Overwhelmingly, the November 2008 elections went great for the Democrats. Not only did they win the White House and pick up several governorships, they also won huge margins in both houses of Congress (including a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate). Yep, times were good indeed for Democrat politicians just a few short months ago, but now they find themselves fighting a politically dangerous uphill battle on health care reform.
The dilemma they face is simple: Do they go all out in support of President Obama’s favorite pet project since many of them were whished into office on his coattails, or do they play it safe by negotiating away all but the most moderate parts of the President’s plan? They are hearing the message from the American people loud and clear: No government-run healthcare! And it isn’t just the conservatives among us who are objecting either. The growing ranks of the disenchanted include a great many of the very constituents who voted them into office in the first place, and they know full well that they’ll be depending on those same folks to return them to Washington come re-election time.
Hopefully, prudence and common sense will prevail and health care reform as envisioned by Obama will fade away into oblivion. If not, I believe that most of the first-term Democrat Congressmen and Senators will be going back home come re-election time.