Legal Commentary

Klein and Pearlstein: The Third Way Invokes Ted Kennedy

By Big Tent Democrat

Ezra Klein and Steve Pearlstein continue pushing the Third Way health care deal. And like Kathleen Sebelius, they invoke Ted Kennedy to do it. Pearlstein writes:

The simple lesson from this story -- and certainly the one Kennedy himself drew -- is that when it comes to historic breakthroughs in social policy, make the best deal you can get, leaving it to subsequent generations to perfect. . . . Although you'd hardly know it from all the shouting of recent weeks, there is a deal to be had here if only Democrats would be willing to take it.

Of course the deal they are pushing is the one they want, not the one Democrats actually want. Nor is it the deal Ted Kennedy wanted (we know what Ted Kennedy proposed - Medicare for All.) Klein and Pearlstein want to jettison the public option. Fair enough. Most Democrats do not agree with them. [More...]

I think it is fine for them to argue for the Third Way health care deal. But let's call it what it is and what they are. They do not speak for Ted Kennedy or most Democrats. Most Democrats and Ted Kennedy disagreed with their view of reform, political bargaining and what is most important in the health care reform debate. I do not understand why Democrats should follow their advice in that Democrats do not share the goals they espouse. And I do find it inappropriate for them to invoke Ted Kennedy's name in favor of their Third Way proposals.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 28, 2009 (boomark / email).