Hillary Clinton: Health Care Wonk?

I'm as wonky as they come: math, stats, econ. But I'll tell you the weakness of wonks: ignoring appearances. Take Hillary's health care plan. Not the one that blew up 14 years ago, her present plan. She claims it's 100% universal and Obama's is not. She's right. Here's why: She will force everyone in. When pressed on how, she said perhaps "going after people's wages."

Garnishing wages might be the best wonky approach. Not likely, but it's a complex question. But what's sure is that saying on national TV that you might garnish the wages of the poor to enforce "mandatory" health care is just plain dumb. Especially when you've had 14 years to think about it.

We don't need another great health-care battle, even if she could squeak by with her plan. Long-term success depends on not antagonizing half the country.

Considering he's new at this, Obama's plan scores nearly as well on the wonk meter, and it doesn't stir up the attack machines. That's big-picture smart.

Details of Health Care Controversy
• Obama is not proposing universal coverage, rather universal access to coverage. But he would require that kids be covered—this is politically very smart because it is protective of children instead of harsh on adults. And, once the children are in, most parents will follow.
• Clinton would come much closer to universal coverage, but she has not specified her enforcement mechanism, so we don't know how close.
• Clinton complained that talk about enforcement is distracting from more important issues. This is true, and she should have figured this out. Of course people will focus on enforcement—especially those causing the most trouble.
• If she's bothered by Obama on this issue, think of the trouble she will have with right-wing attacks, which she is handing ammunition to.

• Asked whether she would garnish wages to enforce the mandate, Clinton said that "we will have an enforcement mechanism, whether it's that or it's some other mechanism through the tax system or automatic enrollments" (Sack, New York Times, 2/4). Clinton explained she believes "there are a number of mechanisms" that could work including "going after people's wages." full report

http://zfacts.com/p/924.html | 01/18/12 07:19 GMT
Modified: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:35:30 GMT