Obama’s Health Reform: Courage or Disrespect of the Voter?

Obama writes an historical achievement that puts him, in one line, with Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Nevertheless, this could come at a high cost for the Democrats. Either way, Netanyahu’s visit doesn’t interest anyone there.

Meet Kathy Dahlkemper. Elected in 2008 by the voters of Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district. First term. A tough election zone, not few blue collar workers, many army veterans, burdensome unemployment in the northwest of the country, between the lake in the north until the town of Butler, the one in which the first Jeeps were manufactured in the World War in the south. She’s essentially a businesswoman who turned into a legislator. Catholic. She is Democratic, but she is a strong supporter of defending the right to bear arms and strongly opposes abortion.

Here is where the story begins to get complicated. Because upon her voice, her finger, could Barack Obama’s term depend. As of the writing of this article, Sunday morning, maybe hours before the fateful vote, Dahlkemper is still listed in the column of those who are debating whether or not to vote for the health care reform. And she has a pretty clear reason: surveys conducted in her district revealed that the voters are opposed to the reform, and even more so, they are opposed to the clauses that will allow federal financing for abortions.

Only 20 percent of the voters who sent Dahlkemper to Washington less than two years ago want the reform to pass in its original format. The majority of them voted for George Bush in 2000 and 2004, most of them voted for John McCain and against Obama in 2008. In other words: if Dahlkemper wants to return to Washington in 2010, she better vote against the law.

Her story is the story of the debate of the Democratic Party, which lopes toward an unprecedented achievement in Congress while knowing ahead of time that it will pay a heavy price, maybe a very heavy price, at the ballot box in November. Supporters of the reform will say this is public courage at its best, this is leadership and not conformity. Those opposed to the reform will remind that in America, the public is that which sets the rules, and decisions that ignore the murmurings of the public do not reflect courage, but rather show disrespect for the values of democracy.

The Obsessive Israeli Preoccupation with Netanyahu’s Visit Is Absurd

The partisan pressure on Dahlkemper is heavy, very heavy. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi met her on Saturday. The media interviews her nonstop, thanks to her relevant personal story: on the one hand, in the past weeks, she has lost both her parents to cancer. On the other hand, groups who oppose the reform pointed to broadcasts in which Dahlkemper warned against delays of treating cancer patients should there be a reform.

These broadcasts will chase her until November if she votes in favor, and might even bring a short political career to its end, a career too short for her tastes. And indeed — looking from a distance, Obama’s career is more important, the reform is more important, but Dahlkemper does not look at her district from a distance, or at her career.

In fact, there is a certain similarity between Dahlkemper and the citizens of Israel, who also view the reform through the eye of the needle of Israeli interest. They ask, will Obama get stronger or weaker? They ask, will changes in his political status make it easier or harder for Benjamin Netanyahu who will be hosted in Washington tomorrow? On the one hand, a government that’s in a good mood could be softer. On the other, a government that’s in a good mood could be tougher.

Either way, the obsessive Israeli preoccupation with Netanyahu’s visit in the American capital is ridiculous. Maybe it’s possible to stop her for a day — two days? America is busy starting this week with one of the biggest political bills of the past hundred years.

Passing the health care reform is an historical accomplishment that will place Obama as a legislator in line with Franklin Roosevelt (the New Deal) and Lyndon Johnson (civil rights). Netanyahu’s visit, the passing quarrel with Israel, is not more than the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings on the back of the rhinoceros.