'Obama found his voice on healthcare' (Guardian UK)

[Jackeens]

Healthcare reform was the Democrats' signature issue – and Obama has managed something that eluded his predecessors

Sunday's vote in the House of Representatives is huge for Barack Obama. He found his voice on healthcare – after the special election in Massachusetts took away his filibuster-proof Senate. He took an issue that seemed dead, a party in disarray, and an administration on the defensive and rallied them.

President Obama has managed something that eluded Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and both Bush Sr and Bush Jr. Winning national health insurance – even this weak version – will be his legacy. And it restores his reputation as an effective and eloquent force. Even more important, he avoids a loss that would have diminished his star to the vanishing point. Lose this and he becomes Jimmy Carter. Win it and he does what even the greats could not do.

And here's something people are missing: this was the Democrat's signature issue. It has been since 1945 (when FDR designed a reform and left it as a legacy to Truman who made it the cause of his life). When was the last time a Democratic president rallied his party on one of their issues and overcame fierce Republican opposition? Bill Clinton (1993-2001) did not manage it once; he won essentially Republican issues – budget balance, Nafta, welfare reform. Jimmy Carter (1977-81)? No, again. To find a Democrat winning a contested victory on a Democratic issue you have to go back to Lyndon Johnson before the 1966 midterm. Forget the politics for a moment. On the substance, I'd consider this the biggest Democratic victory in 45 years.

And the midterm test that everyone is focused on now is shortsighted. Lyndon Johnson changed America with the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Medicare (1965). No Democrat and few Republicans would mess with those laws. Lyndon Johnson usually ranks as a near great president – and without Vietnam he'd rank even higher. But he got buried in the 1966 midterm election. For people with an eye to history, the midterm test is not a reliable one.

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/mar/23/healthcare-barack-obama

[Jennicut]

1. Obama (and Nancy Pelosi) showed real determination to try and push

for reform again. I remember predictions here made that HCR was dead in the water. I am glad he came back and fought hard.

[eridani]

2. Too bad the voice said "Your access to health care should only be as good

--as your net worth."