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The Health-Care Wimps
But one major difference between this fight and the last one is that for all his Kumbaya-Rodney King “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?” rhetoric, Obama knows he’s in a fight he can’t afford to lose. On a Monday conference call with partisan bloggers, he responded to DeMint’s (and Kristol’s) comments by accusing Republicans of looking to “deliberately…delay this process because they know the longer the special interests have to run negative ads or lobby members of Congress, the more difficult it becomes to get this done…I know the blogs are best at debunking myths that can slip through a lot of the traditional media outlets,” he said. “And that is why you are going to play such an important role in our success in the weeks to come.”
Before anyone embraces the 1994 paradigm too closely, it behooves us to remember what a different Republican Party Clinton was facing then, compared with today’s leaderless, headless body. That was a party on the ascendancy with fresh leadership; this is party of Sarah Palin and Michael Steele.
What’s more, as Gary Jacobson writes, it is a mistake to tie the Democrats’ 1994 debacle too closely to the failure of their health-care plans. Rather, as in 1992, it was “the economy, stupid.” Back then, he explains, “79 percent of the voters in the national exit poll thought the economy was in bad shape, and 62 percent of them voted for a Democrat for the House. In 1994, 75 percent said they were no better off financially than they had been two years ago; 57 percent thought the economy was still in bad shape, and 62 percent of this group voted for the Republican.”
Another major difference was money. Clinton succeeded in raising mounds of cash for his own re-election efforts, but the congressional cash committees went begging. Today, the DCCC has already doubled the NRCC in fundraising, with more on the way, as more of Obama’s time is freed up to help those who helped him.
It would be unfair and untrue to insist that conservative and moderate Democrats have nothing to fear but fear itself. 2010 could be a tough year for the Democrats if the economy does not improve. But they will not even have a life raft upon which to cling if this administration is perceived to have failed as thoroughly as Bill Clinton did in his first two years.
As Ben Franklin said of an earlier, far more demanding struggle, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” Voters will stick with Democrats if they think they are winners, not whiners. For their own good, as well as the administration’s, it’s up to Obama to convince the party’s fence-waverers of that truism by whatever means necessary.
Eric Alterman is a professor of English and journalism at Brooklyn College and a professor of journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author, most recently, of Why We're Liberals: A Handbook for Restoring America's Important Ideals.
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Eric Alterman is a professor of English and journalism at Brooklyn College and a professor of journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author, most recently, of Why We're Liberals: A Handbook for Restoring America's Important Ideals.
Plantagenet
Wimps doesn't quite describe the democrats on the health care issue.
How about spineless, cowardly, snivelling wimps.
Progressive2
We only need 51 votes to pass healthcare why Obama is wasting time trying to get 60, who knows.
wfleet
Sadly, the 50 1 reconciliation doesn't get you the full reform package which is why we should all hope pray for the 60 votes. You basically lose the public option if you have to go the reconciliation (51 votes) route. It has to do with arcane (& insane) congressional rules which kneecap what exactly can be reconciled.
I apologize for my vagueness on what would transpire from reconciliation. If it were a fab solution, it would be a 'slam-dunk,' but there are flies in its ointment, if I may recklessly mix metaphors. Also its sway only lasts for 4-5 years or somesuch. I'll try to do better research & get back to y'all. Maybe Eric can tell us.
neverlate
Maybe they just don't want to wreck the American economy?
Downriver
neverlate, you are a little late, the economy is already wrecked, and the healthcare middleman is one primary reason. we've seen what the free market has done to heath care in this country. It is unaffordable and can be canceled at a whim and it is an albatross around the neck of small business expansion.
Redhead5050
The economy was a wreck when Obama took office.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
keepakeeper43
We desperately need affordable health care.
Do whatever it takes, Barack!
Kick Ass!
Pass that sucker!
sophia5
Be careful what you wish for.
Ask Canadians about how their healthcare is RATIONED.
Get a brain tumor and wait 6 months, just to see a specialist,
never mind getting the actual treatment.
The number of Canadians coming to the U.S. for diagnostic
testing, MRI, cancer treatment, etc. is enormous.
