Probably because of people like Rep. John Yarmuth. That’s right. The man who built his entire 2006 congressional campaign upon single-payer health care. He is caving faster than Trey Grayson can pretend to be a Republican. Faster than Rick Pitino can get it on in a restaurant. Faster than Mitch McConnell can run away from his military records.
On August 4, 2009, Yarmuth sent a letter to Humana CEO Michael McCallister that attacks Nancy Pelosi and speaks against everything which Yarmuth has professed the past two cycles. While the letter could be perceived as merely a bit of covering his rear, it reveals quite a bit about the realities of the health care “debate.” Take a look for yourself:
Michael McCallister
President & Chief Executive Officer
Humana, Inc
500 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202Dear Mike,
Over the past few years, I have been proud of our close working relationship and friendship. While you and I may not always agree on every issue, your insight and perspective have been incredibly valuable as we work on our shared priorities of improving health care nationwide and serving the Louisville community.
Regrettably, with passions inflamed throughout the country, Speaker Pelosi recently made inflammatory statements that assailed the character of health insurers across the board. I unequivocally reject these misguided comments. Not only do such overtures distract from a constructive debate, they are simply untrue. That certain insurers have engaged in unscrupulous practices cannot be denied, but to paint an entire industry with a single stroke is unfair.
Humana has long acted in an upstanding, thoughtful manner and given Louisville one of America’s most exemplary corporate citizens. We are grateful for the 7,000 Louisville area residents employed by Humana who work hard, provide for families, and contribute to our community. Your employees all deserve better than to have their integrity unjustly questioned. I will continue to support and defend Humana’s role in our community and the future of health care in the halls of Congress and elsewhere.
Every American has a stake in this debate. Each of us will benefit from a future with expanded access, lower cost, and improved quality of health care. But we will also benefit from a Humana that continues to thrive. As we make progress on these goals, I hope to continue counting you and Humana among my most valuable allies.
Sincerely,
John Yarmuth
Member of Congress
Click here (Warning: PDF Link) for a copy of the original letter.
We’re not ready to cast Yarmuth aside because of his letter. But we’re certainly wondering how a guy who has advocated for single-payer health care for years upon years could suggest the idea is now silly or moot. While admittedly not saying so point-blank, this letter is evidence enough.
I sat on the letter for five days thinking John would redeem himself. But that hasn’t happened. And now it’s clear his outreach is part of a more organized and more national effort. At least, this story and this one lead us to believe that’s the case.
So, folks, what are your thoughts? If he’s saying stuff like this behind the scenes while telling his supporters something entirely different, how can voters feel secure when taking him at his word? Let’s hear it.
13 responses so far ↓
1 E // Aug 17, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I don’t agree with most of Yarmuth’s positions…but was always able to respect him for at least staking out his position and sticking to it.
So much for that. I guess like most politicians, professional self-preservation takes precedent over all else.
He’s still better than Northup.
2 Taylor // Aug 17, 2009 at 12:55 pm
It’s pandering to the district’s biggest corporations, no doubt about it, and I hate to see it – but I wouldn’t expect to see him vote against the public option. The same goes for Chandler… neither one of them are going to stick their neck out before it’s absolutely necessary, but they’ll end up voting in favor of whatever makes it to the floor of the House.
3 JasonL // Aug 17, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This shows how pervasive money and lobbyists have become in the way government makes policies.
4 Thinknaloud // Aug 17, 2009 at 1:26 pm
It’s a long way from single payer to a public option and even a longer and darker way to this medical insurance/big pharma industry backed health care reform bill which would be nothing but a cartelized health-care system if they have their way.
How dare any member of congress pass a law that would force us to subsidisze the insurance industry as the current proposal does. The smoke screen of Socialism is laughable when it’s really Faschism and neither is acceptable to freedom loving individuals.
It would appear that Yarmuth is following the example of President Obama who also advocated for single payer payer before powers on high persuaded him otherwise.
While we are all musing about President Obama and Congressman Yarmuth who are the symptoms, the powers on high are the real problem.
Our job is to at least ask Yarmuth and Obama why they don’t have the courage of their convictions. There are members of congress who do. Why do they change their positions when others don’t? And especially given the fact that those members who do stand by their convictions get reelected over and over.
It becomes a matter of philosophies. Where is America headed?
Yarmuth will have to put his stand on the line when HR 676 gets brought to the floor for debate and a vote. NY Rep. Weiner fought for single payer in committee and Speaker Pelosi said if he withdrew his motion in committee she would allow (how generous of her but I’m not fully convinced) HR 676 to be debated on the floor and voted on in the house. This will take place in September I think.
It’s time to let Yarmuth know what we think.
5 David Harpe // Aug 17, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Isn’t the first time. He caved in with the economic stimulus bills as well.
He’s a typical politician, nothing more. Sad, really. He had potential.
6 ..... // Aug 17, 2009 at 2:29 pm
John is on the DFA list of 64 members of the House who have pledged not to vote of a bill that does have a Public Option. I believe he will keep his word.
7 schankula // Aug 17, 2009 at 3:26 pm
“Speaker Pelosi recently made inflammatory statements that assailed the character of health insurers across the board. I unequivocally reject these misguided comments. Not only do such overtures distract from a constructive debate, they are simply untrue. That certain insurers have engaged in unscrupulous practices cannot be denied, but to paint an entire industry with a single stroke is unfair.
Humana has long acted in an upstanding, thoughtful manner and given Louisville one of America’s most exemplary corporate citizens….”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm4sNMKp0Mw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TqxdsIb_6M&feature=related
8 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Aug 17, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Humana, as much good as it has done for the Louisville community, has had its own share of unscrupulous dealings. Its Wikipedia article touches on a couple matters.
As for the public option, it’s not necessarily going away. There is political maneuvering by Obama and others going on to get a reform bill of any kind through the Senate, and the real legislating will occur in the House-Senate conference. We won’t really know where Obama ultimately stands on the public option until negotiations on the joint report begin. At any rate, the House is unlikely to roll over and let the public option go asunder.
9 James R. // Aug 17, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I still say that if Congress and the Senate had to live under the same rules that the public does, there would be immediate change.
How many of these 535 people have preexisting conditions? How many would be stuck in the same job for the fear of not being able to insure their family and protect what they have worked so hard to have?
I blame Barack Obama as much as anyone for this mess. Obama honestly has not fought hard for this. He caves when the going gets tough. If we had a different leader things might be different.
10 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Aug 17, 2009 at 3:40 pm
James R, we don’t know if Obama has caved on this yet. And he hasn’t caved on everything. The stimulus is one example where he got mostly what he wanted.
Your points about preexisting conditions and being stuck in hated jobs are well taken, and powerful. I believe that if we had a public option, and insurance became universally affordable, a much higher degree of entrepreneurialism would take root in this country. Too many people are truly stuck in jobs that constrict their possibilities in this economy.
11 JasonL // Aug 17, 2009 at 4:10 pm
There’s really no excuse that a president who has large majorities in both houses of congress can’t get something done. This is a clear example of letting a small vocal minority with a lot of money make the policy. The “Dumbocratz” are going to lose their majorities because of this. And then we’ll be having a discussion years down the road as to why nothing ever gets done.
12 johnny masters // Aug 17, 2009 at 4:44 pm
If there’s no public option, then what’s the point?
13 Suzanne // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:36 am
Really? “Humana has long acted in an upstanding, thoughtful manner….” As someone who paid 3 times more for my baby’s birth than Humana did (I am paying $3,000 while Humana’s share was $950), I beg to differ.
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