TPMDC
Key Dem: Midterms Will Come Down To Communicating On Healthcare
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
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Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said today the political battle on health care is just starting since the 2010 elections hinge on members being able to clearly explain what is -- and isn't -- in the final legislation.
"Once the to-and-froing and giving-and-taking in Washington is finally settled," Van Hollen told reporters in a briefing at the DNC headquarters, "it's very important we go out and very clearly explain the benefits of the bill."
Van Hollen said people will "need to understand" the specifics and repeatedly stressed Congress isn't done with the debate, saying "we haven't passed a bill yet."
"Our challenge will be to make it clear the status quo of rising premiums is the problem," he said.
Van Hollen said he also wants to make sure more of the health care benefits from the bill are "immediately available" so voters have something to be happy with. One element that goes into effect right away, he said, is closing the Medicare "doughnut hole."
"Most of the major provisions don't kick in for some time," he said. "What is already kicking in, in absence of the bill, are rapidly rising premiums as a result of the status quo."
As we reported earlier, Van Hollen defended former DNC Chairman Howard Dean as critical to the process but said the Senate debate is just a step before the House gets back involved in the details.
"There are a whole lot of questions," he said. "They are still trying to figure it out on the Senate side."
"In the House we believe our bill is a strong bill. This is a long way from over we don't have a final product yet."
TPMDC asked Van Hollen how he plans to protect members politically if they vote against the final health care bill, and he said the DCCC will "defend and support every one of our members" in the diverse caucus.
Members "will have to expalin to their constituents who support the health care reform bill why they voted against it," he said, predicting those voters will still side with the Democrat given the "breadth" of their voting record on other issues.
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Angellight
December 17, 2009 12:42 PM
Like most people intuitively know -- that "if we can just get our Foot through the door, we have a chance of opening that door all the way! And, if we don't begin somewhere, and start the "cooking of the egg", then how much more expensive will healthcare costs become. And, if this is not a good thing, why are they (GOP/ Conserva Dems) fighting so hard to stop it. They too know that if we just get our foot through the door, there will be no stopping. Yes, it is too bad that there are not more in Congress who work for the people, but we have to work with what we have at the moment, take stock of this and work harder for true Jeffersons, and Washingtons and Franklins in the future. They will come...
I have not given up on Pres. Obama; he is fighting old, intrinsic patterns which will not die easily. He is however planting the seeds to their destruction. Take Heart!
POSITIVE EXERCISE: Sit quietly, focus in the third eye, link up with your Soul (the soul is light and always works for the good) and visualize health care reform As passed, implemented into law with a public option -- for energies always follows thought!
As an aside, I am afraid that poor Ariana is upset that Pres. Obama has not yet reversed "don't ask, don't tell".
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mjshep
December 17, 2009 4:14 PM in reply to Angellight
What foot in what door?
There is no foot in any door in the Senate bill. There was in the House bill, but that's ancient history now.
And just how is Obama fighting old, intrinsic patterns? In view of his performance during this process -- strongarming progressives while giving in to, if not encouraging, the Liebermans - he is not fighting anything. In fact a better case could be made that this is the bill Obama always wanted, and the Lieberman et. al. were useful tools for him to get what he, Obama, wanted but was unwilling to push for because he didn't want to take the heat from his base. Note the secret deals with Pharma and the insurance companies.
The only "seeds to their destruction" Obama is planting is the seeds for destruction of the progressive base of the Democratic party.
Oh, and what "public option" are you referring to when you say, "visualize health care reform As passed, implemented into law with a public option?" The one in your mind, because there won't be one in the bill.
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rwc
December 18, 2009 12:41 AM in reply to mjshep
exactly
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CT Voter
December 17, 2009 12:43 PM
I don't have much confidence in Democrats explaining anything well.
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fbacon2
December 17, 2009 1:16 PM in reply to CT Voter
We have one of the best communicators in the history of the Oval Office. The question I have anymore is whether we can have confidence in people to listen.
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JEP07
December 17, 2009 2:25 PM in reply to fbacon2
The closer we get to traditional campaign time (the season of lies is already underway, it started early, something of a record for mid-terms, I'd posit) the more we'll see unity rebuild in the Dems, but for now the left is quite rightly van-hollering about this washed-out healthcare reform legislation.
Yes, I think we need to pass this bill, but we should consider whatever eventually hits the President's desk as an opening salvo, not a final engagement, in this ongoing culture war for progress in healthcare reform.
If the DCCC wants to regain $upport in the upcoming election, "Communicating" about healthcare reform would best be accomplished by taking whatever bill ends up on paper, use their considerable campaign advertising at every level to expose the blatant corporate protectionism hidden there-in, then campaign on making real progressive changes to that bill, particularly in the way it is financed.
"Now that it is law, Democrats will keep working on this reform package until we get it right."
Take that message to "The People" when you start throwing (m)ad money at the media, and you'll get those wayward votes back.
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again
December 17, 2009 2:31 PM in reply to JEP07
That's too smart. Too sensible.
And it implies they'll actually follow through long after the campaign is over.
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again
December 17, 2009 2:30 PM in reply to fbacon2
That is, if he speaks up.
I was never (and still am not) a fan of Ronald Reagan. But I would argue that Reagan had a much stronger ability (and will) to connect with the American people than President Obama possesses.
So did Bill Clinton. They WANTED to talk with the American people.
Obama seems not to want to engage, nor does he appear to want our engagement.
The people he does seem to want to engage? From Summers to Baucus and back again.
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fbacon2
December 17, 2009 3:36 PM in reply to again
Like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEpaEBf67yk
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CincyCapell
December 17, 2009 11:00 PM in reply to CT Voter
Yea, they are going to have as much luck explaining Health Care this time around as they did during the August recess, when it was all teabaggers screaming at townhalls, all the time throughout the MSM.
This is a complete disaster that will cost the Dems any majorities in Congress for a generation.
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Progressive Party
December 17, 2009 1:13 PM
How is Tim Kaine doing at DNC? Patheic and it will only get worse. The WH is blowing it by Obama remaining aloof and allowing this opportunity to slip in favor of the punk ass conservadems.
Obama you are losing your base and seem to be only concerned with declaring victory for a bill that serves health insurance companies. Too bad, you are not a fighter and maybe you think you are winning while losing.
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mjshep
December 17, 2009 4:21 PM in reply to Progressive Party
Maybe Obama is a fighter. He's just not fighting for us.
He sure knows how to fight the progressives.
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G3
December 17, 2009 1:42 PM
Therein lies the problem.
They think all they have to do it 'sell' the snake oil.
They think it's a marketing problem instead of Health Care problem.
What are they going to do, hire Sham-Wow Vince?
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again
December 17, 2009 2:32 PM in reply to G3
All is marketing. Nothing is fair.
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Indie Pro
December 17, 2009 2:16 PM
Key Dem: Learn to Lie
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androcles
December 17, 2009 2:16 PM
What a depressing headline! The administration and congressional leadership have taken a popular idea -- health care reform -- and made it not only unpopular but worthless. It gets more and more unpoular every time they open their mouths. Along the way they have dropped the best and most popular part -- the public option, which always polls well -- and with an equally sharp eye at destroying the popular parts, the president and the congressional leadership have sold out to Big Pharma on drug imports. And now they've all gone off to Copenhagen in hopes of distracting us. More and more, Obama seems like a great communicator as long as he isn't responsible for actually doing anything, as long as we just listen and don't watch.
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nedclark
December 17, 2009 3:16 PM
What's to explain?
They started from a position of weakness - never pressing Single-Payer for all, but instead, opening with the watered-down Public Option. Then they gave away everything of potential value and merit each time a Blue Bitch Dem raised an eyebrow.
It's a P.o.S. `nuff said.
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nedclark
December 17, 2009 3:19 PM in reply to nedclark
Actually, an addition:
"Van Hollen said people will "need to understand" the specifics and repeatedly stressed Congress isn't done with the debate, saying "we haven't passed a bill yet."
YOU MEAN THERE ARE STILL SOME VALUABLE FEATURES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN AWAY or SCRAPPED YET?
Let's see how long it takes `em to completely gut HCR, and turn out something that the the Republicans would be proud of.
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