Schumer On Emanuel: The Trigger's Not Good Enough
One of the more surprising aspects yesterday's controversy over the White House's supposed openness to a so-called "triggered mechanism" is that Democrats have, essentially, a dedicated point man on the public option. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has taken on that roll in the Finance Committee and has come forward publicly a number of times--most recently this past Sunday--to resuscitate the public option when it seemed on the brink of death.
"I had never heard that they were for the trigger. That came as a surprise to me," he told Slate's John Dickerson. "Maybe in year three there might be a public plan? Not good enough."
It's hard not to sympathize with the guy. Schumer, perhaps more than any Democrat, has put himself on the line for the public option--and unless it's part of some grander, more opaque political scheme, it can't be helpful to his efforts to have a prominent White House official come forward to undercut him.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Wow. First Harry, now Chuck. Are some of these guys actually finally figuring out that they control the fricking government now? Better late than never! Get with the program or STFU, Rahm.
July 8, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been calling, writing and emailing the WH telling them to fire Emanuel. If we'd wanted Emanuel we could have had Hillary for a hell of a lot less effort than Obama. We went the extra mile to elect Obama because he presented himself as the polar opposite of Emanuel and his corporate cronies.
July 8, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some one should have driven a stake through the heart of the DLC, but unfortunately for us, it lives on in Rahm.
July 8, 2009 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, timba. There's a very vocal subgroup on the TPM boards who make it their business to trash others who have the temerity to criticize Obama on any front. Somehow, Obama must remain above criticism. They choose to ignore that many of us supported Obama (myself included) for the precise reasons you outline, and somehow appear to believe that our concerns don't matter. Among numerous other examples, they fulminated at progressives when we dared to voice concerns over the choice of Rahm for chief of staff. Now some of them are advocating for Rahm to be reined in, forgetting that we were against him from the beginning -- and for precisely this reason. But never mind, the loyal Obamies are never wrong.
July 9, 2009 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Role", Brian. "Role." Not the first time this week this has happened. You're a journalist. Words are your business. Learn your tools or get an editor who can spell. This is getting embarrassing.
July 9, 2009 6:51 PM | Reply | Permalink