Legal Commentary

It's The Economy, Stupid

By Big Tent Democrat

Jay Cost tries to convince and persuade that it's health care reform, not the economy, that has led to Dems' political woes:

It would be difficult for any strong partisan to admit that such an accomplishment was so deeply unpopular. Yet the polling is pretty unequivocal on the relationship between the Democrats' fortunes and the health care bill. It was during the health care debate that the essential building block of the Democratic majority - Independent voters - began to crumble. It was evident in the generic ballot. It was evident in the President's job approval numbers. It was evident in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

Reconstructing the Democrats' meme, we can fairly say that the economy is a huge problem for the party. Of this, there can be no doubt. We can also say that the stalled recovery denied the Democrats a chance to win back the voters they lost over health care. But the process and passage of health care reform were crucial elements in the story. That's when the party started losing the voters it needs to retain control of the government.

I'm no fan of the health care bill but if you believe this nonsense, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. I would love to think that the American People are thinking beyond their wallets, to civil liberties issues, or the intricacies of the health care debate, the wars, or even the deficit. They're not. The economy drives public opinion on all the issues. So while numbers for support for the health bill fell in August, that obviously has to do with the economy, and the lack of confidence in the Obama Administration's competence seeping over into other Obama initiatives. Yes, it's the economy, stupid.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 31, 2010 (boomark / email).