I don’t do partisan politics here, meaning I am not into the horse race. But I just read an article by the excellent and usually very accurate pollster Scott Rasmussen that I think hits the proverbial nail on the head. If the Dems fall hard on Tuesday, a major cause will be the party’s arrogance—and for me, that is spelled PELOSI—around the issue of health care reform. From the article:
Central to the Democrats’ electoral woes was the debate on health-care reform. From the moment in May 2009 when the Congressional Budget Office announced that the president’s plan would cost a trillion dollars, most voters opposed it. Today 53% want to repeal it. Opposition was always more intense than support, and opposition was especially high among senior citizens, who vote in high numbers in midterm elections. Rather than acknowledging the public concern by passing a smaller and more popular plan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama insisted on passing the proposed legislation by any means possible. As a result, Democrats face massive losses in tomorrow’s midterm election.
I’m as fuming about this mess—and missed opportunity—as I was at how Hillary Clinton blew a prime chance for reform in 1993 by trying to remake everything in one Byzantine fell swoop. Rather than target what needed fixing—pre-existing conditions, cost of premiums for those who couldn’t afford it—the Dems pulled a massive power grab, and in the most opaque and corrupt manner possible. Remember Senator Harry Reid calling the vote on Christmas Eve so his wavering members wouldn’t have a chance to hear from their constituents up close and personal? Here’s how it was reported at the time:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said that Senate Republicans “stand on the sidelines rather than participate in great and greatly needed social change. It’s about people, it’s about life and death in America. It’s a question of morality, of right and wrong.” Reid went on to say, “It’s about human suffering, and given the chance to relieve this suffering, we must take this chance.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, “There is widespread opposition to this monstrosity.” He went on to say, “I guarantee you, the people who voted for this bill are going to get an earful when they finally get home for the first time since Thanksgiving.”
Reid replied, “An earful of wonderment and happiness.”
Uh, not quite Senator.
The ultimate passage and signing of Obamacare was as disgusting and anti-democratic a spectacle as I have seen in my 45 years of being interested in politics. And I am far from alone in that assessment. The bill and how it was passed really infuriated the American people—as I found when I was asked to speak last year at an ad hoc town hall meeting in Louisville.
I don’t know what will happen in the election. But frankly, the Democrats deserve a Major League drubbing for arrogantly legislating against will of, and over the angry and overwhelming objections clearly and abundantly expressed by, the American people.
