Obama Needs To Remind America That Dems Gave Them Social Security and Medicare Over GOP Opposition
I wonder how many Americans know that a Democrat. FDR, created Social Security over the objections of Republicans. Or that LBJ created Medicare over the objection of Republicans, with the 1964 Presidential nominee, Barry Goldwater, calling it "socialized medicine."
But Obama rarely mentions it.
Yes, he alludes to previous efforts to enact health reform but obliquely, without driving home the point that today's battle between Democrats and rightwing Republicans is part of an old struggle. .
After all, one cannot assume the American people know any of this. Republicans make it seem that they were put on earth to defend Social Security and Medicare.And Obama lets them get away with it.
Maybe polling shows that Americans no longer know who Roosevelt was or care. Maybe it shows that even referring to the origins of Medicare will remind Americans about LBJ and Vietnam.
But I doubt it. There is something peculiar about invoking Reagan while ignoring our Democratic heroes including the last Democrats to fight the health care bale, Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama is a Democrat and it was the Democrats who gave us all the progressive reforms of the last hundred years (TR was the last GOP progressive and he left office in
1909).
You know that bumper sticker the labor movement puts out: "Labor Unions: The People Who Gave You The Weekend."
That is the approach the Democrats need to take.
"The Democrats: The People Who Gave You Social Security and Medicare DESPITE Republican Opposition."
How can it hurt? We should not be ashamed of our brand. The Republicans should be but they aren't.
Yes, but I think the party needs to do it...not so much Obama.
Remember, FDR and LBJ had HUGE popularity in the country. Obama doesn't really enjoy that level of popularity and, as a black man, he has other potential minefields lying in wait for him.
No one accused FDR or LBJ of not being natural-born Americans... just for starters.
September 10, 2009 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, they did try to organize a coup against FDR.
September 11, 2009 4:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder how many would be pundits know anything about political history?
FDR and Johnson had huge majorities of their own party when these policies were enacted.
In 1935, Democrats dominated the House:322-103 and the Senate:69-25-2. FDR had won 472 electoral votes(89%) in 1932 (57% of the popular vote) and was on his way to winning 523 electoral votes in in 1936.
In 1965, Johnson had just won the presidency with 61% of the popular vote, and 486 electoral votes (90%). Democrats had the advantage in the House 295-140 and in the Senate 68-32.
Obama won 53% of the popular vote and 68% of the electoral college (365 electoral votes). democrats hold 262 seats in the house and 57 in the Senate (not counting Sanders and Lieberman nor the Kennedy vacancy)
September 10, 2009 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Context? That'll be just about enough of that.
September 10, 2009 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama did say this in a nonpartisan sort of way in the speech last night. He is loath to be partisan which I believe is a huge mistake in the current atomosphere, but it would be nice if he started to beat those damned Republicans over the head. Last night, even with his mild criticisms of the reactionary right the whole Republican side of the chamber looked sick and fearful. If he were to go after them hard, other Democrats would follow, and the Republicans would run for the hills in complete disarray. Why he refuses to really put the Republicans' feet to the fire makes no sense.
September 10, 2009 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
You don't understand Obama. He fancies himself a compromiser and demonizing Repubs (besides being a lousy tactic) is not an option.
September 10, 2009 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
You don't understand Obama.
Obama's project is not to get the support of Republican legislators, it is to get the support of the 10% of the population to the right of the median voter. To get all the reasonable republicans to abandon the crazed lunatics they used to call fellow party members.
He turns himself into the very face of moderation and the partisans who can't stand it break themselves into little pieces trying make him into something he is not. Worked in the primary in the general and we are witnessing it right now in this debate. Obama bent over backward to be accomodating to republicans last night, even as he insisted that he wasn't going to tolerate the rhetorical bullshit.
The American people liked what they saw. The Republicans meanwhile are beside themselves calling him a liar, beneath the dignity of the office, unfair, mean partisan. Orin Hatch list all the ideas that he says Obama took from republicans and then says no way are they voting for any of that. It's a jackass festival.
Last night Obama delivered the first stiff jab counterpunch to a exhausted, bewildered party that has been throwing haymakers for a month straight. Get ready for the upper cut, straight right, and left cross. That is if they don't throw in the towel.
Anyone see the very slick "Americans for Stable Quality Care" pro-reform ads. The one I saw last night was debunking the lies (e.eg reform will put a bureaucrat between you and your doctor...quote from AMA on screen saying it is BS). Very, very good. And it's backed by Pharma money so these are gonna get big time play.
The republicans had one game plan, lie cheat and steal to demonize the plan. They've now punched themselves out. (In Cong. Wilson's case, I think he knocked himself out).
September 10, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the link to the very effective debunk ad: the group is a combo of AMA PHRMA, SEIU FamiliesUSA
and Federation of American Hospitals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt1FqP6BK1w
September 10, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder how many Americans know that . . .
Democrats prevented the enactment of a federal anti-lynching law for nearly a century.
There are lots of things Americans don't know.
September 10, 2009 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
More historical context? That just won't do.
September 10, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder how many Americans know that a Democrat. FDR, created Social Security over the objections of Republicans.
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Also over the objections of Democrats. You're trying to rewrite history - it had bipartisan support
http://www.ssa.gov/history/tally.html
House
Yes vote
Dem - 284 Rep - 81
No vote
Dem - 15 Rep - 15
Senate
Yes vote
Dem - 60 Rep - 16
No vote
Dem - 1 Rep - 5
September 10, 2009 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
So only 81 republican congresspersons voted yes and you consider this an overwhelming vote by the republicans for social security?????
September 10, 2009 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or that LBJ created Medicare over the objection of Republicans, with the 1964 Presidential nominee, Barry Goldwater, calling it "socialized medicine."
===============================================
Another distortion. The Social Security Act of 1965 had bipartisan support and bipartisan opposition. In the House most Republicans voted FOR Medicare
http://www.ssa.gov/history/tally65.html
House
Yes vote
Dem - 237 Rep - 70
No vote
Dem - 48 Rep - 68
Senate
Yes vote
Dem - 57 Rep - 13
No vote
Dem - 7 Rep - 17
September 10, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is the approach the Democrats need to take.
"The Democrats: The People Who Gave You Social Security and Medicare DESPITE Republican Opposition."
How can it hurt? We should not be ashamed of our brand. The Republicans should be but they aren't.
===============================================
Republicans should probably hope the Democrats do this so they could point out that in the four votes for the two acts Republicans voted IN FAVOR of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid 180 - 105.
Oops - more Democrat myths
September 10, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
We should not be ashamed of our brand. The Republicans should be but they aren't.
===============================================
Next thing you'll be telling us Democrats freed the slaves or something
September 10, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL, Obama needs to stop giving stupid speeches and start ACTING on those words!
RT
www.privacy-resources.tk
September 10, 2009 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
MJ? where are you??
September 10, 2009 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink