Joe Lieberman’s Conscience (as it were)

***

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) proclaimed that he cannot in good conscience allow a healthcare bill with any form of public option to reach the Senate floor. Conscience? Losing 2000 Democratic VP candidate, failed 2004 Democratic presidential contender, loser of his own state’s 2006 Democratic primary, enthusiastic campaigner for Republicans Sarah Palin and John McCain in 2008, and current chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Senator Joe Lieberman has a conscience? No, Lieberman’s opposition to a public option does not display conscience. It displays his idiosyncratic, insidious political posturing and greed.

To Joe Lieberman: Shut up! You who shocked the Democratic caucus by campaigning for Sarah Palin to be president were John McCain’s health not to allow him a full term. In good conscience you were OK with placing the United States in the hands of Sarah Palin? What did you expect from a McCain administration, Secretary of Defense?

Lieberman will join the “just say no” Republican senators to filibuster a healthcare bill with any type of public option. His reason: sounds like the first step in the government takeover of healthcare. And that, of course, would lower the profits made by the full panoply of healthcare industries. Yes, a public option may cut into profits as the insurance companies would be facing good old-fashioned American competition. Yes, health insurers are exempt from federal antitrust laws. They get to agree on pricing across the health insurance industry. Introduce a modicum of competition via a public option and the insurance companies’ panties are in a wad. No wonder healthcare is so expensive!

The healthcare industry’s vast, well-paid cadre of lobbying firms has made the line between those passing legislation and those subject to it as fuzzy as it gets. Joe Lieberman has healthcare industry connections sprouting like those on an old fashioned switchboard. That Lieberman is “in bed” with the healthcare industry is well known. It’s the extent of the relationship which is unknown. What is known is that his wife Hadassah Lieberman works for the powerful lobbying firm Hill & Knowlton with connections to the healthcare industry. What is known is that Connecticut is rife with healthcare firms who are all vehemently opposed to healthcare reform. What is known is that Lieberman takes healthcare industry campaign contributions.

So where is your conscience, Joe Lieberman? With the thousands of Americans dying every year for lack of reform, or with personal, power seeking self interest?

Senator, you are no Democrat. Make a clean break with the Democratic caucus before the Democratic leaders grow balls and throw you out, committee chairmanship and all. You’re better suited to the Republican caucus so make a deal with those knuckleheads and join them. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

***