If Democrats ignore health-care polls, midterms will be costly

Washington Post ^ | March 12, 2010 | Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen

[NCjim]

In "The March of Folly," Barbara Tuchman asked, "Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests?" Her assessment of self-deception -- "acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts" -- captures the conditions that are gripping President Obama and the Democratic Party leadership as they renew their efforts to enact health-care reform.

Their blind persistence in the face of reality threatens to turn this political march of folly into an electoral rout in November. In the wake of the stinging loss in Massachusetts, there was a moment when the president and Democratic leadership seemed to realize the reality of the health-care situation. Yet like some seductive siren of Greek mythology, the lure of health-care reform has arisen again.

[Ann Archy]

To ALL FREEPERS: Please someone post the video of Lawrence O'Donnell this morning on MORNING JOE!! He had MORE INFO and FACTS on how this has NEVER been done before and CANNOT BE DONE!!

Also, Joe said O'Donnell spoke at the Reagan Library and explained what the Republican answer should be.."We have as big as a heart as you do, Mr. President, but we just can't afford it at this time"......he also said the Pubs should talk more about the TAXES!!

[mo]

This is all the Pubbies need to say...

“It really comes down to this: My conservative political philosophy does not threaten or affect the freedom of liberals. I don’t ask them to sacrifice anything for me, but they DEMAND I sacrifice for them”

[TennTuxedo]

The Democrat pollsters are using that line to sway the Democrats in congress to vote for this monstrosity. Who are they kidding? Who else would wild-eyed moonbats vote for in the upcoming elections? A Republican?

[pillut48]

Is this the same Pat Cadell who is a talking head on the cable news channels? A REASONABLE democrat who wants what's best for America?! If so, I think I heart him after this article. At least SOME democrats out there 'get it' about the nightmare of Obamacare! 80% oppose it?! WOW.

WAKE UP, OBAMA. THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL!

[Roberts]

Good column.

[DrC]

The Dems have cherry-picked the polls, saying the public supports getting rid of preexisting conditions—and that’s in the bill—they support having choice of plans—and that’s in the bill etc. But what they refuse to face is that despite the flagrant lies by the president, Pelosi and Reid, the public CORRECTLY infers this will increase health care costs (the government’s own actuaries concur with this judgment) and it will add to the national deficit (Paul Ryan has skillfully demonstrated that HONESTLY SCORED, the bill would add $430 billion to the deficit in its first 10 years and 1.4 trillion in the second).

Thus, taken as a whole, the public firmly rejects this monstrosity—an inconvenient truth ignored by Obama, Pelosi, and Reid as they drive the bus off the cliff in this Thelma and Louise moment.

[hal ogen]

DO IT, DIMS! Whatever you do, justice is ours! Freedom!

[Ann Archy]

OMG!! Send that to some Conservative Rep. or Senator.

[GVnana]

they support having choice of plans—and that’s in the bill etc.

Not really. If you have high deductible, as I do, your insurance will be no more -- outlawed. Don't buy any democrats definition of "choice."

[neverdem]

When only 21 percent of Americans say that Washington operates with the consent of the governed, as was also reported last month, we face an alarming crisis.

November should be interesting, to say the least.