That is not propaganda, not a myth.
crngndmhm
Being a Canadian with multiply family members having suffered from cancer I disagree with you wholeheartedly. Granted everyone who comes in is looked at on a case to case basis. So yes someone with a brain tumor might have to wait six months for treatment or they might begin treatment right after having been diagnosed.
And for the record most of the diagnostic testing done is expensive and the people going to the states to get it are very well off. They prefer not to wait in line and think that because they have money they should be first on the list.
But for the average citizen healthcare is a great success. There are no worries about hurting yourself and going into bankruptcy because you can't pay the medical bills.
Trilby16
It should be rationed. You want your neighbors held to reasonable expenditures, don't you? Well then you must stick to the same prescription. There is nothing wrong with rationing when the alternative is bankupting the nation.
spacialist
This is plain silly, I am a Canadian and have been around for the entirety of the life of medicare in Canada and this is plain uninformed. According to a study commissioned by the office of governmental accountability (US), done in 2006 the findings of which are completely opposite to these "urban legends". Not only did both governments participate in this study the data set was straight from the care providers themselves via their legislated obligatory reporting functions.
truthhurts
So why is it that Canadians are so much happier with their health care than we in the US?
Everyone is covered, at about 60 percent per capita of the cost here (where, obviously not everyone is covered).
Does everyone get what they want, when they want it? No, and why should they. Do most get excellant and timely care, they Canadians I know (and those polled) think so.
Carole65
Passing a universal health care package should be a slam dunk, since Massachusetts passed one a few years ago. You simply hold that one up as a success, and you get the votes needed. This isn't rocket science........
Banjo1
If you kept up with the news, you'd know the Massachusetts health care experiment has been a complete flop. People sign up when they need an expensive operation and drop out afterward.
Carole65
Thanks, Banjo, I already knew that, and that is why Obama doesn't speak in specifics about his (oh, wait, not his,but Waxman's plan) plan. I doubt he ever had one to begin with. That's hope and change for you
AlanD2
I see Banjo is up to his usual tricks.
JAWilson
Massachusetts just had to cut back medical services and there have been cost overruns. That sure sounds like rationing to me.
shortcourse
Here is the reason Obama's poll numbers are falling on health care: Its the Independents. Independents think. Independents are not partisans. Some of you see this is a battle of politics. Some of you see this is an ethical issue. Some of you see that this is a road to financial destruction. The Independent thinkers in this country see all of the above and...see that the solutions offered by politicians are not viable ones. What will save this country is Independent thinkers....not crazed left and right partisans.
AlanD2
Actually, a good part of the independents are former Republicans, so it is not surprising that they would tend to be conservative on this issue.
What will save this country is a national health care plan (single-payer by preference, but a public option will do). How can we as a nation let 22,000 people without health insurance die each year?
dana64
I really think you are right.
It is sad that we cannot do what is necessary, which is the single payer Medicare for all THOSE WHO WANT IT................so at least a PUBLIC OPTION is the absolute minimum.
If Obama cannot get that................we will fight for it in 2010 and throw the moderate democrats out and replace them with the GREENS.
OUR FIGHT WILL NOT END in 2009...........we will be more energized for 2010. NO ONE CAN KILL THE NEED FOR PUBLIC OPTION /Medicare for all..........because that is the right thing to do.
jenny4hill
We do need thinkers, but action is needed now to pass health care reform. We can't allow Congressmen and -women to pose as "thinkers," who are only stalling and obstructing while collecting on the side, in some fashion, from corporate and anti-U.S.-government special interests.
Non-thinkers portray the smarmy struggles on the Hill as partisan, but I don't think they really are. Politicians and the media use party labels to manufacture issues, indignation and simplistic divides for their own private agendas.
Thinkers in the parties and thinkers independent of the parties don't appear to have a clear voice or any activism these days. They think. The ones with selfish agendas shout and whisper and smear. The only doing is through legislative process, as scary as that is. But nothing can be improved if nothing is done to begin with.
Our government has been spending untold billions on ineffective wars, field games, domestic spying and get-rich-quick schemes for the very weathy for a decade. If we're going to spend billions, it's time the money was invested in the vast majority of the American people, in quality of life for the U.S. over the long term, in our health and our ability to compete.
Banjo1
Alterman once again was chosen to deliver the morning line for JournoList. I think it's an honor or something. But watch this meme taking root in the MSM during the day and into the night.
