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A Health Care fight without Hillary Clinton?

Submitted by Jon Henke on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 13:13
in

Quin Hilyer doesn't think Hillary Clinton should be confirmed as Secretary of State, for a variety of reasons.  Others suggest the emolument clause of the Constitution or the Clinton's foreign entanglements could create problems during Senator Clinton's confirmation hearing.  Maybe, but I doubt it.  Most of the potential problems seem basically unrelated to the role of Secretary of State, or have been addressed long ago.  Perhaps more relevantly, relationships matter and by all accounts Hillary Clinton has good relationships with her Senate colleagues.  I very much doubt her fellow Senators (especially in a large majority Democratic Senate) will play hardball against a colleague.

But there's a more interesting aspect to Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State.  Consider...

  • Hillary Clinton's major interest and specialty has been a domestic policy: universal health care.

  • Hillary Clinton's 1993 health care reform was a famous failure.

  • Universal health care will be one of the top, immediate priorities of the Obama administration.

  • Obama has appointed Hillary Clinton to a foreign policy position.

  • This will take Hillary Clinton entirely out of the picture - even out of the country - during the upcoming legislative fight over health care.

Hillary Clinton is a very polarizing figure on the subject of health care.  It may not have been a major factor, but I doubt this went unconsidered by either Obama or Clinton.

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Obama needs the rest of the world to take a backseat

Submitted by RisingTide on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 13:22.

until we fix our economy. Clintons have the cred to pull that off -- the world loves them.

And Hillary wouldn't have had the pull in the Senate -- she's a junior colleague. Kennedy's taking point, with Baucus (D-Insurance Companies) on his heels.

I don't expect Hillary to take much of a role in supervising Foggy Bottom -- not her strong point. She's a great worker though, and good with the whole building relationships.

Hillary Clinton fight! Count us in.

Submitted by Wayne from Jere... on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 15:39.

I've added a link to your post from BlogWatch Clinton is back - lets hope it does not get that far.

 

Hilary Could Help

Submitted by JoeBridgeman on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 23:01.

I actually think Sen. Clinton could be helpful in the Senate. Recently, Sen. Ted Kennedy has actually tapped her to be one of three senators to be part of his health care legislation team, along with 2 republicans (I can't remember the names right now; I think sen. Hatch is one of them). Her absence will be missed.

I am not a health care expert - just a news junkie - but I think this time around universal health care will be less difficult. It is just too big of a problem to ignore and everyone has a vested interest to work something out. Even the insurance companies that fought Sen. Clinton tooth-and-nail now want to be part of the discussion, proposing the government to require health care insurance (like the requirement of buying auto insurance in some states) in exchange for pre-existing conditions coverage. The key, it seems to me, is to provide basic, preventive care for all and limited coverage in other areas. And the trick is who and how to pay for it.

The Obama team is led by Sen. Daschle who should be able to work with the people in the Hill. Overall, the debate will be less rancorous. There are some states that have been experimenting with universal health care, Massachusetts, for example. I hope we can work something out for the sake of the 40-50 millions who are uninsured.

Great observation, Jon

Submitted by Evil Conservative on Fri, 12/05/2008 - 10:36.

Smart pick by Obama in this regard and others.

 

 

hmm.

Submitted by eow101281 on Fri, 12/05/2008 - 12:07.

 After the liberal illuminati seems to be very unthoughtful in a lot of cabinet choices, this, all of a sudden appears to be one that makes a lot of sense. I guess he can make some smart decisions.

And after Baucus came out with her plan!

Submitted by Neil Sinhababu on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 17:27.

Max Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has the power to use the budget reconciliation process to pass health care reform in an un-filibusterable way (debate on stuff that goes through the budget reconciliation process is limited to 20 hours).  It's interesting to see her leave after Baucus set out a plan as a starting point for negotiations -- and it was basically the one that she had copied from John Edwards during the primary. 

baucus is run by the insurance companies.

Submitted by RisingTide on Mon, 12/08/2008 - 11:38.

they see more profit. profit is good, isn't it?

geez, you'd think that more republicans would understand that government sucks when corporations run it. See Biden - D Credit Card Companies.