The GOP Health Care Debacle

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News

Republicans and health care reform, GOP health legislation congress party washington

(Credit: CBS/AP)

By late afternoon, the debate was just for show. The outcome was a foregone conclusion after the White House clinched an agreement with Michigan's Bart Stupak earlier in the day. Still, the GOP was intent on getting in its last licks during the general debate. And they made the best of the opportunity.

So we got to see the nation's Republican congressional cohort, one by one, rise to vent. And vent they did. They attacked backroom deals and creeping collectivism. They decried one-party diktat. They predicted companies would go bust. They complained of being shut out of the process. They warned of lost freedoms. Clearly, they were not happy campers. A sampler:

Dave Camp of Michigan said that Congress was paving the way for federal bureaucrats to come between Americans and their doctors.

Kevin Brady of Texas predicted rationing was now in store.

John Linder of Georgia said the legislation would destroy healthcare for the vast majority of citizens.

Devin Nunes of California slammed Democrats for laying the cornerstone for "socialism" and "totalitarianism."

I was listening to the debate while packing boxes and that last bon mot stopped me in my tracks. Did I hear that right? Totalitarianism? So I rewound my DVR and there it was. Totalitarianism. I understand Nancy Pelosi annoys the hell out of the GOP but she's not exactly the second coming of Trotsky (naturally, in chartreuse red).

This is where the GOP starts to look, well, weird. In defeat. And there was little dispute that the Republican Party had suffered one of its biggest setbacks in years. Even a congenital Republican cheerleader like National Review's Mark Steyn offered a backhand acknowledgment of the magnitude of the moment. "If Barack Obama does nothing else in his term in office, this will make him one of the most consequential presidents in history." Steyn wrote on Sunday. But rhetorical excess has been a recurring theme throughout the year-long battle to overhaul health care and with one GOP speaker after another railing about the advent of "socialism" coming to our shores, Republicans came close to sounding like kooks (if not the amen corner for Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.)

When the history of this chapter gets written, people will ask whether the GOP's been getting the politics wrong from the get-go. Egged on by ideological hardliner South Carolina's Jim DeMint - who urged the party to turn health care into President Obama's "Waterloo" - the party bet the house on its ability to block Democratic legislation. That turned out to be a bad bet.

The latest meme propagated by Republicans is that supposed "outrage" stirred up by the bill will lead to an electoral route in November's midterm elections. History suggests that the party out of power should pick up seats in an off-year election. But confident predictions of victory are premature. In a blog post that's sure to irritate some of his conservative colleagues, David Frum, a former speechwriter for George W. Bush, notes that while "legislative majorities come and go" this bill is permanent. "A win in November is very poor compensation for this debacle now." (Also see Frum's video post-mortem.)

Obviously, Frum's is a minority opinion within the party as the ideological hardliners remain in charge. But with the elections eight months away, Republican victory is hardly guaranteed - especially if the economy continues to improve. Heading into the elections, President Obama will be sure to remind voters that Republicans also refused to support the Mr. Obama when he was trying to convince Congress to pass a stimulus bill. At the time, the GOP predicted it would hasten the economy's collapse. Turns out that GDP has registered increases the last three quarters.

Will any of this force the GOP to do a course correction? Probably not. The movement is convinced that it's on the right side of history. With the right wing of the party in control - even if Sarah Palin decides to pack it in to pursue a fitting career as a reality television star - the ideologues will continue to pound away at the Democrats, accusing them of ruining the economy by recasting the United States as a European social democracy.

In a response to Frum, Cornell Law professor and conservative activist William Jacobson wasn't buying the idea that the vote's outcome was a convincing reason for party introspection. The opposite was true, he argued.

"Only through voter resistance in Virginia, New Jersey and particularly Massachusetts, through hundreds of town halls, through vigorous exposure of the Democrats' plans for single payer, through countless phone calls and e-mails, and through legislative vigilance were numerous even more damaging provisions stripped out. If we had followed Frum's strategy, we would be even worse off, and we would own the monstrosity known as Obamacare."

That's the narrative we'll likely hear as the elections approach. But with the prospect of 32 million more Americans covered by insurance, the Democrats can claim to have made good on Teddy Roosevelt's challenge to the country more than a century ago. Unable to prevent the passage of one of the most far-reaching pieces of progressive legislation in decades, Republicans wake up on Monday facing a political shambles.

79 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 79 Comments


by noloyalisti March 29, 2010 3:34 PM EDT: RobAla, you act like this is a BAD thing:

The federal government will see:
1) Itself much more empowered over individuals and businesses. We saw the disaster of deregulation already under Bushoccio.

