First, there was Norm Coleman in Minnesota, who's campaign refused to answer is he supported McCain's plan. Here was the spokesperson's dodge:
Well Senator Coleman is aligned with Senator Coleman's plan and I think that's the point that I want to make here. I think that again, if you look at Senator Coleman's plan he has a plan that will make sure that everyone has affordable access to health insurance, that we promote more responsibility, that we enact medical liability reform... Again a series of steps, things that he's been working on throughout his time in the Senate. I think that again Al Franken is missing the point here. What Minnesotans should choose between here in the Senate race is the vision of the health care plans of both candidates.
And today we have John Cornyn in Texas (incidentally the worst state in the country when it comes to health care), backing away from McCain's plan to tax your health care benefits:
On Tuesday, though, he shied away from supporting a tax on workers' health benefits, which Mr. McCain would use to pay for the tax credits.
Mr. Cornyn also said tax breaks for providing health coverage to employees should be given to sole proprietors and small-business owners, not just large companies.
But Mr. Cornyn, a freshman Republican seeking a second term on Nov. 4, declined to say how he'd pay for the tax breaks, after voting early at the Travis County courthouse.
And Frank Wolf down in Virginia stood by and did nothing while his companions assaulted cameramen as they tried to ask Wolf about his support for McCain's plan. (Watch the video, it's brutal.)
Not that these folks should get a lot of credit; the plans they are supporting are still terrible, and especially in Cornyn's case, no mention is made about how this will be paid for. The point is, John McCain's plan to rip health insurance from employment, tax your benefits, and cut Medicare and Medicaid to pay for it all is such a ludicrous, ill-conceived idea that even Republicans can't support it.
Usually, when politicians propose radical ideas, they do so to take a stand for the people, picking an idea that has broad popular support but is opposed by interests in Washington. John McCain's plan does the opposite, proposing radical changes that do nothing but help insurance companies. With a country that's as fed up with politicians putting business interests first as this one, it's no surprise McCain's health care plan isn't getting traction with just about anyone.
(also posted at the NOW! blog)