Mr. President, ignore the polls and pass health care reform
It’s still the economy, stupid.
The aphorism from Bill Clinton’s first campaign, conjured up by the inimitable James Carville, is as apt today as it was when Carville plastered it to the wall of the campaign war room in 1992. President Obama and his aides ought to keep that in mind as they work to get health care reform back on track.
A summer of discontent has fed a conventional wisdom that suggests voters have turned against radical changes to the health care system. Obama should be skeptical of that conclusion.
It’s quite likely that the public’s general crankiness is fueled by growing unemployment, continuing tight credit and unabated foreclosures. If the economy were in better shape — specifically, if unemployment were going down instead of up — it’s likely voters would be more willing to trust Obama to make radical changes to the dysfunctional health care system.
Unhappily, there isn’t much more that the president or Congress can do to right the economy. Despite a steady drumbeat of criticism from conservatives, most economists agree that the stimulus package Obama pushed through Congress in February helped to avert a much deeper recession. Now, about all the Obama administration can do is wait for job growth to resume next year.
Meanwhile, the nation needs health care reform. Neither the president nor a Democratic Congress can afford to waste the opportunity worrying about recalcitrant Republicans, next year’s mid-term elections or declining poll numbers.
Take those recent polls showing that the public has suddenly grown very concerned about ballooning deficits. Last month, Quinnipiac University released a poll in which respondents said — overwhelmingly — that they are more worried about the deficit than they are about fixing the health care system. If a health care overhaul would add to the deficit, then, 57 percent said, abandon the health care fix.
There are a few factors underlying those numbers. Certainly, the fact that so many Republicans have spent the summer denouncing health care reform as burdensome, intrusive and costly has shaped public opinion.
Another factor is household debt, which, for many voters, can seem to mirror national debt woes. Americans understand their own personal circumstances, which often include high mortgage interest payments, staggering credit card debt and shrinking savings. Their personal budgets serve as a reminder of what can happen when an individual or a government takes on too much debt.
But what if those worries over the deficit are misplaced? As New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, a Nobel laureate in economics, has written, Americans grew alarmed over budget deficits in the mid-1930s, as the Great Depression began to recede. Subsequently, the Federal Reserve, Congress and President Franklin Roosevelt began to pull back from the policies that had sparked job growth and recovery. As historians of that period know only too well, that caused a second downturn.
Obama and Congressional Democrats need to stiffen their spines and do what needs to be done. As it happens, about 40 percent of the projected deficit can be explained by the recession, which has stripped the national treasury (state and local treasuries, too) of tax receipts. When job growth returns, tax receipts will increase, and projected deficits will decrease.
Voters’ anxiety about deficits will also decrease as the economy begins to produce jobs, which will go a long way toward getting rid of that nagging feeling that things are on the wrong track. Fixing the health care system will also help lessen voters’ anxiety, since even those who currently have insurance know they can lose it with a pink slip or a troubling diagnosis.
Indeed, Congressional Democrats ought to worry about facing voters next year without having passed substantial health care reform, since that’s one of the reasons they were elected. The last item on Carville’s famous list, tacked up on the wall of the campaign war room, was this: “Don’t forget health care.” That retains its political potency, too.
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109 comments Add your comment
mom to four
September 8th, 2009
8:20 pm
I don’t know a single voter who voted for their congressional representative to fix healthcare.
As for the economy, how is the economy going to improve if small businesses and middle and upper income workers are taxed to death? What jobs are going to be produced under that scenario?
How arrogant of you, Cynthia to claim that our worries about the deficit are misplaced. I guess it is easy to claim my concerns are not warranted when I am paying the bill for you.
Peadawg
September 8th, 2009
8:24 pm
That’s right Obama, ignore the poles. Ignore what the PEOPLE want. Ignore what the PEOPLE think.
That’s smart!!!! ~sarcasm~
Jay
September 8th, 2009
8:33 pm
Why would you want to lessen quality of care and force taxes to go up for generations to come. I do not want to be like Canada and Britain. The 47 million number Obama has suggested is a false number. 20 million have household incomes twice the poverty level, 7 million are illegal immigrants, 9 million are on Medicaid. Most uninsured are only briefly without coverage due to job changes. This means only a few are uninsured out of necessity, which is estimated at 14 million. I have heard several solutions that are being ignored. To bring down costs we could allow the purchase of insurance across state lines, we could make health care costs tax deductible, or we impose tort reform. I do not support this legislation.
