Health Care Leftovers (with video)

"Obama, Democrats Begin Reaping Political Benefits Of Reform" (Sam Stein)

Only hours after the president signed health care reform legislation into law on Tuesday, the immediate political benefits for the Democratic Party are already coming into focus.

"Republicans weigh costs of losing ugly" (Politico)

The only thing worse than winning ugly is losing uglier.

"Tea Party Bigotry Can’t Stop History" (Eugene Robinson)

“This is what change looks like,” President Obama said after succeeding where Bill Clinton, Lyndon Johnson and Harry Truman had failed. On Sunday, as comprehensive health care reform was becoming a reality, some people couldn’t bear what they saw.

"Why Democrats Are Fighting for a Republican Health Plan" (E.J. Dionne)

Here is the ultimate paradox of the Great Health Care Showdown: Congress will divide along partisan lines to pass a Republican version of health care reform, and Republicans will vote against it.

"The Health Care Hindenburg Has Landed" (Chris Hedges)

Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s decision to vote “yes” in Sunday’s House action on the health care bill, although he had sworn to oppose the legislation unless there was a public option, is a perfect example of why I would never be a politician. I respect Kucinich. As politicians go, he is about as good as they get, but he is still a politician. He has to run for office. He has to raise money. He has to placate the Democratic machine or risk retaliation and defeat. And so he signed on to a bill that will do nothing to ameliorate the suffering of many Americans, will force tens of millions of people to fork over a lot of money for a defective product and, in the end, will add to the ranks of our uninsured.

"Tea party protesters scream 'nigger' at black congressman," with video (01:48)(McClatchy)

Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol, angry over the proposed health care bill, shouted "nigger" Saturday at U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia congressman and civil rights icon who was nearly beaten to death during an Alabama march in the 1960s.

"Health care reform bill 101: Who will pay for reform?" (Christian Science Monitor)

If the health care reform vote succeeds today, the $940 billion bill would be the biggest change to domestic policy in a generation. The rich and the health industry would pick up most of the tab.

"Thank you, Progressive Caucus, for improving health care reform" (Progressive Caucus Action Fund)

Dear Progressive Members of Congress:

Thanks to you, and the tough positions you took on reforming the health insurance industry, significant progress was made towards reforming health care in this country. We thank you for representing the majority opinions on health care reform throughout the debate and voting for change.

"Tell Michael Bennet: Introduce the Public Option in the Senate" (FDL Action)

Sign our petition to Senator Michael Bennet:

"You led the fight for 51 votes for a public option in the Senate. Now it's up to you to make sure it comes up for a vote at all. Introduce the public option for a vote during the Senate's debate."

"An Open Letter to Republicans From Michael Moore"

Please, my Republican friends, if you can, take a quiet moment away from your AM radio and cable news network this morning and be happy for your country. We're doing better. And we're doing it for you, too.