Banjo1
Independents are better described as "low-information voters." But they've been getting a passel of information since the celebrity president was inaugurated and they don't like what they're seeing. That's why Obama is in such a hurry to get his gargantuan budget-breaking agenda passed. He is a leveler who wants the poverty shared equally.
Carole65
Plus the 2010 elections are looming. It's a repeat of HillaryCare and it went down with the midterm elections in 1994. It is about politics!
AlanD2
You betcha!
safariman
Please, Please, Please examine the Massachusetts plan. The problem is that you CAN'T hold it up as a success.....unless you are looking for a way to bankrupt the country.
Gulliver
You're right. In Massachusetts, we've shown what can happen when you let the insurance companies design the plan (thanks to Mitt). Boy, we could use a public option here.
AlanD2
The country is already well on its way to bankruptcy, thanks to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Reducing health care costs is one of the ways to get out of this mess. We cannot afford to spend twice as much per capita as any other nation, yet rank only 37th in the list of countries with the best health care.
jbuzz1
Agreed, we need to slow down medflation. However, the problem with the Dems bills is that they only serve to expand govt without reducing costs - so says the CBO. I'm all for a plan that works but people need to focus on incenting positive outcomes rather than fee-for-service. A public plan option is a joke - yeah, it might bring down costs but only by commanding doctors and hospitals to accept Medicare-style reimbursements. Do we really think we can pay providers less and still improve care? I think we'd wind up with physicians fleeing the profession.
Dolmance
Everything that's ever nauseated me by Democrats is being demonstrated in this battle for health care reform.
These people have always been susceptible to the charge from Republicans that they were weak characters. I pray the next few weeks prove those charges wrong.
DEMOCRATS - GROW A PAIR!!!
dana64
Dolmance..........You are correct....the Blue dogs make me sick.
they are just afraid................not realizing that we will vote them out in 2o10 and replace them with the GREENS.
THE FIGHT FOR PUBLIC OPTION will NOT DIE if Obama cannot get this in September..............wait do not despair. The fight goes on with a vengeance.
Health care is a RIGHT !!
Downriver
Fear mongering moron clown in action:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/20/glenn-beck-goes-on-epic-b_n_241 648.html
Resolute
I love that picture.
greenferret
The Democrats aren't spineless. They're just enacting the agenda of their corporate sponsors. Look at how much the insurance companies have donated to various Democrats, and it's clear as day.
The Green Party supports single-payer health care. If you want affordable health care for all Americans, get active with the Greens.
AlanD2
Unfortunately, the Greens are unlikely to ever have enough power to accomplish this. We need to "encourage" blue dog Democrats to get with the program!
dana64
THE GREENS should also realize that they will never have enough power , and form a COALITION with the REAL DEMs
dana64
GO GREEN................throw all REPUBS and blue dogs out
KemCho
Give your Congress Rep a call and ask him/her what is in Health care plan. I guarantee you that he/she does not know - not to mention how it will impact people he is representing.
dana64
THE 1018 pages of JUNK health care reform...............Obama did not want a MANDATE .the congress reform is a replica of the Massachusets plan.
HOnestly . have they no BRAINS to realize that only offering a medicare for all can solve the coverage to 46 million uniunsured.
WE then can figure out how to LIMIT some procedures and well RATIONing is RATIONAL and let the Supply and Demand decide that.
:LET US EDUCATE MINI-DOCTORs
DustyMills
To use Banjo1's annology, this" gargantuan budget-breaking agenda" is such a cop-out. What country in the world has better resources than the U.S.? Sure, we owe China a pile of money (Thanks to G.W.B.) but with better spending we can payback all that we owe and also provide healthcare for this nation.
ANY woman who runs a household can tell you that you don't spend what you can't afford. And our spending is out of control. The U.S. can no longer be the worlds caregiver. We must rein in the huge amounts of money that is used for war, bribes, space travel and for God knows what else. We have made the insurance giant's wealthy beyond belief and for this "they" make the decisions that control our health. Don't tell me we can't afford healthcare, our spending just needs to be in the right places.
AlanD2
Agreed. If we would bail out of our two wars and cut the military budget in half, we would have more than enough money for health care (and a lot of other things, besides).
Thank you.
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