Don't Believe the Health Care Hype

Robert Reich warns in his Talking Points Memo blog not to buy the "public option is dead" meme.

In the last few days authoritative sources have repeatedly told me that the public option is dead, that the President won't be able to get a comprehensive health care bill, and that the White House and congressional leadership already know the best they'll be able to do now is move incrementally -- starting with insurance reforms such as barring insurers from using someone's preexisting health conditions to deny coverage -- with the hope of more reforms in the years ahead. The rightwing media fearmongers and demagogues have won.

Don't believe it. The other thing about Washington is how quickly conventional authoritative wisdom changes, especially when the public is still in flux over some large matter. Rightwing fearmongers and demagogues thrive only to the extent the mainstream media believes they're thriving. Although polls continue to show that while most Americans like the health care they're getting, they also dislike their insurance companies, worry that they or their families will be denied coverage, and are anxious about the increasing co-payments, deductibles, and premiums they're facing. Most are still eager for reform.

I have been thinking the same thing. The August recess is a light news time. Any concerted effort at loud, fact-challenged demagoguery will seem more effective than it is because the 24/7 media needs something to talk about. Once Congress gets back in session and Obama returns from vacation, the real deal-making begins.

--Ballard Burgher