As always, progressives have done a lousy job of framing the health care debate. Look folks, letting the other side call it Obama Care just adds an already hated label to a difficult to understand issue. The far right already is appalled that Obama is president, and by adding his name to the proposals being kicked around by congress just lets those same haters add another thing to the list.
Did we learn nothing from things like the Patriot Act, or the Clear Skies Act? The name isn’t just important, it often is the only thing folks know for certain about any particular piece of legislation. Obama is the man, and Michelle is fabulous, but there is a segment that is enraged by the smallest mention of either of them. If you called Bud Light Obama Light, half the population of Georgia would die of thirst. Rename Moon Pies to Michelle Pies? Widespread famine throughout the Bible Belt.
So just plain common sense tells us that we should pick other names for things we want the Red State tea sippers to ignore or even support. Proper naming could even put an end to the out of control mobs at townhalls, by making it impossible for the combination of words to cross their lips. How could a 50 year old white Republican make herself shout "No Patriot Care!"
And it is so easy to make these up. Call your new public option "The Free-Enterprise America’s Choice" plan. Make it part of the "White People Empowerment and Health Assurance Act" and attach riders like the "Anti-immigration Portability Amendment" and the "Pre-existing Condition Conservation Clause."
Name parts of it after Sarah Palin or her family members. Call it the "Trig Palin Guaranteed Healthcare Plan" (Will I get sued for that? If so, I’m going on Letterman, baby!) Or go for broke and just call it the "Ronald Reagan Plan."
Protest that!