The Cincinnati Enquirer bashes Democrats' "Arrogant approach to health care"

Giant health care bill (right).  (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

In yet another sign that Democrats face staunch, overwhelming opposition in Ohio to their health care reform measures, a Cincinnati Enquirer editorial published Tuesday brands these efforts as "arrogant" and inherently flawed.

The editorial from the swing-state's third largest newspaper, in no uncertain terms, faults congressional Democrats for sidestepping real debate in attempting to reform health care and trying to ram legislation through Congress regardless of public sentiment against such measures.

The paper expresses hope that moderate House Democrats, such as local Congressman Steve Driehaus, will stand up to the "sham" procedures of his peers, while making clear its frustration with the last year of "this disgusting process."

Here are several of the issues addressed by the Enquirer:

Lack of Debate

Real debate has been sidestepped, while Democrats played a childish game of Catch-22 with health care legislation: Congressional leaders wouldn't allow Republican proposals to be formally considered, then turned around and accused them of not having alternatives.
 

Backroom Dealing by Democrats

Among themselves, Democrats cut a series of backroom deals that in any other context would be considered criminal payoffs and bribery.

 

Here's how blatant it's become: Last week, President Obama nominated for a federal appeals court the brother of a wavering Democratic House member from Utah.

Public Opinion

Meanwhile, an Associated Press poll last week showed that 68 percent of Americans don't want health care reform passed without Republican support.

According to the Quinnipiac Poll, Ohioans oppose the Democrats' reform plan 56 percent to 33 percent, although they agree 53 percent to 44 percent that Congress should keep trying to reform health care.

Threat to Medicare

Despite denials, the bill has worrisome implications for Medicare. According to an Associated Press news account, much of the reform bill is 'financed with Medicare cuts the government's own experts say could be unsustainable.'

Reconciliation

Yes, both parties have employed reconciliation in the past - it has been used by Republicans in 14 of 22 instances since being adopted in 1974 - but its purpose is supposed to be resolving budget issues, not making far-reaching policy decisions that will alter one-sixth of the U.S. economy.

Its blatant abuse is yet further damning evidence of congressional leaders' arrogant, condescending attitude toward the people they ostensibly were elected to serve.

Click here to read a full text of the Cincinnati Enquirer editorial.

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