Excuse me, but is that change backpedaling?

VFW POST 2636, Neptune,
NJ, July 1, 2009, 7:00 PM

Organizing for America,
Obama's grassroots campaign, took a stab at New Jersey tonight with countywide
"Listening" meetings.  I attended one in
my own backyard of Neptune,
NJ.  The topic for the night and the moment: health
care reform.  It was a good turn out of
just under a hundred people, all ages of adults, the majority female and about
half & half white and of color. 

At the door we were asked to sign the latest Obama declaration
of support, this one for health care reform:

    * Reduce Costs -
Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses,
individuals and families and they must be brought under control

    * Guarantee Choice
- Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor –
including the choice of a public insurance option

    * Ensure
Affordable Care for All - All Americans must have quality and affordable health
care

Since I was early, I had time to digest these statements and
my gut reaction wasn't warm and fuzzy. 
Cut costs, sure, but even the experts admit they don't know where the
saving will come from.  Guarantee you can
see the doctor you want, okay, even though I personally believe this is a red
herring, what people really want is not to be blocked from getting the care
they need when they need it.  "Ensure
Affordable Care for All."  WTF?  Where did this double speak, say nothing,
promise nothing phrase come from?  Barack
Obama is President now, right?!?

Okay, I bite my lip, sign the stupid declaration so they can
have my contact information and know I'm on their side, but I feel queasy.  Is the nescient administration backpedaling
under the pressure of big pharma and the deny care at will insurance
money?  Say, it ain't so, Mr.
President. 

Single payer, Medicaid for all, is off the table, we know,
but is the public coverage option doing the Michael Jackson moonwalk to
oblivion as well?  I'm making too much of
this I'm sure.  Come on, Chaz, you're
among friends. 

At 7:06 the moderator begins the meeting and explains that
organizing behind the President's health care reform agenda, as we are, will
make a difference... no ifs, ands, maybes, or buts.  He introduces the Northeast Regional Director
of Organizing for American, the woman who actually reports to the White
House.  All this take twenty-two minutes
and looking around I realize I'm not the only one that's a bit, shall we say,
on edge.

The first speaker steals my prepared comments the gist of which
are: a) we love Obama, b) we wish you success beyond our wildest dreams, and c)
why aren't you saying we must have the public option, the option to choose a
government plan over a corporate for profit plan, in any health care reform
bill? 

The next speaker seconds that emotion.  And the frustration in the room builds with
more people saying that the declaration of support is a wishy-washy load of
crap that may not amount to real health care reform, real change.

Holly cow, I'm not alone. 

People go on to mention how it sounds like the public option
is being taken off the table, that the lobbyists are controlling the situation,
that they want their President to take the bull by the horns and lead, and that
they will hold him accountable.

Here were some statements the most at the meeting were not
buying:  a) the President doesn't write
the legislation. (So what, make a couple calls, isn't that your job?), b) ideas
for small time community charity to fill the needs gap, (we can afford this and
as has been said, the time is now), and c) The President can't be more specific
because there is no legislation as of yet. (See response to section "a" above).

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