We're all adults here, so you and I know that when the electoral ship is taking on heavy water, politicians have to pretend it's really only a momentary sprinkle from a passing cloud. So it is that the same Democratic party that burdened us with ObamaCare (and gave the Abortion Lobby a gigantic boost) is simultaneously running away from this White Elephant/crying crocodile tears that they've been "misunderstood" and insisting that, on the whole, it's a winner for Democrats.
For example, pro-abortion former President Bill Clinton appeared on a couple of Sunday talk shows. A typical headline read, "Clinton says he was wrong on healthcare bill's popularity." But, of course, Clinton didn't mean HE was wrong in his prediction that the polls would swing to the Democrats' favor once the measure actually became law. No, no, no, no.
His prediction was off (as he said on CBS's "Face the Nation") for two reasons. Because of "the intensity of the Republican opposition"; and because "the benefits of the bill are spread out of three or four years. It takes a long time to implement."
In a similar vein, Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday. Candy Crowley began with a video from a Democrat whose commercial included this line: "When President Obama and Nancy Pelosi pressured [the incumbent, this incumbent] stood up to them and voted no against their trillion-dollar health care."
Kaine, the former governor of Virginia, conceded that some Democrats whose districts might be changed [gerrymandered] and "become tough districts are distancing themselves from the health care bill," but added, "I've been on a ballot seven times and won seven races, and in my experience, you ought to be proud of what you're doing and promote the accomplishments."
Sure, Democrats who voted against ObamaCare are "going to talk about why," Kaine said, "but I think for the Democratic Party, generally, this significant achievement" because it benefits everybody in North America except the villainous Insurance Industry.
Then the cool slap of reality across the face. "Sixty-one percent (61%) of Likely U.S. Voters now at least somewhat favor repeal of the new national health care law, including 50% who Strongly Favor it," we learn this morning from Rasmussen Reports. "That's up eight points from a week ago and the highest level of opposition measured since late May." Equally ominous for Democrats, "Only 33% say the health care plan will be good for the country, the lowest level measured since late July. Fifty-six percent (56%) disagree and believe the new law will be bad for the United States."
Making for the perfect negative trifecta, "A strong majority (60%) feel that under the new law, the cost of health care will go up. Only 13% say costs will go down, and 18% say they will stay about the same." While these numbers haven't changed much since the law was enacted, they take on greater urgency, given the public's growing concern about the massive federal deficit.
By the way the best response to Clinton came from bioethicist Wesley Smith.
"Oh, cry me a river. The pro-Obamacare side had the bully pulpit of the POTUS [President of the United States], the top names in Congress, the MSM [Mainstream Media] camp followers, and most of the power elites, and so the people were fooled? It's actually quite simple: Obamacare is unpopular because it is a bad law and the people don't want it! Sheesh. None are so blind as those who refuse to see."
Contact: Dave Andrusko
Date Published: September 20, 2010
