I continue to see comments from Obama supporters that express the hope that Obama is “positioning himself” for some future move that he supposedly will make at just the right moment.  I think people who make the argument that Obama is “positioning himself” should present some theories as to what he is positioning himself FOR.  At the moment, all we’re seeing is his dancing around what he should be doing while doing what the previous administration did, or at least supporting what they did.  Of course, he should be undoing what the previous administration did, or at least not supporting what they did.  I’m confessing to hoping that Obama changes his soft-line approach when it comes to healthcare. 

Recently, in the comment thread in Mick Arran’s blog, I saw an analogy presented by Larry Lawson that supported Obama’s political moves since he took office January 20, 2009.  That analogy is quoted below for readers’ convenience: 

Notice that the above analogy focuses only on what might happen, while totally ignoring what actually is happening.  It’s kind of like ignoring the fact that the last few precious seconds of the game are ticking off the clock as the quarterback runs around aimlessly trying to avoid taking a hit. 

To use the quarterback analogy, Obama’s our new quarterback, and his play, so far, is more analogous to a quarterback who calls a play in the huddle, and then when the ball is snapped ignores his open receivers and does one of three things; hands the ball off to the defense, takes a knee, or runs for the sideline to avoid taking a hit. 

So, what was the play that was called in the huddle?  The play called was “Change”.  Now, generally speaking, when a play is called in the huddle, also called are specific assignments for every one of the eleven players on the offense. The quarterback will have certain visual keys for reading the defense; the offensive linemen will have certain blocking duties based on the particular offensive alignment and how it matches up with the defensive alignment; wide receivers and tight ends will have specific routes that they are supposed to run or blocking duties; running backs will have certain blocking duties or specific running/receiving routes. 

When the quarterback calls a particular play, the other ten members of his offensive team will most likely recognize if the blocking and route assignments match that play.  If the assignments don’t match the play that has been called, then it would be dutiful for the other team members to call attention to that problem.  And this dutiful response would be specially expected if the quarterback were new and the other players on the field had previously seen the disastrous results of running that particular play in the particular manner in which the new quarterback has called for it to be run this time. 

Our previous quarterback retired to a chorus of boos because he called the same plays that the new quarterback is calling, albeit with different misalignments, and the fans have seen how that turned out.  When a new quarterback takes over an offense, there is often a brief time period during which the coaches and fans expect some miscues and some adjustments, but it does not usually take long to start assessing whether the quarterback is learning from his miscues, or more importantly, if he learned from watching the previous quarterback’s miscues. 

I’ve seen quarterbacks stay with the same team for longer than they should have, and it logically doesn’t work out well for them or the team.  Witnessing the disastrous results on the playing field, regardless of the obvious fact that the quarterback’s moves do not match the plays that are actually needed, neither the quarterback nor the team will, or is able to, make the required changes.  Despite what their eyes reveal to them through the results on the field, all remain enamored of the quarterback’s natural ability, hoping that his natural ability is enough to carry the team to victory.  But the actual results don’t match what they think they see, or want to see. 

So, essentially, what we have is the reality of what actually IS happening, versus the hope for what others would like to see as happening, but who can’t quite define or describe what it is that they think they see happening. 

The problem so many are having now is that during the campaign, they heard what they wanted to hear instead of what Obama was saying, they saw what they wanted to see instead of what really was, just like now they are seeing what they want to see instead of what is actually happening.  But the fans are starting to get anxious and Obama is dropping the ball in the polls because people are starting to recognize this. 

Currently, the game is healthcare reform and the situation is this: it’s the fourth quarter, only seconds left in the game, just enough time for one play, and our team has the ball on the opponent’s goal line.  A field goal would tie the game and send us into overtime.  But a touchdown puts the game out of reach for the opponent and wins our team the championship.  We have the best offense in the league, and our opponent’s defense is so beaten down, they are so dazed and confused from exhaustion, that they can’t even decide which defense they should call to try to stop us.  So what will our quarterback call?  Will he call for the field goal and go for the tie, giving the defense time to rest, regroup, and revitalize, changing nothing and leaving the game up for grabs?  If he decides to go for the tie, what will his teammates say or do?  Will he take advantage of the perfect situation for gaining that championship for his team and the fans?  If he decides to go for the touchdown, what will his teammates say or do?

Robert Reich was Bill Clinton's Secretary of Labor; the following are excerpts from his June 12^th discussion with Bill Moryers:  

“…unless you have a democratic system that allows the rules to be created not by the companies but by the people and the people's representatives reflecting what the public needs, not what the corporations need, you're going to have a system that is not a democracy and it's not democratic capitalism. It's super capitalism without the democracy.”  

