« Why are they Facebook Stalking Sarah Palin? | J. Clarence's Blog | When "We Want Reform" Really Means "We Like the Status Quo" »
If the Public Option goes bust, so also might Obama's presidency
During President Obama's most recent town hall meeting in Grand Junction, Colorado, the president acknowledged that he and his administration were in fact loosing the battle over health care, when he downplayed the importance of having the so-called "Public Option" in the final legislation. The president's statements that the government plan that would be available for all Americans would not be necessary for him to consider the overall package a success, is an indication that the President is at this point reaching for whatever he can get.
While President Obama is correct in that the Public Option is just one part of his ideal health care package, it is a crucial part in providing health care to the insured, keeping insurance companies from running monopolies like many do now (with some companies holding up to 70% of the policies in some states), and ultimately saving Americans who would choose to keep private insurance money.
Nevertheless, the administration seems now poised to go ahead and pass legislation without the Public Option, which still is not likely to corral much Republican support.
The administration has failed to comprehend the Republican strategy of derailing any and all legislation proposed by this administration, in hopes of watering down the bill(s) and/or stopping it outright, for the sake of scoring political points with the base and in effect running the agenda in Washington de facto despite having lost the previous election by significant margins. It is what happened with the stimulus package, what Republicans tried to do with the budget, and where Republicans almost succeeded in doing with the defense appropriations bill that cut funding for the F-22 Fighter Jet.
Heath care is likely to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for the Obama administration, if he cannot press forward and come out ahead of the Palin like rhetoric that is spewing from the political Right. President Obama has spent several months talking up health care reform, not to mention putting huge amounts of political capital on the line to garner public support for this piece of legislation that is decades, almost generations overdue. To see his plan go up in smoke, especially over such folly like the suggestion of "Death Panels" being included in the bill, will cast doubt--if it has not already--in the president's supporters who initially saw his administration as one that could transcend conventional Washington politics.
Maybe it is the fact that the president filled much of his inner circle with former Clintonites that are permanently scarred from the last Democratic attempt to reform health-care, or possibly the fact that the president is or was, as Paul Krugman suggested in his opt-ed last week for the New York Times, too naive when he entered office thinking that Republicans would be ready to work with the new administration; in either case we have seen the current health care debate derailed by farcical rhetoric from the conservative right. As a result President Obama now finds himself on the defense for what should be an open and shut case.
The American health care system is bust. While conservative pundits religiously repeat the poll numbers that show that a majority of Americans enjoy their private insurance, no American enjoys paying higher premiums for the same amount of care, and not having a choice in what care they can receive if one insurance company has a monopoly in their state.
The fact that the president and Democrats in Congress have failed to properly frame the debate over health-care reform is an indication to their inability to control the message, an apparent inherent Democratic defect. Even if the President gets a bill passed that does not include the Public Option, which would put him at odds with his strongest supporters, in hopes of getting something passed this year; significant damage has already been done to his presidency and creditability.
The President's town hall in Grand Junction was a great step in combating the misconceptions and lies circulating throughout the press, and played to the President's strength in talking directly to the public rather than through the White House Press Corps; however, it baffles the mind why the administration sat on its fingers while the conservative talking point machine was able to do its job for so long.
If the Republicans in Congress can defeat or derail health care reform long enough as the President's window of opportunity to pass this legislation closes it is likely to put the administration and Obama's presidency into a position where he does not have a majority of the public's support. Not because they believe what is coming out of conservative pundits and elected officials mouths, but because they will doubt his ability to execute his initiatives properly. Doubt and fear have become the Republicans main tools in attacking the president.
In trying so hard to not become just another partisan president, President Obama may very well put himself into a position where he cannot implement his agenda because he gave Republicans in Congress too much wiggle room. If that happens it will open the door to a Republican take over during the midterm elections, which would ultimately only compound the difficulties.
Since Republicans are out of power, they are absolved of any responsibility in the public's eye (and they continue to repeat that they are in the minority to ensure the public sees it that way), but yet continue to have a seat at the table. As a result fringe like Republican ideology has become a parasite to the civic process; and the administration has allowed it to corrupt the system for too long.
