Flashback: Why Obama won the health care battle

[ProSense]

April 1, 2010:

Why Obama won the health care battle

By Drew Westen

How do you sell reform? You tell a consistent story about what's wrong with the system, who broke it and how we can fix it. You evoke not only people's concerns about their interests but their values: fairness, the ability to choose what's best for themselves and their family, security.

<...>

But over the past few weeks, that all changed. The president was now telling a compelling story. This story actually included the villains: Health insurance companies denying life-saving care to people for profits. In speeches journalists described as his most "passionate" since becoming president, he told the story of a woman who lost her life after she lost her health insurance and of a little boy who lost his mother because she couldn't pay for her illness. He seized on an insurance rate hike of nearly 40 percent in California to mobilize populist anger.

And for the first time, the president decided to answer the attacks of his opponents, not just with well-reasoned arguments (which he did) but with attitude. When John McCain started posturing at the president's "bipartisan" summit, the president reminded him that the election was over and who had won. When House Minority Leader John Boehner started rattling off talking points, the president responded with the verbal equivalent of eye rolling and asked whether there was someone who actually wanted to get something done.

The president looked strong, resolute and passionate.

There will be those who say this was just the unfolding of a plan the White House held all along. But that would be revisionist history. The president didn't intend to lose Ted Kennedy's seat to a right-wing politician in a left-wing state who campaigned on being the 41st vote against health care reform.

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Funny how people gain perspective after the fact. Maybe the President actually knows what he's doing?

[thunder rising]

1. He won!! Whooo hooo! What did we get? When it was boiled down to RomneyCare he stepped up.

[truedelphi]

3. Now.Now. you wouldn't want

George W. back, would you?

Or are you still pissed about that pony thing? <sarcasm meant>

[niceypoo]

58. "Every republican idea"

eom

[okieinpain]

65. yeah hilary wouldn't have settled for stupid romneycare, man

president obama is one dumb, weak, spineless, wimp, bastard. god we should have elected dean, where's kunich......

[bowens43]

2. He didn't win the health care battle.

He LOST big time (well, we lost). We got nothing and the insurance companies got a raise.

Either he doesn't know what he's doing or he
's a closet republican and he knew exactly what he was doing.

[ProSense]

4. "He LOST big time (well, we lost). " Here, a response to all the comments thus far:

He won, it's what he wanted, whether or not you like it.

[ibegurpard]

9. possibly the first thing you've ever said that I agree with

too bad we're stuck with his win

[Milo_Bloom]

13. So he lied during the campaign?

Cool. Good to know.

[ProSense]

23. Here's what happened:

he dealt with political realities, something some people are incapable of doing.

[Milo_Bloom]

27. Spin is so much fun, isn't it?

So he got everything he wanted, except for all the things that really mattered, but don't worry about that stuff because of the "political realities"

So, how much does it suck when facts get in the way of your spin? Like the fact that he had the votes for the Public Option (http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83641-sanders-senate-has-the-votes-to-pass-public-option-via-reconciliation) and 77% public support for the choice (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/20/new-poll-77-percent-suppo_n_264375.html) yet still failed to pass a public option.


We should all try the Obama excuse the next time the cops pull us over for speeding. I really tried to obey the speed limit and I know I COULD HAVE, but the political realities needed me to go faster.

[JustAnotherGen]

64. I wish

I could rec just a single post! Brilliant! :rofl:

[Dawgs]

55. Did he have enough votes (50) to pass the public option through reconciliation?

If you can answer that question honestly then we can have a discussion on political realities.

Do you disagree that he had the votes?

[Milo_Bloom]

71. Yes, he had enough votes

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83641-sanders-senate-has-the-votes-to-pass-public-option-via-reconciliation

And 77% Public support http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/20/new-poll-77-percent-suppo_n_264375.html

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. He won - we lost.

He got what he wanted, not what WE needed.

Just whose fucking side is he on, anyway?

[playstation]

25. Really? I thought he wanted the public option.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8590322&mesg_id=8590322

and didn't want the mandate.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/20/barack-obama/obama-flip-flops-requiring-people-buy-health-care/

[CreekDog]

37. why would what we want matter than what he does?

...or what he *said* he wanted during the campaign?

but you're right...he's the decider.

maybe you could put that on a bumper sticker for his 2012 primary campaign.

sounds real convincing.

[awoke_in_2003]

40. "whether or not you like it"...

Yeah, why should any politician be held accountable for what he spewed on the campaign trail?

[ProSense]

42. Can't please everyone.

The President promised an extension of the middle-class tax cuts. Some Democrats want all the tax cuts to expire, some don't.

[awoke_in_2003]

43. whoo, hoo...

the great middle class tax cuts that affected my paychecks by about $3.50 a paycheck. I would gladly give that up if we started taxing the upper 5% in this country fairly.

