JOE'S CRITIQUE MAY TURN TIDE

Last Updated: 1:50 PM, September 2, 2009

Posted: 1:50 PM, September 2, 2009

Comments: 14

Dick Morris

SEN. Joseph Lieberman's criticism of the Obama health-care initiative may prove to be a pivotal turning point.

Others have focused exclusively on the Obama plan's impact on health care. The elderly worry about bearing the brunt of the inevitable rationing; others look with alarm at the de facto socialization of one-sixth of our economy.

But Lieberman's critique doesn't center on the program's health-care aspects or even on its ultimate desirability. Rather, he questions the wisdom of attempting so radical a transformation and so extensive -- and expensive -- an extention of government's role in our economy during a major recession attended by a huge budget deficit.

His go-slow commentary integrates worries about the economy, the deficit and interest rates with those about the health-care proposal itself. In making this linkage, Lieberman cautions supporters of the idea and of the plan that this might not be the right time to try to do it all.

His comments come at a time when the Congressional Budget Office predicts a growth in the 10-year deficit projection to $9 trillion and when Americans are growing increasingly nervous about the massive debt we are incurring.

Few buy the president's argument that spending $1 trillion extra will cut the deficit and rein in spending. The very notion is so counter-intuitive that it is hard to give it any credibility.

The elderly may worry about the reform bill's cuts of $500 billion in Medicare and Medicaid over the ensuing decade; conservatives may fret over socialization of health care. But the average American can relate most easily to the concerns over the size of the debt and the deficit that Lieberman articulates.

This also gives moderates a place to go in the health-care debate. Caught in the tug between the liberals who dominate Democratic primaries and the more conservative voices that may prevail in November, centrist Democrats can rally easily around Joe Lieberman's "not now" approach.

It is obvious that, despite the Obama majorities in Congress, this is the exact wrong time to embark on a major new government spending program.

By expressing the obvious -- that this is a time for retrenchment, not for expansion of the public sector -- Lieberman may even have given President Obama an avenue of escape, permitting him to accept a scaled-back, phased-in program that might attract bipartisan support.

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Barack Obama

Comments (12)

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JimmyD

09/01/2010 10:17 AM

So, c-robin, if Chelsea Clinton had married one of ex-felon George Steinbrenner's sons, you'd say the same thing?
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JimmyD

09/01/2010 10:15 AM

Morris is absolutely right, we can't afford to subsidize healthcare - socialist programs like Medicare and Medicaid shouldn't be enlarged, they should be eliminated. Let the free market rule! Only then will we reign in healthcare costs.
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CWB

08/12/2010 3:43 PM

Lieberman is one of the only sane dems left. If he leaves he party, so do I.
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cockrobin

08/11/2010 8:57 AM

Edward "Ed" Mezvinsky, born January 17, 1937, is a former congressman. A
Democrat, he represented Iowa's 1st congressional district in the United
States House of Representatives for two terms, from 1973 to 1977.

In March 2001, Mezvinsky was indicted and later pleaded guilty to 31 of 69
Charges of bank fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Nearly $10 million was
Involved in the crimes. Shortly after his indictment, he was diagnosed with
Bipolar disorder, but the judge at his trial disallowed a mental illness
Defense. After serving five years in federal prison, he was released in
April 2008. He is expected to remain on federal probation until 2011, and
Owes substantial restitution to his victims.

Who, exactly is "Ed" Mezvinsky? He's Chelsea Clinton's new Father-in-Law.
Now...wanna' guess how our, "All the news that's fit to print", media would have
Handled this information, if one of GW and Laura's daughters had married Marc Mezvinsky?
A bonanza for the likes of the NYT and nightly news, to say the least!!
I wonder if "Slick" knows where the money's buried?
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puck101

06/19/2010 3:51 AM

Was it Murphy's law that stated , " If it ain't broke, leave it the Hell alone " ?
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ObamaRules

04/02/2010 4:18 PM

Morris CAN'T PIMP himself out!!

No one will buy ANYTHING he has left to sell.
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bodecrab

03/22/2010 9:54 AM

The health care takeover= the tax man soon cometh. The democrats never made a tax that didn't reach into the middle class pocket. Pukelosi and the moron of the Senate are true scumocrats, lying comes easy to them, like breathing.
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Cheech

03/07/2010 4:36 PM

I'll break it down simply: The weak and those who want you weak, want bigger govt. The strong, and those who want you strong, want less govt. Who's side are YOU on?