Two single payer activists confronted Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) at a Tucson hotel tonight.

The two activists: Russell Mokhiber of Single Payer Action.

And Alison McLeod, a registered nurse with National Nurses United.

McLeod asked Grijalva why he capitulated to the corporate Democrats in the House.

“What are you talking about?” Grijalva shot back at McLeod.

Mokhiber sought to explain the capitulation, but Grijava noticed Mokhiber’s Flip Video Cam, pushed it aside, and asked that it be turned off.

Mokhiber did so.

Grijalva then engaged Mokhiber and McLeod in a five minute heated conversation.

Mokhiber explained to Grijalva the capitulation.

On August 17, 2009, Grijalva, co-chair of the 83 member Congressional Progressive Caucus, said this:

“As we have stated repeatedly for months now, a majority of the members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus will oppose any health care reform legislation that does not include a robust public option.”

“Our position has not, and will not, change.”

Then, just two months later, Grijalva and all but two members of the Progressive Caucus — Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Eric Massa (D-New York) — capitulated to the corporate Democrats, reversed course, and supported the House bill — which did not include a robust public option.

“What would you have us do?” Grijalva asked.

“Stand by your pledge,” Mokhiber answered. “Oppose any bill that does not include a robust public option.”

“What would the consequences of that be?” Grijalva asked.

“The consequences would be that the corporate Democratic bill would be defeated and the American people wouldn’t be forced to buy junk insurance,” Mokhiber said.

That was Grijalva capitulation number one.

Now, the Congressman is engaged in Grijalva capitulation number two.

On December 15, Single Payer Action asked Grijalva whether he would work to defeat the Senate version of health care reform.

Grijalva responded with a statement, via his press secretary, Adam Sarvana:

“The Senate has somehow managed to turn the House’s silk purse into a sow’s ear,” Grijalva said. “If what the Senate is doing isn’t corrected in conference with the House, I will not support the bill. Since the Senate won’t use reconciliation, which only requires 51 votes, it doesn’t look promising for any real change.”

But then tonight, Grijalva wouldn’t stand by his position of just five days ago.

“I don’t know,” Grijalva said when asked whether he stood by his position that he would vote no.

“What are you going to do about it?” Grijalva asked Mokhiber.

Grijalva then became angry again, and said that Mokhiber had the usual political recourse — if he didn’t like how Grijalva stood on the health care reform bill, he could vote him out of office.

“You are a constituent of mine, right?” Grijalva asked Mokhiber.

“No, I’m not,” Mokhiber said. “I’m from West Virginia. I’m just visiting here in Tucson.”

“Then you have no leverage,” Grijalva said, as he walked away.