REALISM SEEPING IN - AT 9:38 A.M. ET:  Apparently, the White House is getting the message that changing the entire American health-care system requires a bit of thought, planning and discussion, as The Politico notes:

In his most recent remarks, President Obama has stopped mentioning what had been his mantra — that the House and Senate finish their health-care bills by the August recess — and switched to a less specific call to fast action.

The increased flexibility follows resistance by key senators in both parties to what they have called an "artificial deadline."

A White House aide said the president isn't letting up.

"No change in the timeline," said the aide.

But prodding Congress in speeches on his top legislative priority Friday and Saturday, Obama didn’t mention the August deadline.

COMMENT:  The White House is apparently concerned that more discussion means more confusion, and the chance that insurance companies will come in and muddle the debate out of their own self-interest.

These things are possible, of course.  But the debate should be welcomed, not shunned.  If insurance companies act irresponsibly, hit them in the marketplace of ideas.  (Some deserve to be slapped, others don't.  That's part of what free enterprise is about.)  We should be having a national conversation about health care, with competing plans examined and criticized. 

Part of the failure here lies with the press.  You sometimes get the sense that some outlets have become big obituary pages for celebrities, and nothing else.  But the media should be insisting on a major national discussion, even if it means Michael Jackson won't be mentioned.

July 19, 2009