“…we've got a medical system in which private for-profit insurers are spending a lot of money trying to avoid sick people. It's an absurd system. And all of that money they're spending, marketing and finding groups of people who are relatively healthy and at relatively low risk and avoiding the sick people, all of that money is being wasted.” – Former  Labor Secretary Robert Reich

    BILL MOYERS:  The folks who are fighting for single-payer out there say it is feasible if only Congress would look at the economics of it. 

    ROBERT REICH: Well, a lot of things are feasible if Congress looks at the economics of them. But politically, no, unfortunately and I'm a big single-payer fan. Unfortunately, we cannot get there from here because the political forces are just too strong against single-payer. 

    BILL MOYERS: You've got these powerful lobbies that you've been writing about on your blog. And you said on your blog this week that the real question for you is the extent to which Barack Obama will push back against these lobbies. What's your answer to your own question? 

    ROBERT REICH: I don't know, Bill. This is the first test where there is huge organized opposition. And it's coming from very, very powerful lobbies who have prevailed- not just for ten or 15 years. You've prevailed for decades on this issue. So this is the truth time in terms of how able and willing the President and the White House is to really set boundaries and push members of Congress. 

    So it's at this point- and I'm talking about the next two or three or four weeks. I mean, we're talking about crunch time right now- that the President has got to step in and be forceful and be specific. And I don't know whether he will be. I hope he is.

Playing it safe will get you a few wins during the regular season, but it won’t win championships for you.  Those regular-season wins might get you into the playoffs, but you’ll be sent home early by the team that makes the necessary plays when the opportunities present themselves for making those plays.  The team that plays it safe and misses those opportunities will be sent home early and the other team will advance. 

But let’s not forget that this is a team sport, and the quarterback cannot do it alone.  He needs the support of those around him, and that legendary component in football lore known as “the 12^th man” – the fans cheering and creating the energy, exhilaration, extra adrenaline and push that allows the team to become the risk-takers that will advance toward that elusive championship.  Sometimes when a quarterback takes some risks and takes a few vicious hits, his teammates will rally around him, get motivated, protect him better, and attack the defense more aggressively.  Perhaps that’s what Obama needs to do right now; take a few hits for the team, show that he's not afraid of the oncoming pass-rush of the defense, and see what his own team is made of. 

Unfortunately, Obama appears poised to play it safe, to go for the tie, playing not to lose rather than to win.  As a result, we the fans lose.  What has Obama said about healthcare reform?  Consider this:

    PRESIDENT OBAMA: In order to preserve what's best about our health care system, we have to fix what doesn't work. For we've reached the point where doing nothing about the cost of health care is no longer an option.

What is “best about our healthcare system” that Obama wants to preserve?  The entire debate about healthcare reform is about preserving the profit motive.  Is that “what’s best about our healthcare system”?  Since preserving that profit motive is worth leaving millions still without healthcare, I see, among those debating, no other aspect that rates as being more worth preserving.  Remember this quote from above:

“…we've got a medical system in which private for-profit insurers are spending a lot of money trying to avoid sick people. It's an absurd system. And all of that money they're spending, marketing and finding groups of people who are relatively healthy and at relatively low risk and avoiding the sick people, all of that money is being wasted.” – Former  Labor Secretary Robert Reich

From (CBS): CBS News/New York Times Survey Shows Most Americans Approve Of Government Intervention In Health Care Coverage: 

A clear majority of Americans -- 72 percent -- support a government-sponsored health care plan to compete with private insurers, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. Most also think the government would do a better job than private industry at keeping down costs and believe that the government should guarantee health care for all Americans. 

Overall, 57 percent of Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so that all Americans would have health insurance they can’t lose. Majorities of Democrats and independents are willing to pay higher taxes, but two thirds of Republicans are not.

Here is one more quote from Robert Reich from his own blog on Salon.com: 

“This is it, folks. The concrete is being mixed and about to be poured. And after it's poured and hardens, universal healthcare will be with us for years to come in whatever form it now takes. Let your representative and senators know you want a public option without conditions or triggers -- one that gives the public insurer bargaining leverage over drug companies and that pushes insurers to do what they've promised to do. Don't wait until the concrete hardens and we've lost this battle.”

I say again, it is our offense against their worn-out defense.  What’s it gonna be, QB Obama?  What's it going to be, Congressional Democrats?  Are you going for the touchdown or throwing the game, again?  “Majorities of Democrats and independents are willing to pay higher taxes, but two thirds of Republicans are not.”  Republicans worry about “private insurers” rather than private citizens.  How about a plan that includes everyone but Republicans?  If you want coverage, you can’t vote Republican. 

So, this is it, football fans.  This is crunch time and we can’t afford to keep waiting while the QB, the coaches, or anyone else continue “playing not to lose”; we have to play to win.  Any positioning that needed to be done should have already been done.  There are not enough seconds left on the clock to continue running around aimlessly on the field.  It’s time to make that special winning play.  I hope to see that play, but I’m betting the play will not be made.  It's a bet I'd be happy to lose.