Ron Klein Uncommitted to Public Option

Rep. Ron Klein has been ducking the health care bill question. Klein recently had a 20-minute talk that only allowed one health care question.

Wilson Saavedra, 67, complained that Klein was making himself scarce.

"It's totally unacceptable that we fight fiercely to get these people elected, and when push comes to shove, you can't find them anywhere," said the Boynton Beach resident, who held a sign outside that read, "Medicare 4 All!"

Klein held a teleconference townhall meeting. He leaned against supporting the public option.

Klein, who represents a Palm Beach-Broward district with slightly more Republicans than Democrats, said he hasn’t taken a position yet on a government-run “public option” for health insurance that is a key issue for many Democrats.

“I’m still looking at it. I haven’t committed to it,” Klein said when a caller asked for his position on the public option. Later, he told another caller he would not support a public option that relied on taxpayer subsidy.

“It has to be actuarially sound and independent,” Klein told a caller from Boynton Beach who identified himself as a Republican. “It is not to be subsidized . . . it has to be fully paid for by the premiums.”

Klein fails to understand his lack of commitment pro or con makes him a more vulnerable candidate. Voters like political courage. Klein is showing a serious lack of backbone.