2) Additional deficit spending after the CBO scores the impact of the reconciliation bill. The CBO already said this will SAVE us money.

And you make a strong case for full government run, universal single payer health care. Touche'!; Reply to this comment


by RobAla March 28, 2010 8:56 AM EDT: Debacle? This bill is a disaster in the making for the American people.

The working poor, who had no health care insurance, will be covered in the future. This is good, but consider the following:

The middle class will see:
1) Their state and federal taxes go up ? including Medicare taxes
2) Their private insurance premiums go up

Seniors will see:
1) $500 billion less in Medicare
2) Fewer doctors willing to accept Medicare patients

States will see:
1) Federal government expansion of Medicaid ? adding financial burden on the states
2) This action forces the states to greatly raise taxes on citizens of each state

Businesses will see:
1) Federal mandates which force them to provide insurance ? adding financial burdens
2) This action will cause many to have to lay off more workers

The majority of Americans:
1) Asked for reform on a few specific areas ? but will see health care turned upside down
2) Have been ignored, after stating in polls that they do not want this bill

The federal government will see:
1) Itself much more empowered over individuals and businesses
2) Additional deficit spending after the CBO scores the impact of the reconciliation bill

States and legal foundations plan to take this administration and Congress to court. The main complaint of Americans regarding health care has been the rising costs, and this bill will not address that problem (it actually will result in even more cost in taxes and premiums). The majority of Americans have been ignored. Take note on all those who have voted to do this to our nation, and remember them.; Reply to this comment


by 1renegade March 27, 2010 3:52 PM EDT: I think people really forget what the purpose of insurance is. It's not a right for anyone. It is a tool for risk management. You buy Auto insurance hoping you don't have a accident,homeowners insurance hoping your house doesn't burn. The problem with health insurance is that it is over used for the little things and not for it's intended purpose, risk management.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 March 26, 2010 10:56 PM EDT: "Only through voter resistance in Virginia, New Jersey and particularly Massachusetts, through hundreds of town halls, through vigorous exposure of the Democrats' plans for single payer, through countless phone calls and e-mails, and through legislative vigilance were numerous even more damaging provisions stripped out. If we had followed Frum's strategy, we would be even worse off, and we would own the monstrosity known as Obamacare."

**************************************

LMAO. In the first place, a public option should have been in this bill. It would make a lot more sense out of the bill. It will eventually be there. Republicans care nothing about the American people. That has been demonstrated time and time again by their votes and their actions. They really are a dispicible party.; Reply to this comment

by krusenjames March 26, 2010 2:13 PM EDT

The best argument for reform I've ever read.

"Newborn with Birth Defect Denied Coverage
Health Care Provider Tells Texas Family Baby's Artery Problem is a Pre-Existing Condition; Won't Pay for Surgery
Font size Print E-mail Share 34 Comments

Houston Tracy, a Crowley, Tex., boy born with a congenital heart defect, received a life saving operation. But as he turned 10 days old, Blue Cross denied coverage for the surgery, calling the transposition of Houston's great arteries a pre-existing condition. (KTVT)

Special Report

Health Care

The latest news and analysis on the continuing battle over Barack Obama's health care reform plans.
Stories
Congress Completes Overhaul of Health Care
(CBS) For newborn Houston Tracy, the historic health care overhaul came too late.

Houston, born March 15 at a Texas hospital, suffers from a defect in his arteries. When his parents, Doug and Kim, applied to have his corrective surgery covered under their insurance, they were denied, with their carrier claiming Houston had a pre-existing condition, reports CBS station KTVT.

The Tracys are fighting the decision by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

"They kept saying it's preexisting, it's preexisting, but I don't know how it can be preexisting on a baby that was just born," Doug Tracy said. "If it's mandated that everyone have health insurance, than how can one be denied?"

Legislation passed this week by Congress and signed by President Obama that would end the practice of denying coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions does not go into effect until September.

The congenital heart defect causes the two major vessels that carry blood away from the heart to become switched.

"He was born with what's called transposition of the great arteries," Doug Tracy said. "It's heart wrenching; I hated it."

The Tracy's are both small business owners and do not carry health insurance for themselves. They do carry insurance on their two other children and tried to get insurance for Houston, but they found out Wednesday his coverage was denied.

The health care provider declined to comment specifically on the Tracys' case, and released this statement to KTVT:

"We will work closely with our customers to keep them informed of any changes that may result from the new law. We will continue to review the bill's requirements on our business and their respective time frames to ensure full compliance."

The Forth Worth Star-Telegram received this explanation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas:

Our policy is that if a family has existing coverage with us, a baby can be added to the contract within 31 days without the need for underwriting to assess the baby's eligibility."

