Dennis Kucinich Sells Out His Principles

It's not often Rep. Kucinich and I agree on much, but we did in February, when called attention to how the bill passed by the Senate (coming up for a vote now in the House) was essentially a boon to the insurance companies, as it requires every American to buy insurance from them, but does little-to-nothing to actually increase competition between them:

The entire health care debate was flipped upside down by insurance interests who were able to intervene so that the final product that was offered out of the Senate was nothing more than a sell-out to the insurance industry.

- Rep. Kucinich, February 4, 2010


And, as recently as a week ago:

This bill represents a giveaway to the insurance industry. $70 billion dollars a year, and no guarantees of any control over premiums, forcing people to buy private insurance, five consecutive years of double-digit premium increases.

- Rep. Kucinich, March 9, 2010


But, after getting worked over by the Whitehouse this week, compare and contrast:

In the past week it's become clear that the vote on the final health bill will be very close.
...
If my vote is to be counted, let it count now for passage of the bill.

- Rep. Kucinich, March 17, 2010


Way to abandon your principles, Rep. Kucinich.


Ironically, now it's myself and hyper-liberal Jane Hamsher who are agreeing:

Kucinich is voting for a bill he has repeatedly called corrupt and harmful to the people of his district.
...
Dennis Kucinich signed a pledge to vote against any bill that does not have a public option. Online supporters donated over $17,000 to him over the past two days as a direct response to his reiteration of that promise this week. It would be deceitful of him to keep that money now, as well as the $8,000 raised after he signed that pledge in July.

I think Kucinich's original call for, and Hamsher's continued push for, a "public option" is misguided.

But they were both right to claim that without a public option, the Senate bill now being considered in the House is a giant sell out to the insurance lobby. What a shame.

It's a sad day indeed to see that President Obama has apparently stolen Dennis Kucinich's spine.