DebbieDoRight
September 8th, 2009
8:34 pm
Good Lord!! Why are those people still up? Shouldn’t you guys have had your medication by now? Please, take your meds, go night-night and let the grownups discuss grown up situations. HINT: You’re stinking up the blogs with your ignorance of the facts!!
That’ll do pigs, that’ll do.
DebbieWallowsinSlop
September 8th, 2009
8:49 pm
This country may need health reform… but it doesn’t need the “proposed” health reform.
Scott
September 8th, 2009
8:50 pm
It’s not up to the president to pass health care reform; that’s up to the Congress. Perhaps if Ms. Tucker had a working knowledge of the Constitution, she’d have figured this out. Maybe a knowledge of the Constitution is asking too much of Ms. Tucker. But let me suggest this: If the CONGRESS ignores the polls and passes health care reform, they’ll be a big house-cleaning come 2010. It’s not up to you, Ms. Tucker, to decide what the nation “needs.” The polls show that the nation has its own ideas about what it needs–and Big Government is not one of them.
Scott
September 8th, 2009
8:51 pm
Correction: sentence in the middle of that paragraph should read “there’ll be a big house-cleaning,” not “they’ll”
Jessica
September 8th, 2009
9:09 pm
Listen to yourself! “Mr. President, ignore what the majority of citizens in this country want and force a giant new program down their throats.”
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people like you who want our government to decide what is best for us in as many areas of life as possible. It’s a sad thing to those of us who still believe in individual freedom and personal responsibility — sad to those of us who want liberty, and sad FOR those of you who won’t figure out what that liberty is worth until after you have helped destroy it.
jt
September 8th, 2009
9:09 pm
Cynthia commented-
“Unhappily, there isn’t much more that the president or Congress can do to right the economy.”
Sure there is.
Get out of the away. Go on permanent vacation. We will pay congress and the presisdent to just leave.
The government needs to get out of the business of business.
Sensi
September 8th, 2009
9:10 pm
Last time I checked, policies aren’t chosen because of polls but because of ballots toward a political program, until the next elections people voted in place should be confident enough of their actions toward the common good to ignore the angry crowds and others sheep of panurge. That some people don’t understand that a reform would lower the mid to long term costs, both individuals and collectives, is a reason between others to defuse yet largely ignore their current rants, deceptive pov or misconception.
jt
September 8th, 2009
9:10 pm
Also, I believe that Paul Krugman was an economic advisor for ENRON.
Clay
September 8th, 2009
9:14 pm
This would be great. It will assure we only have to endure one term of this political lightweight as president. It’s been 24 hours–doesn’t have something or someone else for which he needs to express regret?
Of course, I’ve learned that if you don’t love everything about Obama then you’re racist. Oh, and a hater, too.
DebbieWallowsinSlop
September 8th, 2009
9:17 pm
I think what Sinthia is trying to say is “Come on Presbo, just get this damn thing done. I don’t give two hoots about any of the details – just give me my damn healthcare! I’ll complain about it later.”
Anyone with any semblance of a brain has to be wondering… how can this thing work? The Libs are just going to blindly push this through to say they did something. They don’t give a $hit about what’s in the plan… just get it done!
Recent plan says you HAVE to have insurance or you will be fined. I guess this administration is on crack – not a surprise at all, being that it’s the drug of choice for that group.
oldmac
September 8th, 2009
9:20 pm
BTW, Krugman is not exactly known as a genius. Kind of hurts to see a life’s work slip through your greasy fingers eh CT. Say Bye Bye to Obie.
Scott
September 8th, 2009
9:21 pm
I also like how Ms. Tucker dismisses the public’s genuine concerns about government-run health care. She refers to all of that as “crankiness.” You know what, Ms. Tucker? Your snobbery and elitism are plain to see. Maybe you should run for Congress. You’d fit right in with that crowd of self-righteous know-it-alls.
