Barack Obama summed up the deteriorating political climate in which is saying “there is a time when August progresses on September, when everyone in Washington is pee. I know it’s not, but that’s what happens, “said the chief speaker in the United States.
When Obama took office, most people in Washington thought compensararía lack of government experience with its ability to remain the best seller politician of his generation, as it had been during the campaign. But as president, their ability to sell its most important policies-particularly the health system reform, which is the centerpiece of his domestic agenda, has been much weaker than expected.
Instead of electrifying the country, arguing the need to reform a health system that is expensive and has a high level of exclusion, too often seemed to react to the characterization that other people made their plans. As a result, Obama is experiencing something of a nightmare in August.
A survey reported in the Washington Post indicates that now only 49% of Americans are confident that Obama always “do the right thing,” compared with 60% in April. Others are now a slim majority of Americans oppose the health reform. Even among the millions of progressives who helped volunteer at the Obama election effort, there are many who are increasingly disenchanted with the man who promised to bring change to Washington.
On Thursday, Obama tried, belatedly, to appeal again to the database of 13 million volunteers election in an effort to generate at their bases the same passion for reform that conservative activists are showing to oppose it. But, as explained by Jane Hamsher, a leader among progressive bloggers, Obama is discovering the truth of the maxim that says: “It is poetically campaign, but governs in prose.”
“In a campaign can generate much enthusiasm because you do not have to descend from the exalted generalities. But when it comes to real political articulation in power, no place to hide. Many of us are very disappointed with what we see, “said Hamsher, who is disappointed by Obama’s readiness to compromise with lobby groups in the area of health to ensure that the law is approved.
The overall rates of endorsement of Obama, who are between 51 and 57% remain relatively strong, if below two thirds of its first 100 days in office. However, the August collapse in support for health reform took to the White House by surprise.
The fight against prejudice
Recent polls show that now a large minority or small majority of Americans believe things almost mythical about the president’s plans. These include the fear that Obama wants to pursue a takeover of the health system by the government. It also says it plans to use public funding for abortions, illegal immigrants will have free health insurance and that bureaucrats may withdraw program called end-of-life, created to improve elderly care and allow more patients to live and die in the place they choose. All these assumptions are false.
Obama’s attempts to correct, with teaching style, these unfounded fears, many of whom were encouraged by radio-show hosts have not made a dent in the decline of support. David Rothkopf, a senior government official who saw Bill Clinton backed the president evaporate after the failed attempt to reform the health system in 1994, says he sees some parallels.
“Instead of giving 100 reasons why reform is needed, the president should give only one. We must simply keep repeating that the health system is leading the U.S. to bankruptcy and can not afford to have 50 million people without health insurance, “summed Rothkopf, who anyway predicts Obama will do this year to adopt a more modest health bill.
The lackluster sales effort of Obama got worse by the fact that outsourced product design, transferring it to Congress. Obama tried to avoid the mistake of Clinton, who sent a package and cooked to the Capitol on a basis of “take it or leave it”. So articulate a few principles and left the details in the hands of Democrats.
However, the problem is that these Democrats are a heterogeneous group that ranges from progressive coming from big cities who want a robust public insurance option, which would compete with private plans-to centrists from rural states than in any other democracy would be classified as conservative, and consider that public choice is the Trojan horse of “socialized medicine.” Accordingly, it is not surprising that Congress has produced five different projects. As Will Rogers once said, the great comedian: “I do not belong to any organized political party. I am a Democrat. ”
Bill Schneider, who is a major U.S. political analyst and member of Third Way, a centrist think tank, said Obama should say which version you prefer and keep it. “If you’re trying to sell a product, it helps to know which product is, or at least have a version available. You can not accuse the Obama support base for not showing much passion for reform, when they are confused about what these reforms, “Schneider states.
Some observers believe the situation is so bad that Obama should leave reform. They say the president underestimated how far the recession will discourage the public appetite for reform. For them to continue the effort and not achieve their goals in health could derail his presidency, as happened with the Clintons.
“The proposals of the Democrats have been so caricatured that the content does not matter. When you’re in a hole is to stop digging, “said Charlie Cook, a veteran analyst predicted that the Democrats are on track to lose at least 20 seats in parliamentary elections next year.
But others note that August is traditionally the silly season of the media and Washington is experiencing a heat wave. Obama could return from his vacation and achieve a compromise agreement that gets some sort of health system reform could become law in the autumn. It may disappoint liberals, but considering what has happened in the past 70 years is a feat to accomplish any type of reform.
“People get confused and think the President is the Commander in Chief of the economy, when nobody really is. If the economy out of recession, Obama will be fine. Bill Clinton survived impeachment by the Monica Lewinsky case because the economy was growing, “said Schneider.
Moreover, Obama’s ability to keep your head when others lose it bailed out last August, when many predicted was on track to lose the election.
