Panicky White House Pushing (Too!) Hard to Close Health Care Deal

The White House is scrambling frantically to force the House to pass the Senate health care reform bill.

(See a summary of how we got to this desperate point at House Health Care Vote Hinges on Trust (or Fear) of Obama.)

But I didn't fully appreciate just how frantic the Obama administration feels until, to my astonishment, I received an anonymous campaign-style robocall this morning that:

• decried the "greedy" insurance industry for "million-dollar bonuses and 39% increases" in premiums;
• indignantly entoned "Enough of this greed!" several times; and
• urged me to call Congress, and provided a direct-line phone number.

Never mind that the Bush and Obama administrations bailed out private insurers with public funds and conveniently overlooked their fat-cat bonuses... Never mind that President Obama's health care "reform" bill provides billions of new revenues and millions of new mandated buyers to private insurers, and provides almost no cost controls over premiums that insurers can charge.

Besides, calling my Congressman, Republican Ed Royce (CA-40), would be a waste of time. There's not one chance in a million he would vote for this bill. Rep. Royce has made his stance abundantly clear in dozens of local town halls.

Don't get me wrong: I want Obama's bill to pass. I'm unhappy with his health care reform half-measure, but apparently it's the best we're going to do right now, right here. And a half-measure is far better than status quo in 2010.

While I resent the distorted message and last-minute pressure being exerted by Obama's panicky, bungling team of political advisors, I understand their desperation.

Despite profound advances that President Obama is quietly accomplishing on many issues, a loss on health care reform would make him appear to be a weak leader. A political loser. A charismatic wunderkind who didn't pan out, and whose 2008 election was a mistake.

Sadly, the President and his closest advisors have only themselves to blame, because they foolishly overpromised during the campaign, then elevated the much-reviled stimulus bill and health care reform to be the only prominent policy centerpieces of Obama's first year in office.

Thanks almost entirely to House Speaker Pelosi's formidable skills, the stimulus bill passed quickly. But the politically nervous Obama administration dithered and frittered away countless opportunities for clever or bold leadership on health care reform, and thus, has been unable to close the deal.

The ineptness of the Obama administration in firmly closing the deal on health care reform is illustrated at The Drudge Report today, which lists a litany of 2009 headlines heralding the health care "end game" including:

• July 28, 2009: Healthcare endgame on Capitol Hill (Reuters)
• August 21, 2009: Analysis: Health care endgame near but uncertain (AP)
• October 25, 2009: Senators say health care bill endgame is in sight (Politico)
• October 30, 2009: Health reform inches closer to endgame (WaPo)
• November 23, 2009: The Health Care Endgame (NPR)

Please, let's get on with passing health care reform. Now. For the sake of 30 million American uninsured men, women and children.

And if, by President Obama's false deadline of March 18th, health care reform is still not fait accompli, perhaps it's time to put it aside for another day. Another Congress. Dare I say, maybe even another President. Obama's last-minute shoving may be too much, far too late...

Amd after all, our great country has many other pressing issues to attend to, including soaring unemployment and foreclosure rates and two wars. We MUST get back to the business of running the country.

Essential Reading

• House Health Care Vote Hinges on Trust (or Fear) of Obama
• First Year Changes Under Obama's Health Care Reform Bill
• Obama Health Care Summit: Saturday Night Live Fodder

(Photo: Jeff Haynes/Getty Images)