Arizona Daily Star comes late to the party in support of health care reform

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Daily Star today in an editorial opinion came out strongly for passage of the health care reform bill. Health-care bill must be passed now, not in 5 years. Well, gee thanks guys. You are a little late to the party. Where was this over the past year when it really mattered? Oh, that's right, the Daily Star was busy covering Tea Parties because it was political theater and entertainment.

The purpose of today's editorial opinion is to encourage Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Raul Grijalva and Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Gabriel Giffords to put aside their doubts and to vote for the health care reform bill (Senate version):

We are appealing to U.S. Reps. Raúl Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords, both Democrats from Tucson, to remember that no bill is perfect. There will always be a reason to take the easier path and vote against changing the system – especially in an election year.

And that is the choice: Elected officials can preserve the system that punishes people who have the bad luck of needing health care, or our representatives can do what is necessary to ensure that all Americans can see a doctor when necessary, purchase affordable health insurance and take care of themselves and their families.

Isn't that rich. Both Reps. Grijalva and Giffords have already voted once for health care reform when they voted for the House version of the bill.

Arizona's twin embarrassments, Senator Obstruction, Jon Kyl, and Senator McNasty, John McCain, were principal leaders of the GOP effort to obstruct health care reform by any means necessary. Where was today's editorial opinion back in December after Arizona's twin embarrassments had done their best to substantially weaken the Senate version of the health care reform bill, then tried to filibuster the Senate bill to death, and finally voted against the Senate bill? Where was the Daily Star then?

(Sound of crickets chirping).

Arizona's twin embarrassments are still hard at work attempting to obstruct health care reform by any means necessary, including telling outrageous lies about the reconciliation process and abortion coverage. Where are the editors of the Arizona Daily Star in holding Arizona's twin embarrassments accountable for their obstruction of health care reform legislation for which the editors now say:

Now is the time for Arizona's elected officials in Washington to do whatever is necessary to make sure that health-care reform becomes a reality. Not next year, not in five years, but now.

Now is the time for courage. Get it done.

(Sound of crickets chirping).

In the end, I believe both Reps. Grijalva and Giffords will vote for health care reform and reconciliation. They are not the problem. Arizona's twin embarrassments are. Let's focus on our real problem, shall we? And if health care reform is as critical an issue to the editors of the Daily Star as they assert, should this not be the litmus test for the Daily Star's endorsement of candidates this fall? I'm just saying.