Wes
September 8th, 2009
9:28 pm
Cynthia,
If you’re right this can wait until the economy improves and the people decide they want health care reform. If you’re wrong then we’re forcing something America doesn’t want on itself. Throw in the fact that the states could do this for themselves, and you seem more interested in circumventing the system than recognizing that it is doing what it is supposed to do.
DebbieWallowsinSlop
September 8th, 2009
9:32 pm
Sinthia and Jay Bookwoman are nothing more than “Pot Stirrers” for the AJC. Their pay is based on the number of comments they receive for a blog. The more outrageous BS, the more money they get in their pay check. If they can generate traffic to this site, then they have done their job. If they actually wrote intelligently, no one comment.
Ray Blair
September 8th, 2009
9:41 pm
What a crock. The reason people oppose the “health care reform” that is working its way through Congress is that it is no reform. It just forces more Americans to buy (and/or subsidize) the corrupt system we already have. My brother has health insurance through his work. He needs a relatively inexpensive hernia operation — but to get the operation he needs to pay $5,000 up front (the deductible). He can’t afford it so, despite the fact he (personally) pays $400 a month and his company probably pays another $600 or $700 more a month — he can’t actually use it for what he needs. So he’s got “coverage” but no health care. I’m one of the “cranky” who got laid off due to the Wall Street bank blow up. It’s good to see the banks are recovering so nicely, due to the fact that we (American taxpayers) took on their toxic loans, allowed them to foreclose anyhow and bailed them out to the tune of $ billions. Now their biggest worry is the public perception of the billions in bonuses they want to pay themselves. I guess the insurance corporation is feeling left out — so the American taxpayers to the rescue! Nothing like richer parasites to make me warm and fuzzy all over.
Douglas Patterson
September 8th, 2009
9:58 pm
Ignore the polls!? You killed George W. Bush for ignoring the polls (on the Iraq war). Why do you now advise President Obama to act like President Bush? You usually make sense, Cynthia. Not this time.
Sluggo
September 8th, 2009
9:59 pm
Ignore the polls. Ignore the people. Ignore your own common sense.
Tucker has brought out the big scooper for today’s dose of elitist nonsense. Ms. Tucker believes she knows what is best for us and like wayward children we will one day thank her and her dear leader for the wisdom they showed in disregarding us.
You can’t make stuff like this up. How amazing to have Tucker so open in her brazen disregard for the citizens and taxpayers of this great nation.
The EVIL rich
September 8th, 2009
10:03 pm
Don’t you mean IGNORE the voters?
Dr. R
September 8th, 2009
10:04 pm
Ignore the polls: Isn’t that what Bush’s supporters told him as well? I’ll draw another parallel for you as well. Like the Bush White House, the Obama backers don’t seem to understand that half the country disagrees with their agenda (which has been the case in our country since at least 1992). Instead of trying to understand the other side’s arguments and find middle ground, you go into denial. You hear the Obama folks on TV saying, “well, the American people are demanding we fix health care and are supporting our efforts.” Well, half of them are and half of them are waving torches and pitchforks and going starkers. The sooner they understand that winning an election doesn’t mean a complete mandate, the better they’ll govern. The whole school speech debacle was a perfect example of how tone deaf they are. They took a harmless, innocuous speech but ginned up a bunch of unnecessary angst over their plan to have kids write a letter “to help the president.” Anyone with a clue in the communications office would have see how that might play in the red states. What that White House needs is a smart conservative on board to help them reach out to folks who ain’t in their corner already. Obama is smarter than Bush and ought to figure that out sooner rather than later.
Atlanta_Tiger_Fan
September 8th, 2009
10:06 pm
This woman is something else….how does she have a paid job!!! obama plans his day by polls and no you’re telling them to ignore the will of the American people and ram a health care bill down our throats that will reduce the level of service, increase wait times and grow the deficit to a point that the country can’t survive. Great advice!!! You really need to find another job…maybe food service or marta.
Trust the government, ASK an Indian
September 8th, 2009
10:07 pm
Here’s the thought that should keep you up at night. If NObama had pushed government “TeddyCare” BEFORE the stimulus, it would be law already and there was NOTHING the republicans could have done. Thank God he wasn’t THAT smart.
