“Internal conflict inevitably leads to an external conflict, easily dramatized.” -John Gardner, American novelist.
While John Gardner might be alluding to the literary techniques employed to perfect his own novels, this quote rings true today, as Americans become admission-paying spectators viewing the ongoing dramatic production the Democratic Party has become. And in any good theatrical production, the setting, the actors, the conflicts and the audience direct the narrative, each playing an integral role in the development of an outcome. For Democrats, the issue of health care reform provides a stage.
In a four-part series, HCHR will offer a breakdown of the components of the Drama of the Left: the setting, the actors, the conflicts and the audience.
THE SETTING
Democrats took control of Congress following the midterm elections of 2006. Their sphere of influence expanded picking up even more seats in 2008 and electing the most liberal candidate, then-Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, as their party nominee and eventually, as President of the United States.
President Obama took office during what could be classified as an economic trough, a time when the jobless rate skyrocketed and the stock market spiraled out of control. Because of the ongoing “crisis,” as he deemed it, the President felt a need to intervene in the marketplace of American business, restructuring major banking and automobile corporations and promoting cap-and-trade legislation that shift the focus of energy policy in the U.S.
According to a Time Magazine article (”Paging Dr. Obama”) appearing in the August 10, 2009 “Health Care Special Report” edition, the President aimed to conduct a government overhaul earlier in his term, but his efforts were sidelined by a weakened economy.
“Had we not been in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, I would have led with health care reform, made the case, and potentially we might have had it done by now,” he said.
While many opponents claim that America’s finances are still not in order, President Obama feels that a struggling economy is actually an incentive to push the institutional changes he desires for health care.
“But I disagree with this idea that because of the financial crisis, we can somehow put this of. In some ways, I think it’s just made it more urgent…”
The audience should ignore the confusing premise he has presented, and instead, take it at face value. President Obama believes that the economy was in terrible shape, and now it’s less bad, so we should go ahead with his reform proposals.
In June 2009, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) filed his “Affordable Health Choices Act” bill in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which he chaired. This sparked interest in the health care debate in both Congressional chambers, with Congressional colleagues following suit.
In the meantime, grassroots activism became a tactic on both sides of the aisle, with special interests rallying their sides to promote or discourage the reforms, now known as “Obamacare.” These special interests also kicked in hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising campaigns in hopes of persuading the American people to stand with them in the fight for or against the legislation.
Sen. Kennedy passed away after a lengthy battle with brain cancer on Tuesday, August 25, 2009. Now, Democrats have used Sen. Kennedy’s death as an incentive to “do it for Teddy,” asking lawmakers to pass significant health care reform legislation to honor the late Senator, who felt the issue to be “his life’s work.”
Public support for the proposals outlined by Sen. Kennedy and President Obama has dwindled. According to a CBS Poll conducted August 27-August 31, 2009, only 40 percent of Americans approve of President Obama’s handling of the health care issue, while 47 percent of Americans disapprove. Rasmussen Reports indicate a similar sentiment, but present evidence that the consequences are far more reaching than just those affecting the bills currently up for debate:
According to Rasmussen Reports:
Now, President Obama’s staff has signaled that the White House will no longer emphasize a public option as a means for reforming the health care industry and will instead examine other alternatives, such as co-operatives, to expand coverage. However, many Democrats in Congress are enraged by the lack of support from the President, as they have spent the past several months crafting these bills and defending their substance to constituents. To date, all four bills in Congress still have public option provisions.
Check back for part 2 of 4: the actors.
