The truth is a powerful weapon.
The American people overwhelmingly favor a public option and an insurance exchange. Yet, the Blue Dogs continue to stand in the way of this historic legislation. At this point, there can only be one truly valid reason for this ...these Blue Dogs are just simply bought and paid for by the health insurance companies and will never support any plan that threatens the massive profits of these insurance companies.
IF THIS IS TRUE, and I do say 'if' because I don't know for absolute certain one way or the other... but if this is in fact the real reason that healthcare reform is 'dying'... then it is Obama's duty to bring this ugly truth front and center. And, the best way to do this is to shed massive amounts of light on the Blue Dogs dealings with the health insurance companies. The biggest power a president has is the pulpit. Obama needs to use it.
Imagine Obama getting in front of a national audience and saying the following:
America, we have a problem. Despite your strong support of a public option, there is a small group of representatives that are holding back real progress on healthcare reform. Their names are... (then give the names of the Blue Dogs). America, I strongly suspect that these individuals have been receiving cash, gifts and or prizes from the insurance companies in order to secure their vote against healthcare reform. Otherwise their opposition at this point in the process makes no sense. If this is true, then this is a violation of our core principles and values as a democracy. This would be unacceptable. Therefore, I am creating a special presidential commission, with public proceedings, to investigate these members of Congress for possible ethics violations. Let it be known that if they have nothing to hide, then they have nothing to fear. This legislation is simply just too important to let fail without absolute certainty there was nothing immoral or illegal going on behind the scenes.
Can you imagine the firestorm this kind of thing would create? These Blue Dogs would rue the day they first accepted that free vacation to the Virgin Islands, courtesy Blue Shield, Inc.
Now, some of you might say that Obama has no legal grounds or that it would be too extreme, blah, blah, blah...
It doesn't matter. What does matter is that it would rile up the masses like never before. People, average people, would finally get downright pissed off at the Blue Dogs and anyone that sympathizes with them. The Blue Dogs would become like used car salesmen, hated and reviled by all. Even worse ...they'd become traitors.
Most importantly though, it would keep healthcare alive during the recess (or maybe the recess would have to be cancelled). Regardless, it would breathe fresh life into the issue and we'd have a whole new ballgame.