Clip File: Obama’s in the ER but he’ll get his reforms

Writing in The Times, Andrew Sullivan argues that the right’s healthcare scare tactics are hitting home – but to little purpose:

"...I remain convinced Obama will win this fight. Not totally; not without political cost; but win it he shall. And the strategy is really very simple. The most popular elements of the bill will be kept in and the most contentious left out.

"The fundamental issue of costs will be deferred. A bill that prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing illnesses; that creates healthcare exchanges, where people can buy their own insurance policy subsidised by the government; that brings agreed price reductions by the drug companies in return for all these new, previously uninsured clients: this will pass and be popular. How could it not? The option of a government-run insurance plan to compete with private ones will be either dispensed with or held in reserve. If, after a few years, health costs keep soaring and the private companies have not mended their free-spending ways, it could be brought back."

The rest of the story: Obama’s in the ER but he’ll get his reforms by Andrew Sullivan (TimesOnline 2009-09-06)