President Obama cannot tackle the problem of unruly Republicans by himself, Democrats in Congress must also stop playing defense and allowing conservative pundits like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich to set the agenda. Despite having won the past two elections, Democrats still behave as if they are in the minority; and that is only likely to get worse once the campaign season for midterm elections get kicked into high gear, as we all know Democrats, with the exception of those from very safe districts, become more conservative almost overnight.
The message President Obama should be sending to both the American people and Democratic leaders who are on the fence about healthcare reform if he wants to be truly successful is, "if not now, when?". For Americans to make the point that our current system will lead to ultimately a far worse scenario if we do nothing; and to Democratic Congressmen to drive home the fact that they were put into office to make these changes and that Republican, who have had years to reform healthcare when the economy was doing well but chose not to, have demonstrated no interest in fixing the errors.
While President Obama is correct in that the Public Option is just one part of his ideal health care package, it is a crucial part in providing health care to the insured, keeping insurance companies from running monopolies like many do now (with some companies holding up to 70% of the policies in some states), and ultimately saving Americans who would choose to keep private insurance money.
Nevertheless, the administration seems now poised to go ahead and pass legislation without the Public Option, which still is not likely to corral much Republican support.
The administration has failed to comprehend the Republican strategy of derailing any and all legislation proposed by this administration, in hopes of watering down the bill(s) and/or stopping it outright, for the sake of scoring political points with the base and in effect running the agenda in Washington de facto despite having lost the previous election by significant margins. It is what happened with the stimulus package, what Republicans tried to do with the budget, and where Republicans almost succeeded in doing with the defense appropriations bill that cut funding for the F-22 Fighter Jet.
Heath care is likely to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for the Obama administration, if he cannot press forward and come out ahead of the Palin like rhetoric that is spewing from the political Right. President Obama has spent several months talking up health care reform, not to mention putting huge amounts of political capital on the line to garner public support for this piece of legislation that is decades, almost generations overdue. To see his plan go up in smoke, especially over such folly like the suggestion of "Death Panels" being included in the bill, will cast doubt--if it has not already--in the president's supporters who initially saw his administration as one that could transcend conventional Washington politics.
Maybe it is the fact that the president filled much of his inner circle with former Clintonites that are permanently scarred from the last Democratic attempt to reform health-care, or possibly the fact that the president is or was, as Paul Krugman suggested in his opt-ed last week for the New York Times, too naive when he entered office thinking that Republicans would be ready to work with the new administration; in either case we have seen the current health care debate derailed by farcical rhetoric from the conservative right. As a result President Obama now finds himself on the defense for what should be an open and shut case.
The American health care system is bust. While conservative pundits religiously repeat the poll numbers that show that a majority of Americans enjoy their private insurance, no American enjoys paying higher premiums for the same amount of care, and not having a choice in what care they can receive if one insurance company has a monopoly in their state.
The fact that the president and Democrats in Congress have failed to properly frame the debate over health-care reform is an indication to their inability to control the message, an apparent inherent Democratic defect. Even if the President gets a bill passed that does not include the Public Option, which would put him at odds with his strongest supporters, in hopes of getting something passed this year; significant damage has already been done to his presidency and creditability.
The President's town hall in Grand Junction was a great step in combating the misconceptions and lies circulating throughout the press, and played to the President's strength in talking directly to the public rather than through the White House Press Corps; however, it baffles the mind why the administration sat on its fingers while the conservative talking point machine was able to do its job for so long.
If the Republicans in Congress can defeat or derail health care reform long enough as the President's window of opportunity to pass this legislation closes it is likely to put the administration and Obama's presidency into a position where he does not have a majority of the public's support. Not because they believe what is coming out of conservative pundits and elected officials mouths, but because they will doubt his ability to execute his initiatives properly. Doubt and fear have become the Republicans main tools in attacking the president.
In trying so hard to not become just another partisan president, President Obama may very well put himself into a position where he cannot implement his agenda because he gave Republicans in Congress too much wiggle room. If that happens it will open the door to a Republican take over during the midterm elections, which would ultimately only compound the difficulties.
Since Republicans are out of power, they are absolved of any responsibility in the public's eye (and they continue to repeat that they are in the minority to ensure the public sees it that way), but yet continue to have a seat at the table. As a result fringe like Republican ideology has become a parasite to the civic process; and the administration has allowed it to corrupt the system for too long.
