Voices of Moderation

Last night, President Obama appeared on Late Show with David Letterman to reaffirm his position that people who oppose government health care are nuts, while he is just another in a string of great leaders who’ve tried to “bring about significant changes” in American life. You know, FDR, Reagan, Obama. (I think I found a kindred spirit for Matt Latimer.)

As the president said, “Whenever a president tries to bring about significant changes … there is a certain segment of the population that gets very riled up.”

FYI, he means the opposition. But you wouldn’t know it to look at what his supporters are saying.

There was, of course, Nancy Pelosi’s bizarre warning that people might get hurt if the opposition continues to speak. Then there was the DNC’s promise to “rain … hellfire” upon opponents of government health care. And today, Politico reports that a union coalition in favor of government health care has erected this billboard targeting Blue Cross:

HCAN

Remember, in the president’s estimation, these are the moderate voices for health reform.

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  • davidmurray
    Ed, you do remind me here of the middling pro golfers about 13 years ago who noisily resented Tiger Woods saying things like, "I expect to win every tournament I enter" and flatly stating that Nicklaus' major record was in his sights.

    The Latimer comparison is fundamentally unfair, as you know.

    Obama finds himself president of the United States at an important moment in history.

    Should he slink along like he expects to be another Harding?
  • David -- I'm more of an Arnold Palmer fan, so I never felt the need to defend Jack Nicklaus.

    That said, I agree that every president, by virtue of being president, has done something significant. My comparison to Latimer (though tongue in cheek) is a comment on President Obama's eagerness to include himself among other great presidents before he has risen to the occasion himself. It may be my bias, but I see the New Deal and winning the Cold War as an order of magnitude more important than insurance reform.
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