Source: Political Musings by WBlackford

The Obama administration cannot seem to get on the same page or commit to their ideas when it comes to the health care debate. Is a public option happening? First yes, then maybe, then kind of.

Obama continues to assure the folks out there that the public option, which would be an insurance plan backed and funded by the U.S. government, is not the only aspect of his reform. Now while I am sure that is true, since many problems such as lowering costs and rationing care go unsolved still, it is undeniably a very important aspect if his goal is to bring the currently millions of uninsured citizens under his umbrella.

Instead of lowering the apparent importance of the public health option by constantly waffling on the idea, the Obama administration should fully embrace and stand behind their ideas. This not only hurts his position as a whole, but makes he and his constituents look weak in the face of the Republicans opposition.

The Republicans opposition are determined to undermine the Obama administration at every turn. The fact that Obama attempts to conduct his affairs with the cooperation of said opponents only makes it that much easier for them to influence his agenda. The participation and approval of the Republicans is no longer necessary now that they are in the minority. So instead the conservatives on the capital have decided to take advantage of Obama’s cooperative nature.

This is not to say that the Democratic Party should just forgo the opinions of the Republicans and pass the bills they see fit. Rather they should be able to see when the other side is flexing their muscles merely because they can (or maybe because certain politicians are themselves benefactors of the vast profits posted by the insurance giants); merely because they know that the other side would prefer to proceed with their cooperation and not because they have the interest of the American people foremost in their minds. The public option is showing itself to be one of these very situations.

So please, President Obama, I implore you; stick to your convictions and your ideas, grow some nerve and deal with those that oppose you for no other reason that they can, or have nothing else better to do.

Is it better to take a hit in your rating because from enacting a plan that some are afraid of or don’t understand? Or is it better to become less popular by constantly changing ones mind and waffling when it comes to the important issues? This is a question that the President must answer for himself. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if he changed his mind somewhere down the road.