The condition Houston has is rarely detected before birth.

"My whole pregnancy was simple, it was easy, no complications, doctor visits were great," Houston's mother, Kim Tracy, said. "Perfect sonograms, great little pictures and then, he wasn't perfect."

Houston had life-saving surgery at Cook's Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth shortly after being born.

"He's doing really good," his mother said with a smile. "he's a little tough guy." "

He must not be a Republican. Probably a pinko too.

Reply to this comment


by ianlou March 31, 2010 9:06 AM EDT: Ironic that the same conservative who scream "Right to Life" are the same who support insurance companies choice to NOT help these new borns.

Pro Life must mean:
Saved in the Womb, Abandoned in the Bassinet.


by krusenjames March 26, 2010 2:05 PM EDT: A moral issue. That is what the health care debate is really about. The moral imperative, not to dictate to one's neighbors, but to be there for them. How any Party can claim the moral highground while neglecting this basic truth is just beyond me. How anyone can hear such arguments and lend them any credence is almost beyond belief. It's sort of like the husband in Stephen King's "Pet Cemetery" when he kept saying "It'll be different this time."
How ANY christian can argue against it is just amazing. Everyone needs to take a few steps back and consider what they are advocating. Should we let the bank repo grandma's house because the life-giving surgery sucked her bank account dry?
Or how about the schizophrenic that's bumped from psych ward to street to psych ward because mental illness isn't a valid disease?
Bake sales for leukemia victims, Jerry's kids, any of a host of charitys that can only cover a fraction of the need, how about those?
And what about all the folks who just let treatment slide because they just can't afford it?

Are you all going to honestly argue that partisan purity is more important than that?

Will you let the debate degenerate into slander and innuendo just to insist how right you are?

The health care debate is first and foremost a moral one. But by happy coincidence, the numbers favor going forward. Morality AND fiscal responsibility, all in one fell swoop? hat doesn't happen too often.

And please, spare me, don't tell me how letting everyone suffer is worth it to avoid death panels. That's just insulting my intelligence.

But there are some that do that, aren't there?

Stop listening to liars, use your common sense. Healthcare is an American issue, not a partisan disagreement.; Reply to this comment

by krusenjames March 23, 2010 1:14 PM EDT

The vast LEFT WING conspiracy theory, eh? Time for a new RX, abandon the Wooly Mammoth and Jacka$$ to a well-earned extinction. Face the future with courage, imagination and confidence. America is innovation, adapting to the new, while preserving the spirit of 1776. Remember that? All those "leftist radicals" advocating revolution and human rights? Pesky bunch...

Reply to this comment


by krusenjames March 26, 2010 1:48 PM EDT: ARE YOU WILLING TO PICK UP YOUR FAIR SHARE OF THIS WONDERFUL EXPANSION OF SOCIAL ENTITLEMENTS?
======================================================================

I'll not only do mine, but help with yours. We stand or fall together, no matter how much you try and tear us apart. But, if I read it right, this will actually cost us Less than what we are doing now. Besides, being a good Samaritan is a moral issue more than an economic one.


by luadda22 March 26, 2010 2:26 PM EDT: krusenjames, that's great, but if I remember right the "good Samaritan" used his own efforts and money, he didn't go to the King and demand that the King use his army to extort money from the rest of the kingdom to help this poor soul.

And what about the "good Samaritans" in government. We were told that 45,000 people die a year because of no insurance (I don't believe it but that is what they were telling us), so where is their compassion for the 180,000 people that will die before this "new welfare" program goes into effect in 2014??

And no, you do not read it right, the cost of health insurance will go up.


by krusenjames March 23, 2010 1:08 PM EDT: Reasoned and well argued. A brain connected to the mouth! Welcome Welcome! Disagree or not, it's good to hear from you! As for the electorate, they could benefit from your example.; Reply to this comment


by krusenjames March 23, 2010 1:05 PM EDT: Hitler had business as an ally and even when the allies were beating at the gates, he made sure to keep making washing machines. Read Speer.; Reply to this comment


by bretntexas March 23, 2010 11:16 AM EDT: Coop,

I don't know if you read these comments but here goes. Your article is well written but I disagree with the premise. This is not a setback for the Republicans. The GOP is powerless to stop the Democrats in the House. They do not have enough votes. Instead, this is best characterized as a partisan win for the Democrats. They have shown they can wheel and deal to get what they want even if most Americans do want it. It is not a forgone conclusion that the GOP will win big in November but the passage of this bad bill and the way it was passed has angered many and jump-started an electorate who plan to do something about it.; Reply to this comment