[niceypoo]

62. "The President promised an extension of the middle-class tax cuts"

Extending Bushes unpaid for middle class tax cuts alone will cost $3 trillion in new debt over ten years.

Abandoning Bush/Reagan supply side altogether will balance the budget in four years.

Another obvious no brainer.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1018

[Mimosa]

50. 'HE won' : we got screwed

"It's what HE wanted"??? *jaw drop*

For the insurance, pharma and hospital corporations to remain in CHARGE. And to remain profitable. For them to be in control.

Other developed countries have better systems which are patient centered.

And the for profit, expensive system remains just as it was. Sure in 2014 the pre-existing condition exclusion will be gone. But people's premiums will still come out of their pockets.

And i guess it doesn't matter about those who get seriously ill in the meantime and cannot afford premiums and high deductibles.

After all, you have to break egges to make an omelet, right>

[niceypoo]

61. LOL

What you just said, in a nutshell:

He wanted 'every republican idea' in the plan for zero in return.

He wanted to institutionalise the problem (private insurers).

He wanted to allow insurance companies to gouge (steal money from) patients for five years.

[okieinpain]

66. yeah, president obama is evil, he left us with health care coverage

what a bastard.

[dflprincess]

67. He left us with a mandate to buy the same old crap from the same old crooks

with no guarantee we'll be able to afford care when we need.

Just like the system we have now - except for the part where it is now required that massive amounts of public and private money be transfered to a corrupt industry.

[okieinpain]

70. well at least now you can't be kicked for being sick when you

do have insurance. I don't know what to say, i understand what is needed but do you not remember the uproar by the people on the other side of the aisle. people around here at like all president obama had to do was wave a magic wand and it all would have happened like magic. maybe, well I know he should have given up on healthcare and focused more on jobs.

[Mimosa]

18. We lost. I'm trying to forgive what happened.

I think I won't make it to 2014.

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. I'm so sorry to hear that.

I'm sending you good thoughts.

[Mimosa]

24. *hugs to you, Raleigh*

You are a good person. You're always nice and never fooled by propaganda.

[polichick]

59. Yeah, it's possible "he won" but we sure didn't. nt

[Autumn]

5. It was insurance finance reform

The only difference I see so far is higher deductibles and rates.

[ProSense]

8. Does that have anything to do with the OP point?

Call it whatever you want to, this is about achieving the passage of legislation and signing it into law.

[Autumn]

16. Since Obama called it insurance finance reform,

that's what I'm calling it. You are right though, he certainly knew what he was doing.

[Hardrada]

6. Automatic unrec

[ProSense]

7. I'm

in tears.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[XemaSab]

10. I totally doubted him before that

but since then I have realized that he is a strong, capable leader on a variety of issues.

[Milo_Bloom]

12. LOL.

Oh yeah, he "won" that battle.

Too bad his victory is going to cost so many people their lives.

[Mimosa]

15. I think I'm one, Milo.

But I forgive him. Obama has done the best he can, hasn't he?

[Milo_Bloom]

21. Not even remotely close.

Remember, Obama had the votes to pass the public option in reconciliation (http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83641-sanders-senate-has-the-votes-to-pass-public-option-via-reconciliation)

and the public option had 77% support (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/20/new-poll-77-percent-suppo_n_264375.html)

Yet, he chose to leave millions of people at the mercy of insurance companies who are singularly responsible for the deaths of 45,000 people per year. (http://realneo.us/content/rare-example-real-world-being-real-michael-moore-confronts-industry-designed-push-him-over-c)

I will never EVER forgive Obama for selling us out for his own political interests.

[Clio the Leo]

14. thank you. nt

[rgbecker]

17. I'm with you Pro sense. That meeting with the Republicans was the most amazing

TV I ever watched. They seemed to remember it when they were invited to talk this November with Obama about tax cuts. NO, NO...well maybe in December!

Obama has heard them out. Again no compromise, only more NO from the party of no. Will Obama go ahead without them? Not much time left. Hoyer is working on a middle class cut only bill. Let's sit back and watch. Or better yet, call your republican Senator.

DUers can bitch all they want about the health care bill Obama pushed through, but I can tell you there has never been anything like it and when your grandchild gets born with some debilitating decease you are going to be happy the insurance companies have to step up.

[Mimosa]

20. What about over 50 people not poor enough for medicaid?

What do we do if we have uterine cancer?

And we're not at the rock bottom for Medicaid.

There are many people in my position. $10,000 deductible 70/30 BC/BS insurance. But each month we fall behind because it costs $895 a month.

[Nite Owl]

26. Oh geez, Mimosa

I'm so sorry. He won a political win but it certainly wasn't for us. How do we try to find forgiveness for this, I'm further away from that now.
I wish you the best. Is there any way you could move to another state that would be able to offer you the medical care you urgently need? I know that is a big step but it may save your life. My son had leukemia and even with health insurance we nearly had to declare bankruptcy and were broke for years. But he had good care and is here today.

