting, you know, we thanked each other, and I left.
When I arrived home that evening — March 4 — I still had this deep sense of compassion for the president for what he was struggling with in trying to pass the bill. And it was very clear to me that there was a lot on the line here — that he didn't say. I was just thinking about the scope of American history, and here's a president who's trying to do something, even if I don't agree with him. I told my wife, "You know I kinda feel bad about the situation he's in here. This is really a tough situation — his presidency is on the line." And I had a sense of sadness about what I saw him grappling with. I still maintained my position, still went forward in debates, arguing in meetings, arguing against the bill because it didn't have a public option, didn't have an opening for the states to pursue single-payer in a free manner. But at the same time I kinda remember the feeling that I had about watching him as he was dealing with this and, you know, trying to do what he felt was best for the nation.
Now keep something in mind about my relationship with President Obama: He and I campaigned together. A meeting with the president is always important — he and I have met dozens of times, during the campaign and since he became president — but we've met on many occasions. Four or five times about health care. So the relationship I have with him is a little bit different than other members who weren't on the campaign trail with him and who hadn't developed a relationship with him apart from the relationship that members of Congress ordinarily have with the president.
So I was really looking at Barack Obama the man, and thinking about his presidency. I've had differences of opinion with him on a number of issues. But I understand how this is a pivotal moment in America, and in his presidency. It's also a pivotal moment in American history. Of course, I carried that awareness with me into the next meeting, which took place on Air Force One on the fifteenth of March. Last Monday. So much has happened in just one week, but during that time, there had been a lot of speculation. I had done many interviews attacking the bill for its well-publicized shortcomings and I was not relenting. After we met on Air Force One, I didn't tell the president that "Look, I'm changing my position — you got me." We didn't have that discussion. Read more.
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I have great respect for Dennis Kuicnich. I think that he has now revealed the real reasons why he decided to vote yes (a very diferent reason than the one for the other members -- who have disingenuously promoted this anti-reform effort as "great progress").
1)
Dennis Kuicnich has never been afraid to "be the last man standing" before. You have to then ask, what was different this time? I contend that Dennis Kucinich was directly threatened by Obama. His subcommittee chairmanship position would have been stripped away, and/or Obama and Rahm Emanuel would have actively bankrolled and campaigned for a Primary challenger in 2012 to unseat him. Perhaps other uglier threats were also put on the table as well. With the current lawless, warrentless Government Wiretapping program that has been in place (and supported aggressively by Obama), any simple side conversation, or personal matter can be now exposed and leaked to the public and misconstrued in such a way as to create salicious innuendo, and harm someone's political career. What Kucinich was told by Obama is that they would throw the kitchen sink at him, and his political career would be finished.
2)
Here's where I think Kucinich's argument is weak. The crippled Presidency would have provided the opportunity for progressives in Congress to push forward small, singular bills that would actually improve the system -- without the Bailouts and without the mandates. For example: a) A ban on pre-existing conditions (supported even by some members of the GOP, b) reform of the ERISA laws (supported by even some members of the GOP, c) Holding the Insurance Monopoly to the U.S. Anti-Trust Laws, d) Introducing the reimportation of cheaper Generic drugs (no longer a taboo subject after the collapse and defeat of the Obama-rigged ground rules).
While Obama himself would be weakened, these individual issues and bills would not be, because the core objections from both the left and the right had always been about the Government Mandates, the Goverment Bailouts and Subsidies, the Government largess, authoritarianism, further waste of the Taxpayers own money, combined with the lack of choice.
Given Obama's own desire for more War, Government secrecy, giving legal protections for Human Torturers, his Drone bombing of civilians, maintaining the Foreign Occupations, new Warmongering against Iran and Venezuela, and his desire to give the Federal Reserve Monopoly and Wall Street Banks even more powers (another phony reform effort), along with his own aggressive opposition to ever breaking the Insurance & Drug Monopolies position -- then the Obama Presidency is not worth saving.
Kucinich, like others, is far too sympathetic to a man, and not recognizing that this same man is an aggressive opponent of progressive policy making (hence his horrific cabinet picks and corrupt policy parameters).
Kucinich would have actually enhanced the progressive position, and would've given more oxygen to it, by helping to weaken Obama -- and then using that opening to run against him in 2011-2012.
Obama cannot possibly run on a message of "change" this time around. He has made a mockery of that word. No one will ever believe him on that message again.
Feingold/Kucinich 2011-2012 baby!
What a sellout! Chris Dorsey, Justice Enforcement League
Dennis Kucinich sold out the America Public. Period. He showed who he actually is. With all the many wonderful thjings he has supported thru the years, he chose to sale us out. I sad moment for the millions of us that looked up to him, because he stood up and fought for us.
But whatever reason he wants to try to sell us now. "HE SOLD US OUT"!