Beware of broad conclusions about NY 26 by pundits
Because they’re all over the place. Many of them are trying to nationalize this very local special election by claiming it is a referendum on the GOP’s Medicare plan because a Democrat won. But it you look closely at the race, it was more of a Republican debacle than much to do with Medicare. As has been the case in many elections, competing Republicans managed to get in each other’s way (the Dem won 47% while the GOP candidate garnered 43% and the Tea Party candidate 9% – thus guaranteeing the Dem win with a plurality).
As for the Medicare portion of this, yes it was demagogued by Democrats. But as a reason for the win? Tentative at best. But it does point to a messaging problem for the GOP. I thought I understood Ryan’s plan (and, despite the usual inflammatory Democratic rhetoric, it doesn’t end Medicare at all) but to satisfy myself, I went out looking for his explanation. I found this:
How awful, no? Patient centered (bureaucracy removed), means tested, and competition. In fact, as he says, the program would be “just like the one Congress has”.
Well, wait, wasn’t that a promise of ObamaCare? Wasn’t that something we were supposed to want? Wasn’t cutting costs supposed to be the “big promise” in ObamaCare?
So here’s the plan to deliver that (oh, by the way, nothing changes for those 55 and older, so they’re grandfathered in) and the Democrats are savaging it as only Democrats can (dead grannies and the live one’s eating cat food).
If NY 26 turned on Medicare – and I don’t really believe it did – I think the GOP needs to get this video out there prominently. When I went to YouTube to find something I noticed this vid had been watched by 111 others. Not exactly viral.
You tell me – which plan makes more sense? I know which I think fulfills the promises of making health care more affordable and competitive.
~McQ
Twitter: @McQandO