I don’t really think that Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat, Rhode Island) has his fingers on the pulse of the nation like a elected official should. Either that or he’s an ideologue who really does not have the country’s best interest at heart. Neither would surprise me.
On the Senate floor last week he made a statement that’s been bugging me all weekend:
This is about creating a political defeat for the president of the United States on their side, nothing to do with health care, entirely about creating a defeat for this new president, when in the face of all the obstruction that the distinguished Senator from Michigan described so eloquently, this record-breaking, unprecedented in the history of the Senate obstruction that we’re seeing, [...]
I’m not sure how to take this statement in light of recent polling results. Just about every poll I’ve seen of late has either had support for health care reform split down the middle or less than 50%. Rasmussen’s latest report states that 56% of U.S. voters now oppose the health care plan. Three times the amount when they first began polling six months ago. Further more, their poll found that now 46% strongly oppose the plan compared to 19% to strongly support it. That’s a significant spread that warrants a little attention.
I understand that polls are not (and shouldn’t be) the be-all end-all of the political arena, but with these numbers in mind wouldn’t it be logical to conclude that Senator Whitehouse’s statement be re-read as: “56% of U.S. voters what the president to be defeated. 46% REALLY want to see him fail, while only 19% want him to succeed”?
Do you see what I am getting at? Senator Whitehouse, and I’m sure his other political buddies, are ignoring the genuine concern about this health care bill and writing it off as disapproval for President Obama? This really is not about him. Isn’t it possible that this is about a really bad bill and most American’s don’t want to spend our nations wealth on yet another government run program that, if past performance is any indication, is doomed to be fraught with inefficiencies, wasteful spending and corruption?
Just a thought.
December 15, 2009 at 1:26 am
It really is sad that they keep using the same line of, “if you don’t support the health plan, then you just want the President to fail.” That makes me so mad. It makes me feel like they are trying to guilt us into supporting this. You’re right in saying that this is “not about him” yet they keep saying this to hide the fact that we just don’t agree with this program.
-Heather (“Disney” Heather)
December 16, 2009 at 8:49 am
Thanks for your thoughts ‘Disney Heather’ (I think that’s my forever nickname for you now). it is pretty infuriating and frustrating at the same time. The sad fact is that these ‘elected’ officials are no longer representing the people who elected them into office. I’m planning on starting a company that makes nothing but pitch forks and torches… you should buy stock.