Why Democrats push health care, even if it kills them

[xsited1]

To some observers, the Democrats' race to pass national health care seems irrational -- even suicidal. Don't party leaders understand how much the public opposes the bills currently on the table? Don't they know that voters are likely to take their revenge at the polls next year? Given that, why do they keep rushing ahead?

Just look at the RealClearPolitics average of polls, which shows that Americans oppose the national health care bills currently on the table by a margin of 53 percent to 38 percent. That's not just one poll that might tilt right or left, it's an average of several polls by several pollsters. And the margin of opposition seems to be growing, not diminishing. And yet Democrats seem determined to defy public opinion. Why?

"Because they think they know what's best for the public," the strategist said. "They think the facts are being distorted and the public's being told a story that is not entirely true, and that they are in Congress to be leaders. And they are going to make the decision because Goddammit, it's good for the public."

Why Democrats push health care, even if it kills them | Washington Examiner

 

[SFC Ollie]

To some observers, the Democrats' race to pass national health care seems irrational -- even suicidal. Don't party leaders understand how much the public opposes the bills currently on the table? Don't they know that voters are likely to take their revenge at the polls next year? Given that, why do they keep rushing ahead?

Just look at the RealClearPolitics average of polls, which shows that Americans oppose the national health care bills currently on the table by a margin of 53 percent to 38 percent. That's not just one poll that might tilt right or left, it's an average of several polls by several pollsters. And the margin of opposition seems to be growing, not diminishing. And yet Democrats seem determined to defy public opinion. Why?

"Because they think they know what's best for the public," the strategist said. "They think the facts are being distorted and the public's being told a story that is not entirely true, and that they are in Congress to be leaders. And they are going to make the decision because Goddammit, it's good for the public."

Why Democrats push health care, even if it kills them | Washington Examiner

I don't believe they care any more what the people think. They are assured by the mystical wonderful Obama that healthcare reform is the absolute most important thing in the USA and they have to pass something even if it smells like they are passing gas.

Of course that's just my opinion......

 

[DiamondDave]

Perhaps they also realize that once something becomes a government program, no matter how much of a bad idea it is or goes against the simple wording of our constitution (SS, Medicaid, etc), it is hard to take back out of government... and they want to ensure that government does expand to seize more power

 

[Claudette]

OF course they know. All these idiot Dems just want to be part of the "Historic" moment when they sign healthcare into law. They con't care what it will cost us, our kids, our grandkids. If they did, they wouldn't be pushing it. They would fix whats wrong with the current system.

 

[Meister]

There are some very good points so far in this thread. Let me take it a little further. I do think that the far left will agree to anything that Obama puts on the table. There are a lot that aren't so far left that will not agree with him and his agenda. Having said that, I think Obama will push it, and it will get passed, the democrats will take a hit at the polls, but his agenda IS in place, and it will be very difficult to recind once in place. I do believe it's calculated, and they will wait for the "people" to catch up with his socialistic policies. Seems every generation is a little more liberal than the one before. The dems will come back.
Think it's too far out there?

 

[Claudette]

There are some very good points so far in this thread. Let me take it a little further. I do think that the far left will agree to anything that Obama puts on the table. There are a lot that aren't so far left that will agree with him and his agenda. Having said that, I think Obama will push it, and it will get passed, the democrats will take a hit at the polls, but his agenda IS in place, and it will be very difficult to recind once in place. I do believe it's calculated, and they will wait for the "people" to catch up with his socialistic policies. Seems every generation is a little more liberal than the one before. The dems will come back.
Think it's too far out there?

You may just be right Meister. Once there is another huge Govt entitlement it will be very hard if not impossible to get rid of. It will cost all of us taxpayers up the ass and our so called Elected officials will not care.Sucks big time

 

[Xenophon]

Elections have consequences.

 

[rightwinger]

It looks like we will get a watered down healthcare bill. Democrats have nobody to blame but themselves. The party has no effective leadership to forge a position within the party. All they can do is delete anything that anyone finds offensive.
Even though the Republicans have no healthcare strategy except that they don't like it, at least they maintain a solid front

 

[saveliberty]

The Democrats have always thought they know better than the public. It is for that very reason they seek to control your liberties, redistribute wealth and horde power. All the better to help the ignorant masses. It isn't about health care and that is why they are willing to go so far.

 

[xsited1]

The Democrats have always thought they know better than the public. It is for that very reason they seek to control your liberties, redistribute wealth and horde power. All the better to help the ignorant masses. It isn't about health care and that is why they are willing to go so far.

Absolutely true. From the link:

In the end, perhaps the most compelling explanation for Democratic behavior is that they are simply in too deep to do anything else. "Once you've gone this far, what is the cost of failure?" asks the strategist.

At that point -- Republicans will love this -- he compared congressional Democrats with robbers who have passed the point of no return in deciding to hold up a bank. Whatever they do, they're guilty of something. "They're in the bank, they've got their guns out. They can run outside with no money, or they can stick it out, go through the gunfight, and get away with the money."

Shame on the Democrats for thinking they know better than the American people. They'll lose their seats in Congress over this while we'll be stuck with this garbage legislation for the next 50 years (or until the country goes bankrupt).

 

[Zander]

I think they Dems are making a HUGE mistake. First of all, despite all of their emotional pleas about "people dieing in the streets" and "covering every American" the bill does not even start to cover anyone until 2013. The taxes start NOW, the coverage starts LATER. That is how they are finagling the numbers.

If they pass this boondoggle in spite of massive opposition by the public, they will lose their majorities and maybe this crap can still be overturned. The collected tax revenues can then be used to pay down the national debt. There just might be a silver lining in this after all.......We can dream anyway.....

 

[uscitizen]

They've been paid well by lobbyists to push it. And some do it for partisanship. pack mentality stuff.

Same as the Republicans are.