HCR Only Dead if Dems Want it To Be

That was supposed to be the whole point of the last post. Health Care Reform certainly doesn't have to die. And I don't think it should. Thankfully, some people that are extremely smart agree with me.

Jacob Hacker (the "godfather" of the public option) said today:

Forget the question of whether a Republican Senate victory in Massachusetts spells the end of health reform. It doesn't -- unless Democrats let it. The Senate has already passed a bill that is far from perfect but far better than nothing. If Democrats lose a Senate seat, the House should simply enact it in return for strong commitments from President Obama and Democratic leaders that they will fight to improve the bill in the future, including through the filibuster-proof budget process.

 Greg Sargent over at the Plum Line made a similar statement:

Failure to pass reform will not stop the GOP from attacking Dems over it. Indeed, failure would enhance, rather than weaken, GOP attacks.

Failure would hand Republicans a three-fer. It wouldn’t stop them from arguing, as they will whether or not a bill passes, that elitist Washington Dems spent months trying to jam an unpopular bill down the throats of a gagging populace. But failure would also allow Republicans to present themselves as an effective and relevant opposition by taking credit for blocking the bill. What’s more, they’d portray Dems as ineffective, bumbling leaders who proved incapable of managing their own show or delivering concrete accomplishments.

Finally, if reform doesn’t pass, Dems won’t have the opportunity to sell a completed reform package to the electorate — and the voters will never have a chance to decide they like it. Better for Dems to pass reform, and try to win an argument with Repubicans over why it will improve voters’ lives over time.

And simple words from, the man, David Plouffe:

If you run away from it, you’re still going to get attacked.

The ironic thing about all of this is that if you ever need proof that this health care legislation should grow more popular over time, just look to Massachusetts. They very much like their health care in that state -- and it's extremely similar to what is currently being pushed through congress. The current legislation actually has better cost-control measures than they do and reduces (rather than increases) the deficit.

But who knows what's going to happen. Dems are all over the place. It will probably take them a few days to come up with their final strategy; then we can see if any of the Democrats jump overboard.