I was listening to Air America. The Rachel Maddow show was talking about what a new administration would accomplish. Health care wasn't one of them.
More after the jump.
According to the discussion, major accomplishments such as health care needs to be accomplished in the first year. They were discussing comments by Jay Rockerfellow that health care would not be possible. Would Democrats pay a price for not passing health care? No said the panel.
So I went looking on the net for the article that was causing the prediction. It was from The Hill
Some comments from the article:
It is still seven months before Election Day, but already senior Democrats are maneuvering to lower public expectations on the key policy issue.
In the back of their minds is the damage done to President Bush’s second term by his failed attempts to change the nation’s Social Security policy.
Expectations? My expectation is change that I can believe in.
"We all know there is not enough money to do all this stuff," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), a Finance Committee member and an Obama supporter, referring to the presidential candidates’ healthcare plans. "What they are doing is ... laying out their ambitions."
What they are doing is making it the center of their candidacy.
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), a member of Senate Democratic leadership and a key Hillary Clinton ally who also sits on the Finance Committee, said he is "not sure we have the big plan on healthcare."
"Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we’re ready for a major national healthcare plan," Schumer said.
Schumer said he would focus "on prevention above all and cost cutting until we can get a national healthcare plan."
Hmm. Maybe that cost cutting could be removing Senator Schumer's health care till the rest of us get ours.
"You don’t want to rush and do something and do it incorrectly," said former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), who helped negotiate the Medicare law.
Ah. I see. Maybe we should not rush with our campaign contributions. I think I might need it for Doctor bills.
We really need to push hard on a commitment to fund and pass comprehensive health care. I am an Obama delegate, and I serious about change. I am not interested in voting for Democrats just for the hell of it.
Mrick