Health Care Reform, the Soprano Presidency, and the Wacking of the American People

Michael Tanner, writing for the New York Post, is suggesting that the final push for health care reform is starting to look like an episode of the Sopranos. The difference is that the wackings are taking place in the House Ethics Committee.

"But some of it is much nastier. Massa's story may have credibility issues, but other opponents of the bill are also starting to feel the heat. For instance, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), whose opposition to abortion funding has become one of the bill's biggest hurdles, is now seeing attacks on his ethics.

"MSNBC host Rachel Maddow recently questioned the legality of the low rent that a conservative Christian group charges Stupak for his DC apartment. She even noted ominously that disgraced South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford stayed at the same building. The liberal blog Daily Kos has picked up on the charges and suggested that both the IRS and the House Ethics Committee investigate. "

Eric Massa claimed that accusations of sexual harassment of male staffers were part of a campaign of smears to drive him from the Congress because of his no vote on health care reform. But after a one-hour televised creep-a-thon courtesy of Glenn Beck and accusations going back to Massa's Navy career, the picture quickly emerged of someone who rather deserved what he was getting.

Of course if Massa had been willing to change his no vote to a yes vote, things might have been different. According to the Tanner article, "Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) is also on the undecided list. And, purely by coincidence no doubt, the Justice Department just announced that it is dropping an FBI investigation that has been swirling about the congressman. Gosh, if only Charlie Rangel were one of the undecideds."

These kinds of tactics are taking place in the full light of day, for everyone to see. This suggests an administration and a Congress who do not care what people see them do or what they think of them. Or perhaps the Obama administration has decided that if it cannot be loved, better to be feared and loathed.

One may hate a Tony Soprano or a Vito Corleone. But what tends to be afraid of them enough to do what they say, at least until their own hubris manages to create their destruction. But no one of that caliber, whether a mob boss or a president of the United States with the heart of a mob boss, ever imagines his own destruction.

That suggests the real reason for health care reform. It is no longer about providing health care for people or lowering the cost of health care. The version of health care reform emerging will do none of those things.

The reason why Barack Obama and the Congressional Democrats are so keen to pass health care reform, despite the fact that the vast majority of the America people oppose it, is the same reason Tony Soprano had someone killed or, on a larger scale, Genghis Khan obliterated a recalcitrant city and its inhabitants. The purpose is to instill fear. The government will not be stopped by the mere will of the American people. Tremble, bow down, and obey.

The flaw in that plan is that there are still elections. To paraphrase Sean Connery in 'The Untouchables,' if they come after us with health care reform, we'll come after them with the ballot box. We'll see who wins in the end.

Sources: Final 'reform' push: twisting arms, Michael Tanner, New York Post, March 10th, 2010

Glenn Beck: Sorry for wasting your time with Massa, America, Allahpundit, Hot Air, March 9th, 2010