Aggravating the Base into Action

The easy analysis on the White House's perceived withdrawal from the (in)famous "public option" is to assume the President lost the stomach for it. In Politico, columnist Roger Simon asks: Does President Obama have the Guts?--which is somewhat hollow considering it takes a bit of grit for a black man to run for President of the United States and then win. Every left-headed stalwart from Jon Stewart to Rachel Maddow, eager to drive the slow ratings cycle that is the humid dog days of August, wants to clown the president or imply he's weak at the knees.

MSNBC bullhorn Keith Olbermann recently asked former DNC chair and failed presidential aspirant Howard Dean if there was some mysterious White House strategy we didn't know about. Something the general punditry wasn't aware of. Dean offered a flat "No," but one could sense the former Vermont governor (himself a physician) choking on a split second pause to ask the same question. What if, in fact, there is an alternative strategy taking place? What if the president isn't really being "punk'd" as some are quick to assert?

There are two directions the White House could be going with this. One path suggests publicly ditching the "public option" as part of an inducement to private insurance and big PhRMA interests, thereby confirming the public's worst fears about politicians colluding with loot-filled corporate syndicates. Another path suggests that, perhaps, the "public option" was never really on the table--just clever rhetorical bait and switch in an effort to sell the public on expired political goods. Which is why the administration, if you noticed, started pushing the notion of "health insurance reform," rather than full-blown reform or overhaul.

The other direction is more inventive and contains quite a bit of political gamble. It suggests the president believes his own party lacks the intestinal fortitude to bring this bill to fruition. There's nothing new to that since quite a few folks believe Democrats have a lot of bark, but little bite. Hence, he creates the appearance of a White House in crisis, allowing legislative turmoil and spastic town halls. These appear as the ingredients of implosion. But, it may also be a clever way to aggravate the base into action by giving the impression that he's ditching the "public option." The right has its base energized over myths of socialism. Why not galvanize the left by threatening to pull the plug on any serious reform? And, as you can see, hard-line progressive Congressional Democrats are already digging in their heels--as the White House probably expected.

One common observation during the course of this debate was that President Obama failed to make a movement out of it--despite the fact he had the machine, muscle and management skills to do so. Yet, this president prefers a grassroots approach, or at least, making us think it's people driving the discussion rather than the commander-in-chief.

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Comments

[richod]

President Obama will NOT lose my support over one issue BUT I will work tirelessly to defeat HCR if it doesn't include real healthcare reform in the form of a Public Option.

Triggers, co-opts, whatever else that conservative dems and repubs throw as a bone to Americans as an alternative, that's not real reform.

It's as simple as that for me.

I have supported Public Option from the start and will continue to support it.

I want real CHOICE and Public Option is the only option that will provide that.

As the Brits say, 'full stop'.

[k6007]

This reads an awfully lot like "wishful thinking".
He could've easily given us something to 'fight' about by drawing a line in the sand, instead of continuely insisting we "negotiate" with senators that are in cahoots with the "entrenched special interests.­"(Remember those? We heard all about them during the campaign, not so much since the election, however.)
This is billc all over again.

[lokipuck]

Oh, but don't you know? O is a chess master with a secret plan!

[martinspringfield]

Yeah, I keep hearing about this master strategist Obama and his fiendishly clever minions. They seem to be an urban myth. Or, more likely, a suburban one.

[jemeagirl]

I am sorry,

Charles, do not sugar coat this. Obama is a disappointment and he should be ashamed of all the work hre has done so far, or not done for that matter.

His cabinet is filled with Wall Street people who robbed this country blind for years. Now he is getting advise on Healthcare reform from and Insurance Company CEO. In the meantime, he is refusing to meet with progressive on the healthcare debate. Whatever happened to everyone having a seat at the table? Transparency?

Before you say nasty things about me, I am a black woman who campained, donated and worked hard to get him elected. But I will not do it again. He has no integrity.
There is devastation everywhere, people are losing their homes, their jobs with no hope for a better future.
Sad, for a black man to align himself with big corporations that have ruined this country.

[Marnee]

So you think brining your ethnicity in your argument does more to pronounce your point?? You are an AMERICAN!! I hate when people inject their race into the argument as to imply that all blacks are pro Obama. Make your case, state your argument and move on....

[Charles D. Ellison - Huffpost Blogger]

Understood, Marnee, but it's not that deep. Let's chill on it a moment. Nothing wrong with injecting race or a respondent's identity to offer a bit of social or demographic context. This is how we learn. We may be American, but we don't all think alike. To have us all think alike - or to impose majority opinion - is quite un-American. Don't believe sistren is implying "all Blacks are pro Obama" - which is something mainstream media constantly asserts with little push back from the audience. She's simply offering some perspective, a candid glimpse into the roots of her discontent.

[nellyb stl]

Have you thought of who you will vote for? Don't give up on him yet. He was handed Bush's mess but still knows Health Care will bankrupt this country if something isn't done. What we (he) really need to do is reform the democratic process; and that fight will be worse than health care or climate change. I for one know that the poorest of the poor and the handicapped of America do have access to better health care than I do. I don't resent them; just want the same for everyone.
Regards,

[libster4]

Please, please remember what President Obama has to deal with. He got more than he bargained for when he took office with Bush's mess. It's only been eight months, give him some time to dig himself out of this disaster. And if you think he is a disappointment, it's your right, but I disagree.

As far as pointing out that you are a black woman, I'm not sure what your point is. Isn't it best to just think that people are people, regardless of race? I am a white woman, and I am proud to have Obama as president. Not that it matters what color my skin is.

[KnowzyRowzy]

I'm with ya!

[Charles D. Ellison - Huffpost Blogger]

Peace Jemeagirl:

Strong comments, indeed, and definitely not deserving of the "nasty" response you assume. First: definitely not trying to "sugar-coat" it or wishful think it, just attempting to buck the conventional wisdom here. The assumption of many (some of it mired in a tired, 20th century notion about Black politicians not being shrewd or sophisticated enough) seems to have not read the President's book nor that of his spiritual/political mentor Abraham Lincoln. We should be rather aware of this President's capacity at masterful, chess-like political cunning. Just like Lincoln, Obama has a way of making both base and opposition think he's doing one thing, when in reality he's on a completely different plane. The way he's playing this public option okie-doke reads like Kerwin's "Team of Rivals."

But, you make a good point, something we hear quite a bit of out in the streets. Why the push for healthcare reform at this moment, when most folks need jobs? A new, counter-argument on the rise: how can I (average worker) pay for healthcare if I don't have a job? The President may counter that he'd like to do just that, but can't do a whole lot if the economy is strangled by a healthcare system accounting for nearly 20% of GDP. The perceived problem is he's not articulating that very well at the moment, and some folks fear he appears a little detached at times, just a little TOO cool about it.