Democrats must also wrestle with another problem should the reform efforts stall. How long until they pull the plug? Back in 1994, even before President Bill Clinton’s health reform was officially pronounced dead, some White House officials argued the president was “dancing with a corpse.” The longer he waltzed with the dead, the more challenging the pivot to other issues became. Many believed Clinton danced too long. And Obama faces the same timing challenge today.
It’s always hard to begin hammering the last nail in a legislative coffin — particularly when it comes to a signature initiative. But at some point, it’s time to get the mallet. It’s clearly too early for that now. Still, the White House must recognize the natural instinct to wait too long. If health care is indeed moribund early next year, the president needs to acknowledge that and gracefully pivot, lest he, too, gets stuck dancing with a corpse.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member