Bill Kristol's 1993 Memo Calls for GOP to Block Health Care Reform Cause It Might WORK!!

[FourScore]

Bill Kristol’s 1993 Memo Calling For GOP To Block Health Care Reform
John Aravosis

Greg Sargeant over at The Plum Line has gotten his hands on a memo Bill Kristol wrote to his party in 1993, urging them to oppose Bill Clinton's health care plan because - well - it might work.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/bill-kristols-1993-memo-calling-for-gop-to-block-health-care-reform/

And then all the newly healthy people might like government and see that it could actually do something good for them. Ben Smith summarizes the long memo:

The memo warns that a successful Clinton plan could badly damage the GOP by improving Americans' relationship with government, and makes the case for total, uncompromising opposition based on what would become the "Harry and Louise" campaign, focused on the damage the changes could do to citizens' relationships with their doctors.

The only way that the plan would improve America's relationship with government would be if it worked. Think about that. The GOP ultimately opposed major legislation that would have benefited every American because the legislation might have actually worked. You don't just see parallels to today's Republican party, they're doing exactly the same thing. The GOP is terrified that Obama agenda, from the stimulus plan to health care reform, might actually work. Then Americans would see that - surprise - government can work for the people. And where would we be then, if our government actually started making a positive difference in our lives? Better to vote Republican and ensure that never happens.

http://www.americablog.com/2009/03/bill-kristols-1993-memo-calling-for-gop.html

[anonymous171]

1. I credit Bill Kristol for making me a firm supporter of HC reform.

I don't even care about taxation or even it's effectiveness. I just want the GOP to die.

[goforit]

2. Is this a pronouncement of civil war by the GOP???? Bloodthirsty bastards!

[Mist]

3. Kristol is such a poison pill. Imagine gov't working for the people--it's not to be borne! nt

[billyoc]

4. Health care reform terrifies the class enemy.

[FlyingSquirrel]

5. I have a suggestion.

If the Republican Party hates government so much, let's give them all the states that went for McCain except for Arizona, Montana and Missouri (I have hope for them). They can have half of those states. That can be their country, and they can live in it with no government. Give the Dems a chance to move out of the Red States of America first, of course, with Federal aid to help them. And the Repugs that want to move into this new government-less country can of course move, but without any Federal aid 'cause they don't want it anyway.

Problem solved. (And I want some real high concrete walls to hold them in.)

P.S. I'd recommend that they set up a capitol in Wyoming or Oklahoma, but of course that would be pointless since there would be no government. And of course the Republican members of Congress would be banished from our capitol.

[Orsino]

6. That's discouraging.

If Kristol thought it could work, that means it can't.

[Captain Hilts]

7. And Democrats were willing to do it for them - Jim Cooper prevented healthcare reform

for nearly 20 years.