Dear Robert Gibbs,
You’re now attacking Howard Dean, which is a really bad idea.
All of a sudden you and people like Jay Rockefeller are mad that liberal bloggers and Howard Dean are not supporting your bill after the 6,000th concession to the insurance industry. The problem is, after the administration’s serial capitulations to the right, Howard Dean has so much more credibility that attacking him is going to kill the bill faster than anything else you could do.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
Asked if Dean was acting irrationally, Gibbs replied: "I can't tell what his motives are, to be honest with you."
Well, if you actually listen to what Dr. Dean has to say, he is making a much more subtle point. I would summarize it by these two words, which I learned in Econ 101:
Opportunity Cost.
Opportunity Cost.
You're attacking Dr. Dean? While I’m willing to be convinced that the current weak tea bill is a net gain, it can’t be seen as an absolute gain, because we’re also giving up on the moment of reform. Politically speaking, passing this now, and passing a public option later are likely mutually exclusive choices. So, as Dr. Dean notes, you shouldn’t pass this just because your tired and think any bill is politically expedient. Because the opportunity cost outweighs any gains that might come from it.
You're attacking Dr. Dean? Listen carefully to what Dr. Dean actually had to say. His point is that this is your chance, and if you squander it on something that is less than a real reform, you’re knackered.
You're attacking Dr. Dean? Save your vitriol and apply it to Joe Lieberman. Here are some numbers:
• $5,900,388 is the amount Common Cause reports Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman received in health industry campaign contributions from 2000-2008.
• $77,000 a year is how much his wife Hadassah received from a lobbying firm to consult on health care in just one year during that period. Prior to this, she also ran PR for drug companies like Hoffman-LaRoche and Pfizer, according to Salon.
You're attacking Dr. Dean? And you have Jello Jay Rockefeller running point? Senator Jay Rockefeller:
"So what do I do? Do I take my football, and run home and sulk, and complain…? No, I look at the entire bill and see what is in the general interest of the people in my state, and the people of America," Rockefeller said.
It isn't just a matter of a bill serving the general interest. This is your one shot. And right now you're lying on your back after the right pulled away the football, and you're telling us you kicked a field goal.
You're attacking Dr. Dean? Dean is not the enemy, and in fact he’s one of the few people we trust. Your smear tactics, implying he has ulterior motives, are going to completely alienate you from your base. We know who has 5,900,388 ulterior motives, and we’re wondering why you are going after Dr. Dean, instead? He’s explained his reasoning, and it is this: opportunity cost. Why not rebut that argument instead of resorting to cheap innuendoes?
Best,
MarkC