Krugman and Obama: Academic purity vs. campaign realities

kc — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:55:05 -0800

Continuing on the Paul Krugman-slams-Obama discussion, one thing I think is missing here is perspective as it concerns what seems to be the root of Krugman's gripe with the Obama campaign.

Krugman has an issue with Obama's health care plan, which he claims will not work because it doesn't mandate coverage. That may be true.

But here is where Krugman the academic misses the boat. That plan was unveiled last year when Obama was way down in the polls. This is an unusual campaign in that there was very little difference between the candidates. Each one tried to find ways to separate themselves from the pack, and mostly how to move ahead of Hillary Clinton.

When I listen to Obama explain how his plan is different because it doesn't "mandate" coverage, that people aren't "forced" into the system, what I really hear is a focus group-tested message. His campaign wanted to make their plan different than Clinton's, so they tested the wording and found the part of the Clinton plan they didn't like was the mandate.

But I don't see Obama's "no mandate" provisions ever making it into law. He's already hinted at this. In the end, both he and Hillary want the same outcome for health care, a system that covers everyone. The variations you see now are just campaign rhetoric, and need to be taken with a grain of salt.

But for Krugman, he's taking all of this literally. You can't blame him, he's a wonk, and a damn fine one at that. But he's now off on a crusade to slay the Obama beast for reasons he just doesn't grasp. What started out as an over-rational opposition to Obama's health care plan has evolved into an emotional war against someone he perceives as the enemy, who's really not.

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Krugman and Obama: Academic purity vs. campaign realities