The truth about Charles Grassley (and health-care reform)

By Michael J.W. Stickings

The truth is that he has no interest in reform. In fact, for all his Gang of Six efforts, he's pretty much against it. I delved into Republican opposition to reform, including Grassley's, yesterday.

Here -- our Quote of the Day -- is Grassley himself, who has been emphasizing his opposition to reform in his recent fundraising efforts, speaking on a conference call with Iowa reporters:

There's a feeling that the only way to get a bipartisan agreement is to defeat a Democratic proposal on the first hand and then the Democrats will come to Republican leadership and then, at that point, they'll know the only way they're going to get health care reform is bipartisan.

Translation: Bipartisanism is Republicanism. On health-care reform, it's either the Republican way or no way at all.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's time to move on, and to do what is right, which is health-care reform with a robust public option. Republicans have had their say. It's with the Democrats now, the Democrats alone, and they, and Obama, must take charge.