Whither The Public Option?

***Updated to include links to the interview audio***

If you're a facebook friend of mine, you likely saw my comment of "Un-Fucking-Believable" which went on to question the testicular fortitude of our "change" President. Yes, I posted that after reading the story with the headline "White House appears ready to drop 'public option'".

Un-fucking-believable is right.

Tonight on my Air America radio program, where I can't use that word, I'll speak with a couple of people about this latest development in our quest for a fair system of health care in this country.

First up, Howie Klein, who blogs at www.downwithtyranny.com. He had a few choice words yesterday as well, in a post entitled "Is It Too Late To Rescue Health Insurance Reform From The Corporate Shills In Washington?" ***Listen to my conversation with Howie Klein by clicking here***

He'll answer the question for us, and talk about the few, the brave, the Progressive members of Congress who will stand up for us. In fact, Howie's DownWithTyranny blog and its affiliated sites, FireDogLake, Digby's Hullabaloo, and Crooks and Liars, all work together as Blue America to support these members of Congress who actually do what we put them there to do!

They've set up a page to support the men and women who've pledged to vote against any bill without a robust public option. Please visit by clicking here, and then help out however you can!

In the second hour of tonight's show, I'll be joined by Robert Reich, who has served in three administrations-- most recently as our 22nd Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Secretary Reich also served on President Obama's transition advisory board, and is currently a professor at the University of California Berkeley. His most recent book Supercapitalism is now out in paperback.

Professor Reich has been blogging a lot about the fight over health care, which is what motivated me to call him and invite him on the show. Today's blog entry, The Public Option's Last Stand, and the Public's, was spot on, and we'll discuss it tonight. ***Hear my interview with Robert Reich by clicking here****

Listen live by clicking here, call in at 866-303-2270, and join in our live chat here.