by David Safier
A perfect bill? Far from it. But the moment is historic. Last night's vote for health care reform is a continuation of Medicare and Medicaid, both of which gave health care to those whose need was greatest. Now, the rest of the population have been included. We'll find out how many people are covered, how well and at what price as the bill unfolds. If we can maintain the necessary numbers in Congress, we can improve the legislation, like Social Security and Medicare have been improved over the years.
I saw something last night I haven't seen very often from Democrats, at least for the past few decades. After looking for all the world like they were defeated, they, as the saying goes, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. I think the last time I saw this was when candidate Obama was besieged by the Reverend Wright controversy. It could have, should have destroyed his candidacy. He considered dropping out. Instead, he realized he had to take a huge risk and confront the controversy straight on. He put together one of the great speeches of recent years and came out stronger.
When was the last time Democrats had a leader strong, resilient and determined enough to take a moment where it looks like all his, and our, hopes had been broken, and rise to the occasion as Obama has in this health care fight? I'm not one of those people who have put him on a pedestal, which is why I've been less disappointed by his performance than others who expected more from him than any human is capable of. But I think he's an exceptional person and a brilliant politician. And he proved both here. He took the best crazy stuff the Republicans could throw, pulled himself together, risked his presidency on passing health care (if this vote went sour, he could have been permanently crippled), reinvigorated a dispirited Democratic Congress, delivered spirited speeches across the country and assured everyone this thing was going to pass when no one was sure it would. And it did.
This has been a tough fight. It may have been tougher than it should have been, but we're dealing with a Republican opposition whose strategies are weird, unpredictable and crazily effective. And it's a fight we won last night. Not completely. No time to be complacent. But last night, we pulled together the votes to pass health care reform.