Starting with NYT columnist and Nobel Prize recipient Paul Krugman:
In a post on his blog Wednesday night titled “He Wasn’t the One We’ve Been Waiting For,” Krugman eviscerated Obama for, in the columnist’s view, not stepping up during a crucial moment in his presidency.
“Progressives are desperately in need of leadership; more specifically, House Democrats need to be told to pass the Senate bill, which isn’t what they wanted but is vastly better than nothing. And what we get from the great progressive hope, the man who was offering hope and change, is this,” Krugman wrote, directing readers to Obama’s comments in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday seemingly advocating a scaled back health bill.
“Maybe House Democrats can pull this out, even with a gaping hole in White House leadership,” Krugman continued. “But I have to say, I’m pretty close to giving up on Mr. Obama, who seems determined to confirm every doubt I and others ever had about whether he was ready to fight for what his supporters believed in.”
With the GOP upset in Massachusetts, I’m afraid that even if House Democrats were told to pass the Senate health care bill, most of them would nod their heads but say “no, thanks.” Democrats in the House and Senate are in full self-preservation mode.
Come on, Mr. Krugman, don’t be so hard on them. Who can blame them for wanting to keep their jobs after 2010 and 2012? And I find your remark about passing the Senate bill “is vastly better than nothing” highly irresponsible. This is the health of all Americans we’re talking about, and “better than nothing” is not good enough.
The White House and Congressional Democrats need to start from a clean slate again on health care reform. Back to square one. Adopt transparency and allow debate. No more of jamming it through the doors just because the Democrats hold a majority.
Otherwise, be ready for a sound defeat in the next elections. After all, 22% of Democrats voted for Republican Scott Brown. Better remember that.
