Health Care News - August 31, 2009

Good news and bad news involving health care reform as the month ends . . .

Janet Hook, reporting for the McClatchy-Tribune News Service, wrote yesterday that Democrats and Republicans actually agree on my many elements of health care reform and such proposals could expand and improve medical insurance in this country. Among these ideas are banning insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, expansion of coverage for preventive medicine, and provide new incentives for small businesses to offer insurance to their employees. The theory is that Democrats and Republicans can work out a deal of sorts to reform the system incrementally - something Edward Kennedy did for his entire Senate career.

But there's a sinister game afoot. As Democratic legislators have had their town hall meetings disrupted by protesters, Republican candidates hoping to challenge Democratic incumbents in next year's midterm elections are hosting their own "town hall" meetings to let opponents of health care reform vent in a more civilized manner. These meetings are little more than the opportunity for local GOP candidates to preach to the converted and get free publicity from the local media.

The Democrats have dismissed this tactic as empty showmanship, which they do at their own peril. Because as the Republicans, the party of Ronald Reagan, and Ronald Reagan, the President from Hollywood - not to mention Hollywood itself - have all proven, empty showmanship works.

I doubt the Republicans will gain majorities in the House or Senate in 2010 - the majorities Democrats currently enjoy in both houses of Congress are likely top big for the GOP to overcome - but a strong showing and a whittling down of the margins in both houses will make it that much more difficult for President Obama to accomplish much in the latter half of is first term - or win a second.