The Road to Health Care Reform: Demonizing and Violence

From Palin's "evil" reference to Rush Limbaugh's comparison to Hitler, the President and Health Care Reform are feeling a concerted effort to squelch any change.

Take a look at these opinions on Politico.

http://www.politico.com/arena/


This is what's happening at Town Halls by those who oppose changes...

Bradley A. Blakeman, Republican strategist, consultant, entrepreneur:
I would advise my side to keep up the pressure on Congress and the White House. I would encourage citizens and third party groups to attend Congressional own Hall Meetings, telephoning, mailing, and emailing Members and the White House. More...

Dana Perino, Former White House Press Secretary:
Republicans have put the Democrats on defense this summer - exactly what you'd expect from an effective minority party. So, my advice:- keep doing what you're doing - the pressure has worked. The Democrats are all over the map and not inspiring confidence in their proposal- keep arguing on the merits -- the more you argue on the facts, the more defensive they get- stay above the partisan fray. Let the Democrats continue to attack Americans. Don't take the bait- find your voice to describe the reform you support - yes, it's complicated to explain, but work at it. Take a test: can you explain it to your neighbor in one go without any follow-ups? Keep at it until you can- reach out to independents, explain how you want to reform healthcare in real and sustainable ways, without raising taxes on the middle class and ballooning the deficit- take a few deep breaths and get some rest, for in the fall you will have to redouble your efforts!




This is what should happen...


Darrell M. West, Vice President, Governance Studies, Brookings:
August is the time to rally grass roots supporters and get them to write letters, make phone calls, and attend town hall meetings. Members will be paying close attention to what people back home think. With reports of fist fights, yelling, and speakers being shouted down, each side should be careful not to get blamed for anti-democratic behavior. Tactics matter as much as message during district events.


Julian E. Zelizer, Professor of History and Public Affairs, Princeton:
Each side has a fundamental question they need to answer in this debate. For supporters of reform, how will we pay for this? For opponents of reform, what will they do to fix a broken system? The side that offers a better answer will be in much stronger position come this fall.


Michael Kazin, Professor of History, Georgetown, co-editor Dissent:

"For the Democrats (at least those who really believe in an overhaul of our rickety system): Be clear about what the reform bills will do for most people and what they won't do (like promote euthanasia and force you to go to an MD chosen by a bureaucrat). Be clear about the perils of allowing insurance companies to continue running the system (which, except for Medicare and the VA, they do now). And remind people that the elements of the current system which they like -- particularly Medicare and the VA -- are public programs, even single-payer ones. Above all, get out of the wonkish policy weeds and talk about the moral imperative to put together a system which covers everyone without bankrupting the country."


Dean Baker, Co-director, Center for Economic and Policy Research:
Proponents of health care reform have to get the facts out and dispel the fears. The key facts are that the U.S. health care system is incredibly wasteful and that there are enormous opportunities to reduce costs in ways that don't jeopardize and might even improve the quality of care. More...


Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, Law Professor at the Washington and Lee University:
I believe that we have to get health care reform done this fall and that the House bill and parts of the Senate HELP bill provide a sound platform for moving forward. It also is becoming apparent that delay is not helping, that we need to move forward to avoid failure. The strategy I would suggest would be:
1) Focus on the advantages that reform has for the ordinary insured American. Most Americans are insured through their employment, but 400,000 Americans are losing their health insurance every month. The reform legislation offers them health security no matter what happens to their job, or even if they decide to quit it to pursue their own entrepreneurial dream. It also limits the amount of premiums and cost-sharing that their employer can impose on them. In just one year between 2007 and 2008, deductibles for employment-based insurance went up 30% and Americans are increasingly facing unaffordable cost-sharing in their employment-related insurance. More...
2) Make sure that Medicare beneficiaries understand that the legislation improves their Medicare benefits. It is ironic that the greatest opposition to reform seems to be coming from seniors, who already have a public health insurance plan. But the House legislation would expand coverage for preventive services, limit cost-sharing under Medicare Advantage plans, gradually close the donut hole, and increase help for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. All the talk about cutting Medicare costs is making seniors nervous, but cuts will come out of provider and insurer payments, not from benefits.
3) Push back forcefully against the lies and misinformation--the claims of mandated euthanasia and abortion coverage, the end of private insurance arguments.
4) Remind waivering Democrats that it was the Democratic base that worked to get them elected, and that the Democratic base overwhelmingly favors getting this done. Those showing up at town meetings to oppose reform would not vote for them under any circumstances.
5) Serve notice on Senator Baucus and his conferees that they have another month max to get a bipartisan agreement. The Republicans on the Committee should not be allowed to stall reform indefinitely until they can kill it. The Republicans had no interest in bipartisanship when they passed their health reform bill in 1995, and very little when they passed the MMA in 2003 (remember the all-night vote).
6) Energize the base and get this done. Americans may be ambivalent about reform now, but when it is done they will be glad for it. An amendment in Energy and Commerce to recognize Medicare to be socialized medicine and a single-payer system and to abolish it immediately was opposed by every Republican on the Committee. When this is done people will be just as grateful for it as they are for Medicare.