President Obama cannot tackle the problem of unruly Republicans by himself, Democrats in Congress must also stop playing defense and allowing conservative pundits like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich to set the agenda. Despite having won the past two elections, Democrats still behave as if they are in the minority; and that is only likely to get worse once the campaign season for midterm elections get kicked into high gear, as we all know Democrats, with the exception of those from very safe districts, become more conservative almost overnight.
The message President Obama should be sending to both the American people and Democratic leaders who are on the fence about healthcare reform if he wants to be truly successful is, "if not now, when?". For Americans to make the point that our current system will lead to ultimately a far worse scenario if we do nothing; and to Democratic Congressmen to drive home the fact that they were put into office to make these changes and that Republican, who have had years to reform healthcare when the economy was doing well but chose not to, have demonstrated no interest in fixing the errors.
Advertisement
"If the Public Option goes bust, so also might Obama's presidency"
- Actually, it's the other way around.
Obama needs to pass SOME KIND OF BILL so that he can claim landmark health care reform. So that Dems can run on something other than Porkulus and Cash for Clunkers in 2010.
He doesn't have votes in the Senate to pass the public option.
So, instead of allowing the opposition label this reform "Epic Fail" just in time for the elections, he's walking back from the public option.
That gives him a chance to sign some bill with great fanfare in December and ride it all the way to preserve Dem majority.
As for his own presidency, perhaps you could enlighten and surprise me by pointing to a viable, serious contender for the next presidential election - except for Obama?
August 17, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
At this time, I cannot identify anyone (Repub or Dem or other) who I believe would be 'better' than Obama. Do you have any potential candidates who you believe would be 'better'? If so, please advise.
Thanks.
August 17, 2009 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately - I don't see any viable alternative either, in any party.
August 17, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lalo, you are mistaken if you think Republicans will only label the bill as "Epic Fail" if he doesn't pass something. They already have.
With news of the public option being taken off the table sent Republicans have already declared victory.
Also, I seriously doubt how effective just passing a bill will be for the President. It's been an issue that has been in the news for months and both sides are focused on this issue, as a result simply passing something and expecting it to satisfy everybody seems more like blissful ignorance than anything else.
August 17, 2009 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dean 2012. People are ready to scream.
August 17, 2009 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think people are missing the big picture her. I'm sure congress is.
he problem is using a business model for health care. This would only work if everyone needed the same services consistently. But hey don't. So you have health facilities fully staffed - most of the time only treating a handful of patients.
It's like having a fully stocked and staffed Sears where most of the time you might see one or two people. But keep if fully staffed and stocked...just in case.
A better model would be the way we handle fire rescue.
That's why we need a single payer system.
C
August 17, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is overwrought and premature to say the least.
Some kind of HCR will pass. It may even include the PO. The point is we have a long way to go and many fights along the way. I think the MSM has been pushing this meme along with the GOP that if we stop him here, he's finished. Well he's not, it doesnt work that way. He has a long 3.5 years left to do lots of stuff, and no sign that the GOP stand for anything other than the Party of No.
I also think liberals are being a bit hysterical. There's no law preventing the PO from being offered up as a stand alone bill, say, after the next midterms or in 2013. It remains popular in polling. Who says you cant take two biotes of the apple? Obama could push through the Exchange now, and bolster in next round.
This story just aint writ yet.
August 17, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll admit that the piece itself is highly presumptive. However, I do not think that it is without cause.
We've seen presidencies, where one major flop had permanently damaged the presidency and the effectiveness it had in putting through legislation after. In case of Obama the real threat is Democrats in Congress. If you loose a lot of seats, because of either weak Democratic turn out or another Republican uprising that puts his agenda in jeopardy.
So there is legitimate reason to be worried that if Obama caves that it could have repercausians down the line for the rest of his presidency.
While there is no law preventing Congress from revisiting the Public Option, there will likely be little to no political capital or ambition to revisit this issue in the future; especially after Democrats are likely to loose seats in 2010.
Liberals have every right to be hysterical and worried. We've been here before, and we are not likely to find ourselves in such a position again for a while.
August 18, 2009 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink