The NYT sure is in defensive mode about the apparent likelihood that the voters of Missouri will pass a non binding referendum rejecting Obamacare. From the story:
For all its symbolic import, the first plebiscite on the Obama health care law, to be held Tuesday in Missouri, seems likely to be a low-turnout affair among an electorate dominated by Republican primary voters and conservative activists. Missouri is the first of at least three states with ballot measures this year aimed at nullifying the federal health care law by invalidating its keystone provision, the requirement that most people obtain insurance or pay a tax penalty…
No grass-roots organization has formed to oppose the measure, and the unions and consumer groups that lobbied for the federal health care law have steered clear. Mr. Obama did not take time to denounce Proposition C when he visited Missouri in early June. “The proposition will have no legal standing, so I don’t know why there’d be a reason to focus on it,” said Brian B. Zuzenak, executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party. “From the beginning, we’ve said it’s meaningless and unconstitutional. At best, it’s a ploy by the Republicans to get their base excited.”
Excuses, excuses. If Obamacare were popular, they’d be out in droves to defeat this referendum. But thinking they couldn’t win, they adopted a pretense of not really caring. Here’s proof:
A recent statewide poll in Missouri found that not even likely Democratic voters could muster a majority against the proposition.
President Obama and the Democrats lost the health care debate badly. They were able to pass a the law–barely–but only because of their numbers. But that doesn’t mean the people want it, hence the Times’ and Obamacare supporters huffing and puffing pretending that the MO referendum is of little consequence.
The only way Obama can reduce the intensity of dislike for the law in public polling is not to talk about it and hope people will think of other things. That is a big reason why rationing advocate Donald Berwick was never given a full and public senate committee hearing to become head of Medicare, with Obama circumventing the usual democratic processes via the recess appointment dodge. Yes, he’s been renominated, but don’t expect to hear from him before the November election. And the reason is the fear that Obamacare will be an anchor that sinks Democrats’ boats.
August 2nd, 2010 | 12:54 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vince Humphreys and Stand In The Gap, Wesley J. Smith. Wesley J. Smith said: Missouri Voters Poised to Reject Obamacare » Secondhand Smoke | A First Things Blog http://shar.es/0n9Qq [...]
August 2nd, 2010 | 3:54 am
Health care (transformation) is one of the best issues this current administration has done thus far. With this change individuals will have the opportunity to seek professional and quality health care services. Who would want to return to the days of the horse and buggy, b/w tv sets, manual typewriters, pac man, you get the point? That’s about how old the health care system was in the USA. Each day the news is filled with social tragedies in which lives are taken at the hands of known acquaintences and/or family members. Our society is stricken with the institutions of white collar crime permeating throughout this great nation and greed which tends to strike at the very fabric of our country. If you are looking for affordable health insurance check out http://bit.ly/chE6zp . I hope everyone will soon recognize and use the resources made by this transformation to seek professional medical attention as the need arises rather than turning to illegal and criminal activities to resolve their issues.
August 2nd, 2010 | 7:08 am
There is no such thing as “Obamacare.” The latest aggregation of healthcare polls at pollster.com has Favor at 42% and Oppose at 45%, with opposition falling steadily since January. As Americans understand they will pay less for healthcare and be guaranteed coverage, support will increase.
Almost certainly, Republican voters in my home state will pass Prop C tomorrow, in a lightly publicized primary election. (The state will also be under a heat advisory tomorrow with near record high temperatures, not only further suppressing voter turnout, but also the odious Gateway Pundit’s interest in global warming).
Prop C is an unscientific straw poll of motivated Republican activists (Teabaggers), estimating their support for an unconstitutional ban of federal law. My guess is that more than 45% of that demographic support unconstitutional measures to get their way. Wow! Radical Republicans oppose universal healthcare!
In the US, we pay nearly twice as much for healthcare as do other advanced nations. An extra $1000 billion EVERY year is paid into the system. We spend the equivalent of the War in Iraq unnecessarily EVERY year on healthcare. Every other wealthy nation has found a better way. But because universal healthcare necessarily takes most of the wasted $1 trillion from private insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and hospital administration, Republicans vehemently oppose it, sacrificing the welfare of 300 million Americans and the long-time health of the nation at the altar of political expediency.
August 2nd, 2010 | 9:19 am
Jeffery’s post says it all. Since the proposition will have no legal standing, it seems a total waste of time (and bandwidth) to promote it.
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 am
You wouldn’t think that if it were endorsing the monstrosity. And your tune would change if it failed to pass. It is a good indicator of how a swing state thinks.
August 2nd, 2010 | 10:25 am
Wes: “they adopted a pretense of not really caring.”
They don’t need to pretend. It’s a non-binding referendum. What’s to care about? It’s no more binding than a poll, and a lot more expensive. I wonder how much this at best symbolic vote will cost the taxpayers of Missouri?
It’s just another neo-con gimmick, create a fake issue and try to sucker the Democrats into wasting political resources on it.
August 2nd, 2010 | 11:27 am
If you are in Missouri we need your help with Prop-C tomorrow! I encourage you to vote yes on Prop-C and to sign our petition in support of Prop-C here: http://www.unitedformissouri.org/statewide/health-care-freedom-act United for Missouri may interest you all, as we cover all grassroots and tea-party movements in Missouri. We would love to get your feedback on our blog or stories. Thanks (@United4MO on twitter).
August 2nd, 2010 | 5:19 pm
You would think after all this time and all the information out there about this so called “HealthCare” bill that you be able to find anyone outside of Washington in favor of it. Do the research and examine all the information and you cannot come to any other conclusion that this is a terrible bill. Not just a bad bill a horrorable bill.
August 2nd, 2010 | 6:36 pm
Larry,
My family will vote 4 times against Prop C but it won’t make any difference.
Zack,
Your statement that no one outside DC likes the Health Care Reform bill is false. According to pollster.com, the average of several recent polls has the Favor and Oppose nationally neck and neck. The July Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll found 50% FAVORABLE and 35% OPPOSE, up from 41% FAVORABLE in May.
Perhaps former half-governor Palin should be spending less time speculating about President Obama’s testicles and more time frightening seniors by discussing death panels!
August 3rd, 2010 | 1:43 pm
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 57 percent of likely voters say the recently-passed health care law will be bad for the country. Thirty-two percent say the health care plan will be good for the United States.
August 3rd, 2010 | 4:01 pm
[...] Wesley J. Smith outlines a NYT article about MO being the first state to take a vote on a non-binding resolution rejecting Obamacare. Democrats are dismissing it as unimportant since they fully realize the poll numbers are not in their favor. Their game plan: dismiss it as Republican nonsense and divert attention elsewhere. [...]
August 12th, 2010 | 12:32 pm
Missouri did what Congress was too weak to do. Say no to illegal government intervention into our lives.
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