I watched the speech tonight and afterwards I participated in a conference call with the White House. Dan Pfeiffer, the White House deputy communications director, fielded our questions. So, what did I learn?
Number one, I learned that the South Carolinian GOP’s problems don’t end with their philandering governor, Mark Sanford. Rep. Joe Wilson (whose government website is loading very sloooowly) had the temerity to interrupt the president mid-speech and yell, “You lie.” Actually, the president wasn’t lying. He was correcting a lie about the health care reforms providing insurance coverage to illegal immigrants. They won’t. Wilson has now apologized and groveled before Rahm Emanuel. But Joe Wilson wasn’t alone in his rudeness and disrespect. Other Republican congressmen made heckling noises and some were even waving what appeared to be sheafs of paper.
Number two, I learned that Obama is willing to compromise on the public option to get the larger reform bill passed, but he isn’t willing to compromise on providing for some affordable option if people cannot afford mandated coverage.
It’s worth noting that a strong majority of Americans still favor a public insurance option of the sort I’ve proposed tonight. But its impact shouldn’t be exaggerated – by the left, the right, or the media. It is only one part of my plan, and should not be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles. To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a means to that end – and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.
For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring. But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can’t find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice.
Number three, I learned that the primary focus of the White House push (as always in this center-right country) is to reassure the vast majority of people who already have health insurance that they aren’t going to get screwed in this deal. The key phrase is “security and stability,” and you’ll hear White House flaks repeat that phrase endlessly as if it came out of Paul Rosenberg’s magic framing hat. What does it mean? It means that you won’t lose your health insurance if you lose or change your job. You won’t be denied coverage for a preexisting condition. You won’t have your coverage denied on a technicality if you become sick or get injured. You won’t go bankrupt if you get sick because your annual and lifetime coverage will not be capped. And your premiums will hopefully go down. That is a lot of injustice cured in one bill.
Number Four, I learned that Obama has a disconcerting penchant for giving away goodies before he has locked down anything in return. He instructed his Health & Human Services secretary to begin implementing a Bush demonstration project to address ‘defensive medicine’ caused by fear of lawsuits. It’s a shot at the trial lawyers, a critical Democratic constituency. I don’t have a problem with taking some skin out of the trial lawyers, but did he win one Republican vote before he made this friendly gesture? I hope so, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
So, did the speech change anything? Maybe. He’s clearly trying to get something passed without having to resort to any parliamentary tricks. He definitely added pressure on anyone who is considering holding up the bill with a filibuster. The Republicans brought their townhall antics to the well of the House of Representatives, which won’t win them any sympathy from swing voters. But I don’t honestly know if he made any progress on moving the critical Senate at all.
It looks like he thinks the sweet middle spot is to make progressives cave on a public option from day one and make the centrists cave on not having any option at all. He can get a worthwhile bill out of this, but just barely. If he has to move much at all to the right, the whole thing won’t work to bring down costs, won’t provide an affordable option, and will be a political albatross if combined with a mandate.
