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Labor and progressive leaders are threatening House Democrats who oppose health care legislation with potentially destructive third party challenges in November.

Rep. Michael McMahon is opposed to the current health bill. (photo: Anthony DePrimo/Staten Island Advance)
Rep. Michael McMahon is opposed to the current health bill. (photo: Anthony DePrimo/Staten Island Advance)

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+2 # arachne646 2010-03-16 09:55
There's more than one way to skin a cat. If both the Republicans and the Democrats are funded by the same lobbyists for Wall St., insurance, drug, and other "health care" corporations, to name a few, who is really motivated to act in the interests of working families? Probably not the SEIU, either. My family's experiences with the transparency and democracy of other large American labour unions has not been good. More than two parties is not incompatible with democracy. It has worked everywhere else in the developed world--it is worth a try in the U.S.A.
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+2 # Harold in Tucson 2010-03-16 10:45
I fully support Kucinich in his choice of not supporting the current healthcare reform Bill, or should it be called the health insurance reform Bill, if it does not contain the strongest and most robust public option possible. Without a strong a robust public option included, the insurance companies will have no reason to play by the rules, and they will become even more powerful than they are today. Both Obama and Nancy Pelosi are lying through their teeth to the American people that there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass a healthcare reform Bill with a strong and robust public option via a simple majority vote, 50 votes plus the vote of Joseph Biden if he is really sincere about passing a healthcare Reform Bill rather than a health insurance reform Bill which will never reform the insurance companies.
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+2 # barry knister 2010-03-16 11:31
Everything you (and Kucinich) say is true. And it is also true that the Democratic leadership from the White House on down dropped the ball on this last year. But none of it matters now, because without something on the books that can be improved on later, there will be NO improvement in a bad situation for the forseeable future. In addition, Democrats in vulnerable reelection positions will be made even more so. Sitting with your arms folded in a boat that's leaking, refusing to bail because it's a lousy boat does not make sense.
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+4 # mojogoober 2010-03-16 10:49
I am also against this healthcare bill, but not because of reasons these so called liberals would give. This bill is huge giveaway to the insurance and pharmacy corps, with little or no control over costs. While it may help some in the short term, in the long term it is business as usual for the corp controlled congress.

Single payer, not for profit, healthcare is the real solution to this.
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+2 # Rayosun 2010-03-16 12:20
The question for liberals and for most Democrats isn't WHETHER Universal Single Payer health care should be our GOAL, but whether this bill makes it more or less likely that we can reach that goal.
As dissappointed as I am that we aren't reaching our goal as soon as I would like, I can't see any upside to the Republicans getting their way, i.e. killing this bill - which is why they are fighting so hard to do just that.
It's find for people like Kucinich to make their statement against what is wrong with this bill, but ONLY if the bill PASSES. If he succeeds in helping the Republicans KILL the bill, the only ones who will benefit from that "achievement" will be our mortal enemies!
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+1 # Phyllis and Lanny 2010-03-16 12:53
Keep up the fight, Dennis. The so-called progressives in the Democratic Party are an embarrassment to the name. They sell out the people and then blame those that try to represent the people. The Democratic Party has finally met its apparent goal of total irrelevancy and third parties should now fill the void.
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+1 # Phyllis and Lanny 2010-03-16 12:58
Stick to your guns, Dennis! You have represented the people while these so-called progressives disgrace the name and tradition. The Democratic Party has become an irrelevant embarrassment and new parties are needed to fill the void. The Party has sold the people out and blame those that have represented the people.
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+1 # Louie in Chicago 2010-03-16 13:06
I was hoping for a strong Presidency with the election of Obama, but look as those that is a forlorn hope. He doesn't know how to take charge. As a result, the Democrats are all over the place with there votes. Perhaps it finally is time for a third party that has the interest of the little man at hart. That would be a Liberal Party movement.
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+2 # JoAnne Young 2010-03-16 13:43
This article is a joke. REAL liberals and progressives want their representatives to have the balls to stand up to the compromising White House and pass real health care reform WITH a public option. We voted Obama for change and all we got was a slick talker with no substance. Congressman Tim Bishop - do you remember writing to me saying you thought it was better to do incremental changes than to pass a bill without a public option??? It is not just the Republicans in your district who will be angry if you vote for Obama's give it away to the insurance companies bill that forces Americans to get health insurance with no controls over what it will cost them.
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+1 # Ron Fletcher 2010-03-17 04:42
Pat Purcell is probably bought and paid for by the businesses he is supposed to oppose, much like this congressman. The democratic party should yank this congressman's affiliation and make him run as third party...not a challeger. If he quaks like a duck, and votes like one then he probably is a duck...let the Repubes have him.
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