What’s in a name?

Take Anthony Weiner (D-New York).

To single payer activists, the name Anthony Weiner means someone you can’t trust.

He says he’ll fight for single payer.

He says he’ll fight for a strong public option.

And then at the crucial moment, he gets a call from the Democratic leadership.

And he packs it in.

Democratic Party before the needs of the people.

What about Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont)?

Bernie Sanders is the Senate’s Anthony Weiner.

He says he’s for single payer.

He says he’s for a strong public option.

He says it so convincingly that even seasoned journalists — like John Nichols of the Nation — believe him.

Last month, Sanders snookered Nichols and the Nation.

So much so that the Nation headline it’s article on Sanders:

“Sanders Stands on Principle: No Reform w/out Public Option.”

How did the Nation conclude that this was Sander’s position?

Sanders told Nichols:

“I strongly suspect that there are number of senators, including myself, who would not support final passage without a strong public option.”

Today, we asked Sanders whether he stands by what he told Nichols.

He mumbles — something.

Was it “yup”?

Follow up:

Are you saying you will vote against the Senate bill — now stripped of a strong public option?

“I said what I said,” Sanders says.

Yes, but you didn’t mean what you said.

Just like Weiner.

And unlike Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Connecticut).

Who means what he says.

Lieberman says he’ll filibuster any bill that has a public option.

I’d like to hear Sanders say — I’ll filibuster any bill that doesn’t have a strong public option.

And mean it.

But no chance of that.

Sanders is the Weiner of the Senate.

Democratic Party above the needs of the people.

Onward to single payer.