Weiner: If Left Can’t Pass Even A Modest Public Option, Nobody Will Take Them Seriously

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
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Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)–a single payer-supporter and one of the most visible surrogates for a public option in Congress–has some stark words of warning for Congressional liberals: If they don’t vote against a health care bill without a public option, as he intends to do, nobody will ever buy their threats.

“There is clearly a sense that progressives in Congress are easily rolled,” Weiner told Greg Sargent.

“If the Congressional left can’t pass even something as modest as a watered down public option, then frankly I don’t think anyone is going to take the left very seriously later on in this Congress,” he added. “When Blue Dogs talk, there are fewer of them but they have more influence than when progressives talk.”

Weiner reiterated his intent to vote no on health care legislation without a public option. In mid-August, Weiner cautioned that “unless [President Obama] says a public option is the way to go, I’m gonna be a no, and so will a lot of people.”

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