[ProSense]

28. What about the

women and children whose lives were save when they gained coverage for the first time in years?

[Milo_Bloom]

29. "Coverage" doesn't save any lives.

HEALTH CARE saves lives. Insurance coverage doesn't equal care.

No amount of spin changes that reality.

[ProSense]

30. And they got care

No amount of spin is going to change the fact that a person going to a doctor for life saving treatment is care.

[Milo_Bloom]

31. Guess you never watched sicko.

Shame. You might have learned something about the industry and how it works.

[ProSense]

32. You mean the

movie that was made three years before the law was enacted?

[Milo_Bloom]

33. The one about the health insurance companies.

Who now have more power than ever before thanks to The Great Capitulater.

[ProSense]

35. So health care reform made it worse? n/t

[Milo_Bloom]

39. Much.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[displacedvermoter]

53. "Debilitating decease"

is that like a death panel thing?

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CreekDog]

36. Yes why doesn't he treat the current set of issues or a couple with that vigor?

why not?

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Radical Activist]

44. I had a friend die recently because he didn't have health insurance.

He went to doctors and hospitals who kind of blew him off. He got lousy care because he didn't have insurance and tey knew he couldn't pay. They finally did surgery and discovered that he had advanced cancer. He died less than a week later.

I know the cynics like to spread their cute little talking points, "insurance isn't health care." Well, having insurance would have meant getting better health care for him and a hell of a lot of other people in this country. It could have saved his life.

If someone wants to diminish that and not even care that lives will be saved because it hurts their ass too much to admit that Obama did something good THEN GO FUCK YOURSELF!!! These are human lives we're talking about, not some academic argument with Ralph Nader.

[ibegurpard]

45. only "civilized" country in the world in which that could happen

and we just institutionalized our system of healthcare delivery...
my condolences on your friend.

[Radical Activist]

46. We just did something that could have saved his life.

And next time, when we take another step forward, we'll save even more lives.

[Mimosa]

48. Who's 'we'?

Do you work for the government?

[Autumn]

74. You got crickets on that one.

Like that imperial we?

[jeanpalmer]

47. We didn't need a story teller

We need real health care reform.

[Safetykitten]

49. This is so tiresome. Believe! Believe! You must!

[Mass]

51. I am happy for all those the reform will help, but the truth is that Obama did not have a compelling

story to tell. Clearly, he did not, even if he should have. (as seen by the fact we lost this election big time, as he has been recognizing himself).

His tortuous way to deal with these issues and his refusal to call out the GOP weakened his story, as well as the fact that too few provisions had kicked out. Obama did not look strong.

[ProSense]

52. The OP wasn't the only one who saw that in the moment

Krugman:

Health reform is back from the dead. Many Democrats have realized that their electoral prospects will be better if they can point to a real accomplishment. Polling on reform — which was never as negative as portrayed — shows signs of improving. And I’ve been really impressed by the passion and energy of this guy Barack Obama. Where was he last year?

<...>

[displacedvermoter]

54. So why didn't this accomplishment you are so proud of

improve their prospects?

Seems to me that more widely shared benefit from the new "reforms" would have perhaps helped when "we" lost the house last month, much of "our" Senate majority -- which wasn't doing us any good anyway -- along with a shit load of state legislatures, etc.

[ProSense]

57. Conversely, why

didn't voting against it improve the blue dogs prospects?

[displacedvermoter]

63. There was no overwhelming sense that this bill was as

"historic" as the President billed it. Too much stuff put off until 2014, too many people left out entirely, nothing to really
sell the package to the entire nation. It was never packaged the way it should have been -- at least for me -- as an essential economic recovery effort. Until health care for all is resolved, too many business, individuals, even government entities are prisoners to the ever growing costs.

Not enough juice to overcome the teabaggers and nuts who opposed it so efficiently in the media, and not enough to truly thrill the public at large.

And the process was so friggin' ugly.

[totodeinhere]

56. When are you going to stop beating that dead horse?

My health insurance premium just went up again and the copay for one of the drugs my doctor has me on went up to $273 per month. That so-called HCR sure helped me a lot didn't it?

[Hello_Kitty]

60. Yeah, the victory was apparent in the recent election.

Republicans all over the country were running on "Repeal Obama-care".

[Jakes Progress]

68. And we've always been at war with Eurasia, I mean with

Eastasia.. Or no, with.... Oh hell, just give me the press release damnit.

[Joe Bacon]

69. Wow, thanks, Mr. President

Thanks for increasing my premiums 15%, doubling the copayment and tripling the deductible... :sarcasm:

[Raine]

72. Insurance and Big Pharma were the winners in that nt

:thumbsdown:

[Cali_Democrat]

73. The only way we can say it's successful is if everyone is covered and costs are reduced

Anything less than that and we can say it's a failure.

I'm not ready yet to declare the bill a failure, but there are many aspects that are worrisome.