Was 'ignoring the left' a good health care strategy?
Politico's Ben Smith raises the argument that Rahm Emanuel's strategy to ignore the Left's demands on health- care reform has paid off

As Congress heads into a final decision on health-care reform, liberal opposition to the bill appears to be vanishing, according to Public Policy Polling. Last month 19 percent of liberals said they opposed the plan; now only 3 percent do. Ben Smith says in Politico that this vindicates White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's strategy of ignoring complaints from the Left that the plan doesn't go far enough, and concentrating on winning over moderates to get reform passed. Here, a key excerpt:
"Liberal voters are totally unified behind passing the health-care plan. A mere 3 percent oppose it. That's a public sentiment that makes it a whole lot easier for even Dennis Kucinich to come along.
"But if the bill passes with unified, if grumbly, support on the Left, it would seem to vindicate the White House's fundamental approach, which was to take the Left for granted as much as possible and focus on courting marginal members of the Senate."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Read the full article at Politico
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Thawing permafrost unleashes toxic legacy of mining
Under the Radar Rising temperatures could release huge levels of toxic materials from sealed-off mines into waterways
-
Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning: an 'awe-inspiringly bananas' conclusion
The Week Recommends Tom Cruise undertakes 'death-defying' stunt set pieces in this 'dazzlingly ambitious' finale
-
Could medics' misgivings spell the end of the assisted dying bill?
Today's Big Question The Royal College of Psychiatrists has identified 'serious concerns' with the landmark bill – and MPs are taking notice