A newly released memo from Hillary Clinton's 1993 health care task force provides insights into Team Clinton's attitudes toward politics as combat (she came up with the name of the "War Room") and its polarizing approach to health care.
AMERICANS TRUST·THE PRESIDENT MORE THAN THE REPUBLICANS IN
CONGRESS (62%-21%) ON HEALTH CARE (USA TODAY POLL 12/16).
WE SHOULD ENGAGE THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS ON PRINCIPLES, PITTING OUR PHILOSOPHY AND PRINCIPLES AGAINST THEIRS. WE SHOULD NOT ATTACK REPUBLICAN MEMBERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FAR RIGHT MEMBERS, LIKE SENATOR GRAMM, BUT WE SHOULD ATTACK THEIR PRINCIPLES AND SUPPORTERS.
WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY TARGET. WE MUST HAVE AN OPPONENT TO
PROVIDE CONTRAST ON THE ISSUES. COOPER, CHAFEE AND THE SINGLE-PAYER SHOULD NOT BE THE PUBLIC OPPONENTS. WE NEED THEM AT THE END. WE MUST AND CAN DISCREDIT THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN PHILOSOPHY WHICH SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND PROPOSES NO SOLUTION.JUST AS THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION ENERGIZED DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS AND MODERATE REPUBLICANS FOR THE PRESIDENT, ENGAGING REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVES WILL ENERGIZE OUR BASE.
- THEY ARE OUT TO DESTROY HEALTH REFORM AND WILL NEVER BE WITH US.
- DESTROYING THEM MAKES IT EASIER FOR MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS TO SUPPORT A MODIFIED VERSION OF OUR PLAN.
- THEY ARE VULNERABLE ON OUR CORE ISSUES OF SECURITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
- THEY CAN BE PORTRAYED AS DEFENDERS OF WHAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
- THEY ARE AND CAN BE PORTRAYED AS EXTREMISTS. -THEY HAVE LITTLE ORGANIZED INTEREST GROUP SUPPORT.
THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS ARE INVITING US TO DO THISWE SHOULD DEVELOP A COORDINATED CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE OUR
- CALLING OUR PLAN SOCIALIZED MEDICINE
- ARGUING THAT THE HEALTH CARE STATUS QUO IS GOOD
- PROPOSING EXTREME SOLUTIONS WHICH TAKE AWAY SECURITY AND DISCIPLINE THE CONSUMER
- THEY HAVE .INDICATED AN UNWILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOVLE [sic] THE PROBLEM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
PRINCIPLES VS. THEIRS TO BEGIN IN EARLY JANUARY.
