"Unspinnable"

 

 

 

"Was it a miracle, or just some very smart campaigning?"

A special election was held in Florida yesterday. It was billed as a "bell weather" election prior to the big event coming in November. In a district in Florida located on the Gulf Coast by Tampa, a "flawed" candidate beat a very moderate Democrat. This district had been trending "blue" and voted for Obama in the last election.

The Republican victor, David Jolly, is a recently divorced lobbyist who campaigned around central Florida with his new (fourteen year younger) girlfriend. The Democrats on the other hand, pulled out one of their most promising new stars, Alex Sink. A woman, a moderate, running in a district which is trending "blue". Slam dunk - game over. This was going to be an easy layup for the Dems. So what in the world happened?

In the words of one Democratic operative (and I will paraphrase a bit) - " There is no way to put lipstick on this pig. It was bad. I would like to tell you something positive about this loss, but it is 'unspinnable'".

There is nothing positive about this outcome if you are a Democrat worried about the midterms. Mr. Jolly's campaign team did something way beyond the pale to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat. He told the truth about ObamaCare. In a district loaded with "blue hairs", Mr. Jolly told the real story about Medicare Advantage. To pay for the increasing unpopular ACA, Medicare Advantage needs to be diminished. Medicare Advantage, which is wildly popular with senior citizens, is going to be partially replaced by a program that many don't like and fewer yet understand.

All the handwringing and indigestion of vulnerable Democrats this year seems to be valid. The lessons learned from this unexpected victory are spreading across the land like a prairie fire. Yes, ObamaCare is the millstone around the neck of Democrats like so many on the Right predicted. It is the gift that keeps on giving (for the Right). Some pundit this morning said if the Republicans don't blow it, November could be a massive blood bath, similar to 2010.

Historians in the future will be able to write volumes about the (un)Affordable Care Act - mostly how to screw it up. The President and his minions tried to be too cute by half, tried to play a shell game with the public. Thanks to many Paul Revere types on the Right (and we have one of the best living right here in Minnesota), the flimsy façade has been ripped off this imposter and revealed what it is.

It is always nice in a world of constant "spin", to finally get an event which is immune from it. And a nifty new term to boot - "unspinnable".