{Originally posted at my blog Senate Guru.}
Congressman Joe Sestak has been an unwavering voice for real health care reform. Check out his latest diary on Daily Kos:
We have to bring health care costs down, while covering all Americans. To do this, all Americans need access to preventive care, and all health insurance providers need competition. The best way to accomplish this goal is through a strong “public health insurance option.” A public health insurance option is a choice – a choice that is subsidized only by the co-pays and premiums of those who choose to join it – just like a private health care plan. But it is less expensive – and forces private insurance companies to lower costs because of this competition – by not having to pay CEOs $20 million salaries, or $50 million severance pay, for example.
Congressman Sestak also put together this video on health care reform, following him on the stump and on cable news, advocating for a public option. It’s only three and a half minutes long, and I encourage you to watch the entire video:
Congressman Sestak’s leadership has seemingly been the only thing pulling recent Republican Arlen Specter to the left on key issues (emphasis added by me):
Sen. Arlen Specter just posted on his Twitter account: “People who like their current insurance ought to be able to keep it – but let’s have one more choice: a public option.”
And this comes just after his Democratic primary opponent in the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race, Rep. Joe Sestak, said Tuesday he would “find it hard” to support a health care bill without a public option.
After becoming a Democrat in April, Specter has marched to the left (he initially opposed a public option) and will likely continue to do so in the face of what could be a tough primary challenge. But will that include opposing a Senate health care bill if it lacks the public option – and if Sestak comes out opposed to it?
Specter initially opposed a public option. Congressman Sestak is fighting for a public option. So Specter disingenuously tacks left. While Specter panders and postures, Congressman Sestak displays genuine conviction and real leadership.
You can support Congressman Sestak’s campaign with a contribution via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page.