Dr. R
September 8th, 2009
10:18 pm
The great thing about being a Libertarian is to be able to see both sides of the political divide for what they really are. Both are convinced that they’re not only right, but that they are in the solid majority and the other side is completely deluded. Those on the right think the only folks who support Obama are the hippies, the Hollywood types and those city slickers who don’t really work for a living. Those on the left think conservatives are all Jesus freaks who live in the sticks, marry their cousins and believe in Bigfoot. Both sides are right to a degree, but there is a wide demographic spectrum on in our politics that doesn’t fit those narrow views. We can’t find middle ground anymore because no one trusts anyone who doesn’t share their total worldview on every issue. If you’re a Democrat who doesn’t drink the blue Kool-Aid, you’re a Dino and Pelosi grinds her high heel in your face. If you’re a Republican who doesn’t own an Obama voodoo doll full of pins and slurp down the red Kool-Aid, Rush from the Excellence in Oxycontin network calls you a Rino. And those of us who stay away from ALL of the Kool-Aid see them all for what they really are: Loudmouth hypocrites who are teaming up to undo what 233 years of our Constitution and many great Americans have helped build.
Atlanta Native
September 8th, 2009
10:30 pm
Oh, I forgot I was just a prole. I’ll let you Alphas do the thinking and just keep my simple ideas to myself. Thank you for your beneficence. You know, maybe I’m just 3/5 of a person and not equal to you.
Seriously, if someone you disagreed with said ignore the public, do what you think is best, since the masses know no better – what despot from history would you choose to compare the speaker to Cynthia? Say the name . . . . and look in the mirror.
Davis
September 8th, 2009
10:50 pm
That is right, Mr. President, do what Ms. Pulitzer says and I guess we can langish until November 2012…a one termer for sure, and that WILL BE change we can be thankful for!
Libertarian?
September 8th, 2009
10:53 pm
Dr R – are you serious, Libertarian – the land of leagalized hard drugs and open borders, abortion on demand? Yeah, what a pipe dream, talk to me when you can get more than 5% of the vote.
Carter is a Fool
September 8th, 2009
11:22 pm
AJC ignore the public, keep writing this trash and go out of business. You are becoming increasingly irrelevant in this new age of media because you do not reflect the views of the state. This is the same dumb logic that you are proposing.
Shaneneeee Faneneeeeeee
September 8th, 2009
11:25 pm
Change we can believe in: Fines for not having health care. The people who were crying at Obama’s inauguration are really going to be crying now.
Way To GO
September 8th, 2009
11:28 pm
There is nothing wrong here except that the government thinks we are all stupid. That they are the brains and they know what we need. I saw the new bill they are playing with. It calls for heavy fines on People, yes People if we dont get insurance. Well I for one will not be forced to buy something that I dont want and I wont pay a tax at the end of the year for it either.
You want to fix insurance then TARP reform, malpractice, lawsuites, and forcing the insurance companies to make a man pay for maturnity . Anyone see where I am going here.
You want to fix the economy then lower taxes, lower corporate taxes and move out of the way. The economy will fix itself. All they did witht he stimulus was give our tax money to more crooks. None of it went to fix the economy. All they did with Cash for Clunkers is secure that the auto industry will be dead for the next 3 to 4 years. That also will affect the parts industry as the older cars just went to the junkyard. The whole time they are up in washington filling their pockets with our tax money.
Insurance for all is unconstitutional.
Social Security as a general fund is unconstitutional
Sharing our war secrets with terriorist nations? Well that goes way beyond unconstitional and some people just want more of him.
Get rid of the house and senate and vote a new one in. Dont back out and revote them in even if they vote against the bills. Anyone who would vote for the billion page stimulus without reading and understanding it is not fit to represent us. Remember that and go see what your representative for. A yes vote means a no vote from us.
Carter is a Fool
September 8th, 2009
11:31 pm
No rational person wants the government to control if you can see a physician and when you could see a physician. Healthcare will be rationed under this plan. Government will have 7 or more extra layers of costly bureaucracy to administer this boondoogle. Just say no to this move to control our healthcare.
