Obamacare roundup: 9-11-09

The latest on Obamacare...

The Associated Press [2] took a look at some of the "math" Obama used in his speech relating to the deficit (and Obamacare's impact) and decided it was "iffy" at best. And again, this is the "Associated Press" we're talking about...not exactly a bulwark of objectivity.

The Wall Street Journal [3] looks at the implications of Obamacare on labor unions...as in it will amount to one great big early Christmas present with all sorts of goodies, (like forced unionization of some health care workers for example). Just another example of the type of garbage one can usually expect to be buried in any bill that has "comprehensive" in the title.

Republican members of Congress point out (again) that their proposals for health care reform have been completely ignored [4]by Obama and the Democrat leadership of Congress, (the very same people who have repeatedly said "the other side" hasn't put any ideas on the table, etc.). The Republicans have put forward plans related to health care specifically, tort reform, expanding insurance coverage through tax credits, etc.. The problem seems to be that the proposal they haven't "put on the table" is a government run plan...which to Democrats seems to mean they have not plan.

Meanwhile, Obama seems to be laying the foundation of an excuse [5] to use the controvercial technique of the budget reconciliation process to eventually get Obamacare through the senate with only 51 votes instead of the normal 60 that it would take. Again, because he says that the Republicans who's ideas he has been ignoring don't want to compromise away their ideas in favor of his.

Karl Rove weighs in on the political implications to red-state Democrats of pushing Obamacare in today's Wall Street Journal [6]:

In reality, it is riskier to be at odds with where Americans are than just standing by as an unpopular proposal goes down. The problem for Democrats is they are scaring voters by proposing a takeover of health care that spends too much money, creates too much debt, gives Washington too much power, and takes too much decision-making away from doctors and patients....

The latest Pew poll (August 20-27) found that 30% of seniors supported health-care reform while 54% were opposed. In July, Pew showed 29% in favor and 48% opposed. The same August Pew poll shows Republicans gaining 12 points among seniors on the generic ballot, compared to where they stood in the 2006 congressional elections. The generic ballot among seniors then was at 50% Democrat, 39% Republican. Today, it's 51% Republican and 43% Democrat.

This matters because seniors make up a disproportionate share of the off-year vote. CNN exit polls showed that they were roughly 16% of eligible voters in 2008, but 29% of the turnout in 2006. The generic ballot among seniors in 1994 was 45% Republican and 43% Democrat.

Hmmmm. Those are the kind of numbers that should focus some Democrat minds in Congress...no matter how many calls they get from Nancy Pelosi or Obama. Which might expalin this from Matt Drudge [7]:

"...44 more moderate Members of the Democrat Caucus have gone on the record in opposition to the current health care bill in the House, a Hill source claims."

Self preservation. The first political instinct. Even among Democrats.

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TAKE ACTION: Click here and contact your members of Congress and say NO to Obamacare today! [8]