It's time for the the Democrats and President Obama to pull this health care bill and end any so-called health care reform this year. Yes, it's hard to admit defeat but consider the long term strategy. There is a silver lining. And we can fight another day.
Last night on MSNBC Howard Dean said he would advise Democrats not to vote for this current health care bill. He charged that the bill was not real reform at all and I agree. But the substance of the bill is only one reason to end it and that is not my main concern here. I will leave that to other bloggers. Mine is a purely political calculation.
The feeling at this point among Democrats is that any bill is preferable to none as a kind of political cover for next years elections. Based on my years of experience in sales and dealing with people, I disagree. People never get motivated to thank someone, especially in politics. Gratitude never motivates. Anger does. So lets use that to our advantage.
Consider what happens when and if a watered down health care bill passes. Do you think for an instant that all the people that benefit from this will be motivated to turn out an cast a vote of gratitude for the Democrats for all their efforts? Hardly!
But by passing a bill that does not create meaningful reform that people can see, the anger will build and it will be targeted at Democrats. The insurance industries will continue to raise their rates, increase deductibles and in general do whatever it takes to increase their bottom line profits. Nothing new here. But this is the key. Every time they do this, they and their right wing allies will place the blame on "Obamacare" and those "liberal Democrats" and "that terrible bill they passed that we fought so hard against" You know the drill by now. No matter what the complaint, it will be blamed on the Democrats. This bill provides them with perfect cover to do just that and it sets the stage for Democratic losses in 2010 and 2012
So I propose dropping reform attempts and the President then delivering a message with says, in blunt terms, something like:
"My fellow Americans. I tried and most Democrats tried, to reform the health care system in order to make health care more affordable to millions of Americans who now are suffering because of a system that benefits the rich and special interests but leaves millions in jeopardy. And that number is growing. But special interests and the Republican party used fear and outright lies, coldly playing politics with the lives of American people in order to regain power. The result is a bill which benefits them more than you and has thwarted any meaningful attempts at reform. I am not about to sign such a bill."
And this is the key. He then goes on to state:
"From now on whenever you feel the pain of those increasing health insurance premiums, whenever you find you can't get coverage because you actually got sick, when you are faced with losing your home, when your employer cannot afford to provide insurance, and when seniors are forced to pay to fill that donut hole, remember who is was that blocked meaningful reform. Remember who sided against you and with the insurance companies and who thought attacking me was more important than helping you. Remember this during the next election!
Now hammer that message home, strip Lieberman of any chairmanships and present a united front against the Republicans and go after them full bore putting them on the defensive next year and every year thereafter.
Remember this. Sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.