Look, I understand the Republicans' reaction to President Obama's health care fix:
Doesn't every conservative pretty much think every single thing Obama proposes is unworkable? @jonathanchait @mattyglesias
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) November 14, 2013
But where was all this insurance industry outrage when the Republicans first proposed reinstating canceled plans? '
Is being pro-GOP so knee-jerk for industry that that didn't inspire howls of outrage? If Obama had stood his ground, and the GOP had demagogued this until even the Senate passed it by veto-proof majorities, were the insurance companies going to whine this way? Or is this just a terrible idea, according to the industry, when a Democrat does it?
I'm confused.
I keep wondering when people will grasp the fundamental difference between health insurance and health care.
ReplyDeleteNo fear.
OY!
ReplyDeleteYES, if a Democrat proposes anything, it mush be bad - and evil, and SocialiFasciCommuMusliHeathenistic!!!
And yes, the rollout has been slow.
And, yes, the website needs a lot more work.
But the problem is, as usual, and unsurprisingly, our MSM, who are covering this as if it was a sporting event.
It’s the first quarter of their football game on their home field, and the D-teams Quarterback handed the ball off to the Running Back, who promptly fumbled the ball.
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMBLE!!!!!
And the R-team pounced on the ball, and has possession.
And our MSM is trying to make it seem like the game is over.
IT’S OVER!!!
Our “Fourth Estate” makes me want to down a fifth, every day – make that a liter.
Here’s what I would do if I was in charge of White House communications:
I’d put up an electronic scoreboard in the Press Room, where the “reporters” and pundits could keep track of the day-to-day progress of PPACA compared to Romneycare, and also compared to George W. Bush’s Medicare Part D fustercluck of a rollout.
In other words, keep a rolling tally to provide some much needed perspective.
For instance, today it could say (and I’m just guessing at numbers and percentages, just to make a point here – in other words, I’m doing what Conservative do all of the time, and pulling numbers out of my butt):
DAY 35 Tally, To Date:
PPACA: 106,000 people – .048% of those eligible.
Romneycare: 5,000 people – .049% of those eligible.
Medicare Part D: 12,000 people – .038% of those eligible.
By providing some perspective, the board would not only reaffirm to “reporters” and pundits that ALL new programs take some time to gain steam, but also provide some cover for Congressional Democrats.
Why hasn’t anyone thought of doing something like this?
Or, is this a stupid idea? (Sadly, not exactly a first, from me).