"what is the point of having a crummy piece of legislation just because it's bipartisan?"

Former VT Gov. Howard Dean, M.D., on the need for a public health insurance option in health care reform, versus the need for "bipartisanship":

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee during Obama's campaign, the former Vermont governor, and author of a forthcoming book on healthcare, said liberal groups would insist that any health legislation include a Medicare-style public insurance option for people under 65.

Forcing insurers to compete with a government plan, Dean said, is the only way to lower premiums dramatically. Asked whether it was more important to have a public option than to have healthcare bill with bipartisan support, Dean said, without hesitating, "Yes."

"I think bipartisan is wonderful, but what is the point of having a crummy piece of legislation just because it's bipartisan?" he said.