You Can Tell Tom Daschle to Butt Out!!  

I just signed a petition to tell Tom Daschle, President Obama's original choice for Secretary of Health and Human services, to stop undermining a pubic health care option as part of health care reform. Below is the message I received after signing the petition with the advice to send the e-mail below to everyone I know. I hope you don't mind that I have copied it here for anyone who is interested in taking action.

Subject: Tell Tom Daschle: Don't undermine a public health care option.

Dear Friend,

Tom Daschle was President Obama's pick to be Secretary of Health and Human Services - and with his extensive healh care background, many lauded this as an excellent choice. Who knew he'd sell public health care down the river a few months later?

Of course, the nomination went south after it came to light that Daschle had over $100,000 in unpaid taxes on such things as a private car and full-time driver. So Daschle went back to his gig as one of the founders and board members of the Bipartisan Policy Center - a DC think-tank that Daschle founded with Bob Dole and two other former senators. And guess what? The BPC has extensive funding ties to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

Mr. Obama ran for president on a very strong global warming platform which achieved the 80% reduction, launched a cap and trade market without giving away free permits to polluters, and set strong standards for boosting clean renewable energy. Special interests are warping his pledge almost beyond recognition.

So maybe we shouldn't be surprised that, on June 17, Daschle and Dole went to bat for the Bipartisan Policy Center's supposed "solution" to the health care battle - letting states administer public insurance pools instead of the federal government, and nixing a public health care option (like Medicare) if that's what's needed to pass a bill.

I just signed a petition to tell Tom Daschle to stop undermining the importance of a public health care option - a public option is vital to real reform, and Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.co...

(End of message)

I especially agree with the sentence - "We can't give moderates any excuse to wimp out." Do you agree?

Annie