It's a good thing Obama didn't follow the media's advice on how to pass health care reform

[ProSense]

The media pundits have been clamoring all summer for Obama to follow Clinton's exact path: have the executive branch overstep its bounds by writing a bill, then deliver a speech to Congress early in debate (in Clinton's case September 1993) and spend the summer (in Clinton's case fall 1993 on) trying to force a bill through Congress, after excluding key player in the Senate from the process, while the media and the RW attacked the bill.

Clinton's bill was declared dead in August 1994, only a few months before the midterm elections.

Obama is on track to pass health care this year.

[katandmoon]

1. Depends on what you mean by "passing health care."

[ProSense]

2. What? n/t

[katandmoon]

16. If what Obama signs off on is a giveaway to health insurance companies, which his coddling of

blue dogs and public disdain for progressives certainly indicates that it will be, do you consider that "passing health care"?

[Hawkowl]

17. Exactly!

At the very LEAST, it should be medicare for everyone who wants it. This mandate bullshit guaranteeing everyone buy private insurance is nothing but a huge giveaway to insurance companies with no eye to improving HEALTH CARE. What we have is a health INSURANCE proposal designed to give insurance corporations a bailout like the Wall Street received.

[Jakes Progress]

18. Oh. But we will get out bill.

Not reform. Not health care for all. And a bigger tax-supported profit margin for Pharma and Insurance.

But we'll pass a bill. That's all that matters. Any bill. Screw people. Just pass a bill.

[ProSense]

22. If isn't

reality

[katandmoon]

34. That doesn't mean Obama won't sign off on a health insurer giveaway

[joeycola]

36. Obama wants any bill-any bill will do to have his "Rose Garden signing"

==but the roses will be wilted.

[Oregone]

9. Also depends on what you mean by "reform."

[babylonsister]

3. I've come to the inescapable conclusion that whatever the

"media" thinks is the "correct" course of action, do the opposite. Do not listen to any of them (with clear exceptions in only a few).

They are not informing us, they are trying to sway us.

[ProSense]

4. It's clear that some so-called Democrats are as disingenuous as the media. n/t

[AuntPatsy]

12. That is exactly the way I have been thinking as of late...and it works much better in sorting

out the trash.

[FrenchieCat]

13. I've been stating exactly that in my profile for the last 6 years!

You've got it pegged...Babylonsister! :headbang:

[Enrique]

5. I've heard your narrative over and over in the media

"Obama learned lessons from Clinton's mistakes. Clinton insisted on the legislation being written in the White House, Obama is leaving it to Congress."

That narrative might be true, but it is a very popular narrative in the media.

[ProSense]

7. No, some in the media have posed that as a question and some declare it without

drawing the correct parallels. In fact, the recent pieces on the topic by Maureen Dowd and Frank Rich claim that Obama made a mistake by not following the track in the OP.

[azmouse]

6. I'm hearing so many conflicting stories on a health care bill

I don't know what to believe any more.

At this point I have to wait to see what is in any bill that gets passed, and wait to see what effects it has on the American public's access to care.

[DevonRex]

8. Great point! Thank you. nt

[georgian style]

10. I haven't heard many media outlets advising Obama to follow Clinton's path

I can't recall.

[FrenchieCat]

14. Than you haven't been listening.

Here's a Q-tip!

[xultar]

15. What do you watch Fox? I watch MSNBC and I haven't heard it. They want him to

Take control but not write the bill which is totally different from Clinton

[HopeOverFear]

11. Excellent points

[Cha]

19. Nobody who cares for our Nation would follow the

corporatemediawhores' advice on anything much less something vital to our country.

[Clio the Leo]

20. I'm starting to think this Obama dude knows what he's doing.....

http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/President+Barack+Obama+First+Day+White+House+J4K_yRQjVppl.jpg

(I believe this photo was taken at 9am on January 21st. ;) )

[Parker CA]

21. I think he might have a bit of a clue ;) As he says...

He might not throw the first punch, but he'll land the last.

[Clio the Leo]

24. Doesn't it just LOOK like Rahm is saying.....

"see, what we did wrong was send the f*cking bill to the dumb f*cks too f*cking early!"

[depakid]

23. Wow. Sometimes the detachment from reality and the rationalizations are astonishing

The best take on this (outside of the actual experts who study this stuff) is that the administration over learned the lessons of the Clinton efforts- and failed to marshal the dynamics.

[Clio the Leo]

25. You were watching "So You Think You Can Dance?" Wednesday night weren't you?

Admit it?

It's ok ....... I understand the First Lady likes it too. :)

[ProSense]

26. Sometimes overrationalization causes one to lose sight of reality

Obama's bill, not just the public option, is enjoying tremendous support in Congress, among seniors, other Americans, unions and even in some segments of the business community.

The bill is going to pass with a strong public option. No amount of psychobabble changes that reality.


edited typos

[depakid]

27. Does Obama even have a bill? and if so, does even a plurality know what's in it?

My bet is that more people know the word "Obamacare" and think it's some sort of scheme to take away their insurance than have the first clue about the actual provisions.

And why they may (or as it stands may not) improve matters for most people.

Therein lies the problem- and that's been the problem all summer long.

[ProSense]

28. "Does Obama even have a bill?" Exactly what did you learn from the Clinton era? Also

where have you been over the last few days?

[depakid]

29. Seen the same vacillation is there a robust public option, or isn't there?

Where does the administration stand?

Rich summed it up succinctly: it's like waiting for Godot....

[ProSense]

30. You are demonstrating that you don't have a clue where things stand.

If you did, you wouldn't be asking if the administration has a plan or parroting stuff only the RW idiots believe at this point:

"My bet is that more people know the word "Obamacare" and think it's some sort of scheme to take away their insurance..."

[depakid]

35. I'm saying that the public doesn't have a clue, either!

And neither do you!

[rug]

31. He'd be better off writing a bill than a speech.

[ProSense]

32. Yeah, he'd be better off writing a bill just to say he did it. n/t

[rug]

33. Anybody serious about healthcare would be better off.