Posted by
Andrews on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:57:49 PM
My wife said something amusing today. She had been half-listening to the news and caught only snippets of reporting about the health care bill. Not being a political junkie, she had not kept track of the progress of health care reform, so based on what she heard she asked "did they pass health care reform today? And did some Republican side with them?"
And that is quite amusing, and rather revealing.
You see, the media, desperate to give Obama a win (besides his patently undeserved Nobel), have been trying to sell the passage of the Baucus bill out of committee as some sort of win. Now, granted, getting out of committee is the first hurdle a bill must pass, but with a Democrat dominated Senate, is it surprising their top piece of legislation made it out of committee? I might as well celebrate eating breakfast or going to bed.
What makes it more amusing is that they are trying to sell Olympia Snowe's vote as some sort of triumph for Democrats and a major loss for Republicans. But it is nothing of the kind. Anyone who follows politics knows Snowe is one of those New England Republicans who think Spectre is too conservative. That she voted with the Democrats is hardly shocking.
So, why all the hoopla about a Democrat bill getting out of committee in a Democrat dominated Senate, with the support of a traditionally liberal Republican? The only answer I can give is that media is trying to build up "momentum", make it appear the health care bill is gaining support, in hopes of wearing down public opposition.
I don't think it will work.
The public can sometimes be swayed by evidence of massive support, but usually only on bills which have little direct impact on them. When a bill touches their wallets or their safety, and the public is seeing health care reform in precisely those terms, they will not be swayed so easily. Even if they believe their neighbors support the bill, it will only serve to convince them their neighbors are foolish, not that they should change position. When self interest is involved people are not so easily swayed by political tricks.
Then again, there is a second message in this desperate move. And that is that the media thinks the Democrats can expect no real wins, and so they are creating these faux victories both to try to create some enthusiasm and to boost morale in the Obama camp. I doubt it will work in reaching either goal, but it is encouraging for those of us who hope to avoid nationalized health care.