Krugman: Obama Weirdly Reluctant to Make Moral Case for Reform

Does Paul Krugman think that people care about the morality of health care? Ha! Few people care if others have health insurance, which is why Obama is running all over telling people what's in it for them. I happen to think Obama has a bigger political strategy on this public option thing. Howard Dean talked about the politics of the public option today.

Partly it’s a matter of style — as many people have noted, he has been weirdly reluctant to make the moral case for universal care, weirdly unable to show passion on the issue, weirdly diffident even about the blatant lies from the right. Partly it’s a spillover from his other policies: by appointing an economic team that’s Rubin redux, by taking such a kindly attitude to the banks, he has squandered a lot of progressive enthusiasm. Read more