Reid feels the heat

It is hard to imagine Sen. Harry Reid slipping any further in polls and still holding on to his seat in 2010. Even if Republicans can't find a formidable opponent, you can almost hear the "anybody-but-Harry" movement growing. According to Republicans, this explains why Harry is trying to look a bit more backbone-ish on President Obama's health care plan.

As always, I'll let you decide whether the National Republican Senatorial Committee is on target on this one. But, it's fair to say this: Harry Reid can't afford health care "reform" or any other national issue to edge higher his unfavorables among Nevada voters.

A loyal reader alerts me to this link to illustrate my point.

Reid Backs Off Support For President’s Health Care Plan As Public Support Drops

After Breaking Deadline, Reid Equivocates In Face Of Moderate Opposition, New Poll Numbers

WASHINGTON – Just days after vowing to push through the President’s health care bill before the August recess and repeatedly reiterating his support for the White House’s government-run health care priorities, U.S Senate Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) backtracked on his support today for a key component of the President’s health care plan.

According to The Hill, “As the battle rages over whether or not final healthcare reform legislation should include a public (or ‘government-run’) option for consumers, the Senate’s top Democrat said Tuesday it’d be ‘premature’ to say whether or not he supports such a provision… Reid declined to say whether he would be pushing for the public option during negotiations in the Senate, focusing instead on bringing a bill to the floor.”

Notably, Reid’s reversal comes in the face of strong opposition from moderate members of his own caucus and a new USA Today/Gallup poll showing that more Americans now disapprove than approve of the way President Obama is handling healthcare policy.

Yet, it was just weeks ago that Reid unequivocally defended his support for a public option – which is the key component of the President’s plan -- stating, “I’m confident both private companies and the option of public plan can live in harmony.” Reid also argued that “if we leave it up to private insurance companies,” we won’t have “more choice and more competition,” and defended his position “one of the best ways to do that is to give people the choice of a public option not run by insurance companies.”

Reid’s floundering on the President’s health care priorities comes on the heels of his broken promise to deliver a bill to the Senate floor before the August recess. On July 16, 2009, The Hill reported that “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters that he hopes to put healthcare reform legislation on the Senate floor… before the four-week August recess.” Reid defended his aggressive schedule by stating, “We’ve had this schedule for months now and I think we can meet the schedule that has been set.”

“Who exactly is running the United States Senate? It certainly doesn’t appear to be the Senate Majority Leader,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh. “In a matter of days, Harry Reid has gone from all but threatening to ram through the President’s health care bill before the August recess, to now being unable to even articulate his own position on a key component of that bill. That is stunning and it speaks to the strong opposition his earlier strong-arming tactics have received from moderate Senate Democrats. Once again, Harry Reid’s tactics have backfired and his priorities have been shown to be misplaced.”

Earlier today, other members of Reid’s caucus acknowledged that a government-run health care plan would not pass the Senate Finance Committee. “Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), a backer of the public option, said her committee would likely have to evaluate different options than the public option… The Michigan Democrat said she expected President Obama, who favors the public option, to understand the compromise as a former member of the Senate.”

Background Information:

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Told Reporters That He Hopes To Put Healthcare Reform Legislation On The Senate Floor The Week After Next And To Pass It Before The Four-Week August Recess… Reid Said The Schedule He Has Set Is Realistic But Indicated That He Would Not Take A Procrustean Stance. ‘We’ve Had This Schedule For Months Now And I Think We Can Meet The Schedule That Has Been Set,’ He Said.” (Lanny Davis, “Reid Says Healthcare Reform Possible Week Of July 27,” The Hill, 7/16/09)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Compared Health Care Reform To The Postal Service, Saying A Public Plan Can Live In Harmony With Private Plans Just As The USPS Does With FedEx And UPS. “I’m confident both private companies and the option of public plan can live in harmony. . . . When you send a birthday present to a relative to -- say I want to send something to one of my children in Nevada, the products that I choose can be sent by FedEx, UPS, DHL, or the United States Postal Service.” (Z. Byron Wolf, “Going Postal: Reid’s New Defense of Public Health Care,” ABC News, http://blogs.abcnews.com, 6/11/09)

· Reid: “The Postal Service may not be perfect, but the public option is there, and the private companies, FedEx, UPS, know they cannot rip you off or [be] slacking on their service,” Reid said. “Just like our proposal for the health care system, you don’t have to choose Postal Service. But it’s good to know it’s there and for some it is all they can afford. I hear from Nevadans asking for help people turned down for health coverage by insurance providers who -- health coverage by insurance providers who care more of profits.” (Z. Byron Wolf, “Going Postal: Reid’s New Defense of Public Health Care,” ABC News, http://blogs.abcnews.com, 6/11/09)

Reid: “If We Leave It Up To Private Insurance Companies,” We Won’t Have “More Choice And More Competition.” “One Of The Best Ways To Do That Is To Give People The Choice Of A Public Option Not Run By Insurance Companies.” “In a single word, this health care debate is about choices. Will our country choose to tell parents they cannot take their child to the dentist because insurance is nonexistent or prohibitively expensive? Will we choose to tell small businesses that they have to lay off employees because they can’t afford skyrocketing health care premiums? Or will we choose real, meaningful health care reform that ensures everyone can afford the quality care they deserve? There is another way that this debate is about choice. Democrats are committed to ensuring all Americans can choose their doctors, hospitals and health plans. No matter what Republicans claim, the government has no intention of choosing for you any of these things - or meddling in any of these relationships. If you like the coverage you have, you can choose to keep it. Like most Americans, we believe there should be more choice and more competition to lift the heavy weight of crushing health care costs. If we leave it up to private insurance companies more interested in keeping their profits up than keeping us healthy, that won’t happen. One of the best ways to do that is to give people the choice of a public option not run by insurance companies.” (Senator Harry Reid, Prepared Floor Remarks, 6/10/09)