Dennis Kucinich, aieee!

As if Republicans and Blue Dogs weren't enough obstacles to overcome on the way to health insurance for all Americans, we also have to contend with liberal purists. Consider leftist heartthrob Dennis Kucinich, who said again yesterday that he will not vote for the health reform bill. TPM :

"This bill represents a giveaway to the insurance industry," Kucinich told MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell. "$70 billion a year, and no guarantees of any control over premiums, forcing people to buy private insurance...I'm sorry, I just don't see that this bill is the solution."

You know, I would prefer a single payer system, too, but at the moment that isn't an option. The options are Obamacare or the status quo. I am quite certain that Dennis Kucinich hates the health care status quo, since he says so every chance he gets. But he hates corporate profits so much that he would rather see Americans live without insurance than let insurance companies make any money selling it to them.

We live in a fallen world where perfect outcomes are few and far between. But that is no reason not to make things better in little ways when we can.