Barack Obama and Health Care Reform

Can't blame him for being somewhat cautious after the stimulus fight and moderates essentially shooting down much of his plan.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

he would spell out more clearly what is and isn't acceptable to him in a final product.
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Why? What he going to do? Veto it?!

With people like Max Baucus and Ben Nelson around I can understand the President's cautious approach. He needs to flush out the opportunists, the fingers to the wind wallahs and others with their hands deep in HealthCare's pocket before he enters the fray.

Seriously, Obama isn't interested in investing any 'political capital' until he actually has product to sell. He probably figures that limiting lawmaker's perogatives at this point would lower the odds of passage.
I doubt he'd be willing to veto any bill that results.

Here is a thought, maybe President Obama doesn't want to give the Republicans a line of attack by coming out for how he wants the bill to be only to hear them say they weren't consulted. Right now the more he takes a hands off approach the more it shows he is giving the Republicans every opportunity to come ot the table and for compromises to be made. Now I don't understand the concern trolling because honestly President Obama is working with a stacked deck now that reconcilliation is on the table. What I expect you will see is that after maybe a month or so has passed and Republicans aren't offering anything of substance President Obama will take ownership of the bill and then he will convince Dem leaders in Congress to swing his way by and in large and when the obstructionists object he will point out that when they had a chance to be constructive they chose not to be. Whether Obama is cominig out strong in the media or even to some of the rank and file I would be shocked if he hadn't spoken with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid about how he wants the bill to look ultimately. For now I don't think he loses anything by being hands of. Instead in fact I think it burnishes his bipartisan cred and it takes away a target for the right wing smear machine. With the political climate being what it is I think its the right way to go.

K Tizzle
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I actually wasn't talking about you, I was talking about the unnamed Dems you keep referring to.

Where's the upside for Obama getting involved early? Is he calculating that he'll have more influence coming in late to resolve stalemates than he would have had investing in a particular approach early on?
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I'm wondering if he would have been more involved early if he didn't have so much else on his plate. On the other hand, this has been his consistent approach, hasn't it - including with the stimulus bill?

If Obama doesn't stand up for a public plan, it will be considered a betrayal of his campaign promises.
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Lets not forget that Obama was just about the last candidate to come up with a health care proposal -- and he, like all the other Democratic candidates, included a "public plan" option. Had he not done so -- had he said "well, I think that we can leave it in the hands of the private insurance companies", he would likely have lost the nomination, because health care was the domestic issue in the primary.
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Not that I'd be terribly surprised if Obama does betray the people that elected him.... but its crucial to note that if he doesn't use his political capital to ensure that there is an effective public plan that he is betraying his promises.

One other impression I get is that Obama is significantly more pro-business than either his opponents OR his allies let on. I think that when he says, "I recognize that there's that concern. I think it's a serious one and a real one. And we'll make sure that it gets addressed." he's just being straight up honest. The folks who are crying 'socialist' and such are reacting to a cartoon, not to the actual man.

K Tizzle
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Describe a situation for me where health care doesn't happen this year with reconcilliation that doesn't involve President Obama making a big overt mistake. Right now the biggest threat to healthcare as far as I can tell is Obama making a move that Republicans can successfully paint as an overreach and that will give conservative Democrats cover to also vote against it. Keeping in mind that hopefully if it gets to where we have to use reconcilliation to push it through Franken will be seated. Its ok to be concerned but its not ok to be freaking out over smart political moves by the President. I imagine that if President Obama was very hands on the same people would be worried that he was too hands on. Either way like I said before the deck is stacked this time in a way that it never has been in the past and while nobody should be taking victory laps, they also probably shouldn't be expressing to a reporter (no offense) that they think the President should be doing more. That gives the impression that either it isn't important enough to him or that he doesn't know what he is doing. Democrats are notorious concern trolls which is always problematic but this is one time where I think if they have any concerns and they want health care to pass they should keep those concerns between themselves and the WhiteHouse. Especially when we are this early in the game.

"One other impression I get is that Obama is significantly more pro-business than either his opponents OR his allies let on."
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Its not just Obama that is more pro-business than they would like people to believe. There are a whole host of democrats who will wail, preen and pander in front of the cameras but, in the end will find some lame excuse on why they just couldn't vote in favor of the American people. Just like they did with the cram down. But the beauty is we rubes will reup these same clowns without batting and eye. Because maybe next time.

Was Specter's defection being embraced warmly by the Democrats all about health care? He's already gotten a pile of money for NIH, so I'm not sure what he still wants out of a health bill.
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KT - it sounds like you're saying that Kennedy no longer has the primary hold on the debate. Is that because he's lost some clout on the issue or that others have equally strong pov's.

"But now, up against a tight deadline to get this legislation passed, some Democrats say (mostly privately) that they wish the President were more of a presence in the talks."
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Please explain to me what "deadline", and why there is such a rush?
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Is this going to be another example of rushing a bill to vote which was never read by any of the congressmen or women?
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Do you sense that the President's favorability ratings are falling like a rock?
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Or, do you think the American people will see this for what it really is, more democrat bull-crap, and a way to totally destroy our health-care system?

rusty: a way to totally destroy our health-care system?
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What health care system?

KT: I read your column before posting. I am sceptical about Democrats who are beholden to healthcare money. After reading several posts mentioning Kennedy I wonder whether his own health problems means he will not be leading the push for a new plan. Overall I have less confidence in the Senate to get the people's business done. But when it comes to monied interest groups the Senate finds it can expend the energy needed given how well they are lubricated with cash.

I guess I don't see the Senate in stark Republican, Democratic and Independent terms.

Which may be why members want the President to provide aggressive leadership.

Either way like I said before the deck is stacked this time in a way that it never has been in the past and while nobody should be taking victory laps, they also probably shouldn't be expressing to a reporter (no offense) that they think the President should be doing more.
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there is an excellent reason why people like Dodd are saying the President should be doing more -- Obama's absense from the debate is allowing the insurance companies and their factotums to dominate the discussion to the point where the there will be no real health care reform, just a bill that enhances health insurance company profits. Obama needs to stand up for a public plan -- and make it clear that such a plan is necessary because insurance companies are in the business of denying care to maximize profits.

Obama offered to curb malpractice awards, a subject near and dear to the republicans, and expected them to offer something in return? Political theater. He knows they're not going to cooperate under any circumstances. He knows they have no interest in bipartisanship and are going to do anything they can to derail anything he wants to accomplish. They'll sit on their hands during the entire process and then whine about being excluded again. When the bill is finished they'll bring out their own comic book length alternative and act like it's a viable alternative. The right wing knows meaningful healthcare reform is another nail in their coffin. Personally, I can't wait for the RW to flatline so that we can pronounce them dead and bury the carcass. Maybe whatever emerges to take the place of their party can use a few of the organs, but the body has to be disposed of.