Does healthcare need reform? Yes. TORT reform. Potability of policies across statelines. The ability for trade groups to contract for insurance by forming a group for a group policy,
Carter is a Fool
September 8th, 2009
11:31 pm
Davis is correct. That will be change we will be thankful for.
Chris Salzmann
September 8th, 2009
11:42 pm
oldmac September 8th, 2009 9:20 pm SAID: BTW, Krugman is not exactly known as a genius.
CHRIS SAYS: So, he won the Nobel Prize for what? I believe it had something to do with, , what’s that again? economics, right? ROFLMAO. So, which “right-wing” economist (I know its a glaring contradiction) has won a Nobel Prize in economics recently???
Chaps
September 8th, 2009
11:53 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with Ms Tucker. President Obama absolutely should ignore the polls. Congress should definitely ignore the town hall meetings they had. They should pass their programs without a single Republican vote. That way, for my lifetime, and for my kids lifetime, there will not be another Democrat President nor Congressional majority.
Chris Salzmann
September 8th, 2009
11:56 pm
Carter is a Fool September 8th, 2009 11:31 pm SAID: No rational person wants the government to control if you can see a physician and when you could see a physician. Healthcare will be rationed under this plan. Government will have 7 or more extra layers of costly bureaucracy to administer this boondoogle. Just say no to this move to control our healthcare.
CHRIS SAYS: My mother lives under Universal Healthcare in Germany and no one except her physician tells her when to come see her. So much for that argument. I also have relatives living in Switzerland and France. No such issue there either. Actually, for profit insurance companies already dictate exactly you are accusing the government of doing with health reform. Rationing??? It’s already rationed if you have private health insurance. Heck, I have to wait 2 weeks to see my primary care physician and that’s with a gold plated group health plan!!! You don’t have a clue, do you?
Carter is a Fool September 8th, 2009 11:31 pm SAID:Does healthcare need reform? Yes. TORT reform. Potability of policies across statelines. The ability for trade groups to contract for insurance by forming a group for a group policy,
CHRIS SAYS: Tort reform doesn’t work. It’s already been done, as in Texas and rates there haven’t gone down an iota. Portability across state lines??? Explain then why there is no difference in health insurance rates offered in large states such as CA and much, much smaller states such as ND? Trade groups BTW, already have done that which help but not significantly so. Again, without strict mandates, regulation and limits on profitability, health insurance companies will keep screwing the consumer. Also, what do people who have been laid off supposed to do after COBRA runs out? Remember, private insurance companies answer to their shareholders and if the shareholders here win, the consumer lose.
Chris Salzmann
September 9th, 2009
12:04 am
President Bush passed Medicare Prescription benefits with a straight majority vote. The Democrats can do exactly the same. Complaining about costs? The Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 cost the country $2.1 Trillion in lost revenue. But I guess that just shows where Republican priorities are. Tax cuts for the rich over health care reform for the rest of us. Even conservative think tanks call the Bush years as one of the most “fiscally irresponsible” in recent decades. Here’s one question: When Republicans had absolute majorities in the Congress and Senate, why didn’t they do anything about Health Care insurance reform? They won’t give you an answer because they don’t have one. Simple as that. Which is why only about 25% of Americans even call themselves Republican today.
Marc
September 9th, 2009
2:25 am
Cynthia you are as out of touch with the people of America as Obama and the other leading Democrats. Chris Salzman the revenues under Bush were higher than ever what is your source? Bush also spent to much and that is where the fiscal irresponsibility came in just like with Obama.
joel
September 9th, 2009
3:14 am
Chris, you don’t have a clue about you. There are more republicans standing more then there ever has been. This Obama fiasco has to stop. He is nothing but ignorant and bent on his ways. Media won it for him, as many see him the next best thing like on american idol. A boy band as you will. His time is coming to an end. People are blinded by the media, and the star qualities and cute face of Obama.
1.) Obama ‘I am for the agerage jo’ He sends out an investigation on jo the plumber because it was a platform for the republicans, and because he stumped Obama on a theoretical situation. JOE LOST HIS JOB!!
2.) 7 trillion spent in the first three months. Record breaker, everybody complained about the national debt when bush was president, but now Obama…well 7 trillion.
