The Rooney Report

Mr Brown goes to Washington ... and fails

It's just so Republican for Scott Brown and those of his ilk to warn Democrats about upcoming elections after the passage of historic health care reform. 

Why? Because it seems all these pols worry about -- unashamedly and so publicly  -- is their own election, their own advancement. And it is they -- not Democrats -- who should fear the worst. 

I applaud those Democrats who took a stand for the American people last night. It is true that some of them will face an uphill battle at election time; the insurance lobby, after all, has been very successful convincing many ordinary people to vote against their own interests.

Yet I also believe that the passage of health care reform may be more of a black eye for Republicans than Democrats. 

If I were a lobbyist for Cigna or Aetna today, I'd be far more upset with my bought-and-paid for Republican allies than with the Democrats. I'd be wondering why my multi-billion investment in the right wing collapsed, and turning my attentions -- and my checkbook -- to those who have the real power in Washington. 

The Democratic Party demonstrated last night that it has the clout, the power and the political might to accomplish its goals and exercise the will of the people. This is very significant. Aside from the election of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party has often fallen limp in the face of strenuous, well funded resistance from the Republican machine. 

Not any more.  Republicans like Scott Brown like to portray their election as a message from the people, but we all know that it was out-of-state and deep pocketed financing from the Republican Party (and hence, quietly, the insurance lobby) that won his seat.

In the months ahead, it will become more obvious to the people, even some on the other side, that health care reform is not the one-eyed monster as portrayed by Republicans. Many may still object to the upfront costs, but unfounded fears about socialism and Big Brother will evaporate as the plan's benefits are communicated -- and the insurance-funded advertising frenzy dissipates. And Republicans will get less money to bang the drum. 

As far as the moneybags are concerned, the battle is over. They -- and their Republican allies -- failed. The corporate cartel running our health care industry must now answer to the president, to Congress, to the people. This is good for patients, doctors, policy holders and taxpayers. They must now work to persuade the people that their premiums are deserved -- and no longer will they have the luxury of dictating patient plans to brain surgeons. 

This means there will be a shift in the cash flow, and that Republicans like Scott Brown can no longer take insurers' campaign financing for granted. He cast his 41st vote, but who cares if it's worthless?

When his special term is up, Brown will have to generate some real grassroots funding from the teeny-weeny Tea Party and tight wadded Republican voters who would rather watch their unemployed neighbors and poor people die without insurance than part with a penny. 

Good luck with that. 

Protests, Coffee Party: Is the Democratic grassroots movement finally taking off?

A disorganized yet audible grassroots movement is finally springing up among the Democratic populace.

A number of separate citizens actions, aimed at building public support for President Obama's health care reform, have taken place in recent weeks -- and we hope more will come. 

About 1,000 union workers and others marched last week in support of Obama's health care reform package outside of the glitzy DC Ritz Carlton, where health insurance execs met to discuss their industry's future. Activists wrapped a yellow "Corporate Crime" banner around the Ritz to convey their frustration with insurers' greed.  

[Personal note: Hartford would have been a better place for health insurance companies to meet but I guess it made sense to host the conclave in DC since the execs are busy lobbying the capitol around the clock these days. But did it even occur to the organizers to move the meeting to a less jazzy site given the politics of the day? Someone in PR at Cigna or Aetna should lose his or her job.]

Then there is the newfound Coffee Party. CNN aired a story late last week about the Coffee Party, a citizens organization founded by a woman named Annabel Lee to counter the Tea Party. 

The aim is not to advance progressive liberal policy per se but to advance civilized and intellectual public discourse about national issues. In other words, the organization aims to (advance progressive liberal ideas :)) and more importantly, snuff out the Tea Party's extreme tactics -- such as shouting out corporate-created nonsense at Town Hall meetings and foolish signs of Obama bearing a Hitler-like 'stash. The first series of coffee shop meetings were held across the country on March 14 and a national event is planned for March 27.

[Personal note: Attacking the Tea Party's anti-intellectual bent is an effective tactic -- if done correctly. The Nazi Party borrowed the word Socialist for its official naming but Nazism is fascism, which is very different from socialism. The Tea Party cannot expect reasonable people to consider their fears about socialism seriously when they don't know the difference between socialism and Nazism. If Dick Armey does not find it important to educate his troops about the difference, we know the purported mission statement is bogus.] 

These recent events are very encouraging, and hopefully will help spark massive counter-protests against the corporate machine running the nation. Maybe we should thank Dick Armey's ProgressWorks Republican lobbying group for igniting Democratic public involvement after all.

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