There’s indeed a danger, Joe. Charles Krauthammer came to a similar conclusion as Franc in this column, arguing that Obama and the Dems could
Promise nothing but pleasure ? for now [by making] health insurance universal and permanently protected.
Doing so, of course, would require the administration and Congress to pull a full 180 and embrace the insurance industry. Up ’til now, it has been portrayed as greedy enemies of reform who is more interested in lining its pockets than paying for treatments.? (For her part, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the industry “villains” late last month.)
Politically, this would be a risky ploy, but it could be Obama’s Sister Souljah moment. The crowd advocating single-payer-or-nothing would throw a tantrum, but they’re not driving the debate. And by appearing to alienate the far left, Obama and congressional leaders could seem reasonable by contrast.
On the plus side for advocates of consumer-driven health care, this move would also require deftness and delicacy on the PR front, attributes that have been absent from the Obama/Pelosi/Reid team.