3.) Healthcar reform: It will increase taxes 8 percent, those how can afford it won’t be able to as the result will be increase the insurance and lower benefits to pay for his healthcare. For those business owners who can’t afford healthcare for the employees with be penalized another 8%. Kiss my business good by.
4.) Stimulus plan for the average income. When Obama meant average he didn’t mean the ‘mode’ average but the ‘median’ average. Meaning those who make over 135,000 a year. hmm…that includes him…not me…I don’t know a lot of people that make that much…but he does send it to federal prisoners.
5.) The threatening qoute ‘For those who oppose the health care reform, or doesn’t stand by it will be dealt with SWIFTLY and SEVERLY.’ oops..
Still, the star like apperance covers it all up. hmmm
John
September 9th, 2009
5:08 am
Its SHOCING that the resident communist of the AJC even ALLOWS discussions of her usual inane opinion pieces.
Joel Edge
September 9th, 2009
6:06 am
I agree, the Dems should pass the healthcare reform regardless of what the republicans or the American people think. That should sink the Dems forever.
larry
September 9th, 2009
6:28 am
Ignore ? That’s the root of the word ignorant,isn’t it ?
This is nothing more than an extension of the civil rights agenda.
It is based on non-facts,negative statistics,denial of what will really work in reality to fix things.
Nobody and I mean nobody who lives in Black America,or who is a liberal can name 5 key detailed facts outlined in the proposed health care plan ?
I challenge anyone on this blog to answer this question ?
Ignorant blacks are simply extending themselves once again into being duped into supporting the weak AA political agenda,instead of stepping outside of the box,raising the bar for themselves,their families,and society.
It’s a race thing,it’s a race thing,it’s a race thing………..That’s always the response.
atlpaddy
September 9th, 2009
6:35 am
Dear nutjobs. Sorry that your side lost the election last November. Those who want healthcare reform won. If that isn’t simple enough arithmetic for you then you are helpless. Elections have consequences so deal with. Isn’t that what you all have been screeching the past eight years under Bush?
larry
September 9th, 2009
6:41 am
This issue,like all issues of this administration,and the civil rights agenda is all about ‘I’m black and I’m proud ,I’m black and I’m proud’ ! Lol .
It is dangerous to everyone living in this country to allow this agenda to rule the USA peopele.
Chavez,Putin,Castro…they are laughing at us.
atlpaddy
September 9th, 2009
6:42 am
Larry, it may be easier to type on the computer with your hood off.
Sunshine
September 9th, 2009
6:54 am
Amen Joel! Cynthia, steamrolling legislation right over the masses despite their protests, is what they do in dictatorships. Perhaps its time you wake up and smell the coffee. To use a phrase from a previous Democratic administration…’Its Socialism, Stupid’ If you like socialism, then move to a country that already has socialism and you will be happy. Don’t attempt to drag the rest of us down into that muck that has never worked. Read your History! In reading your previous columns, I have seen very few that made any sense at all. Wait until 2010 & 2012 and see what this kind of socialist thinking brings from the voters.
Democrats=Retards
September 9th, 2009
7:03 am
Maybe we should just ignore all democrats? Because as of right now. There’s not a single one in the nation I would wipe my ass with.
Jim M
September 9th, 2009
7:12 am
Cynthia remember this ” The Declaration of Independence” Read this paragraph. ” We hold these truths to be self evident” This declaration is a powerful piece of paper protecting us from total government control. Also ” Government of the people, by the people and for the people ” When a system fails , what do we do…? Get back to basics!!! This government is out of control and we the people need to retake control as did our forefather long ago.
The next election should be a dozy I cant wait….
larry
September 9th, 2009
7:13 am
BTW….nobody in my family tree ever owned a slave ?
Again, I CHALLENGE ANYONE on this blog who has a functioning brain to list 5 key detailed facts outlined line the health care proposal.
I seriously doubt anyone can answer me ?
And as usual,’it’s a race thing,it’s a race thing’.
It’s easier to repeat that than have to think,work….etc…..
Bozo the clown
September 9th, 2009
7:15 am
Like this blog is a representation of what America wants, a true cross section? Same people same side of the coin no matter what the subject, day in and day out. Blowhards one and all.