The most disheartening thing that came out from Massachusetts this week was not the results of its special election, but how Democrats reacted afterwards. No matter how good your policies are, and how they will benefit millions of people, people do not vote for candidates that act like losers.
Let's get one thing straight, in November 2008, when Obama was elected and laid out his ambitious agenda, he had 57 Democrats, 2 Independents and 41 Republicans in the Senate. Does it look familiar to you?
So why are Democrats freaking out as if they lost control of the Senate and can't govern when the fundamentals of the Senate are exactly the same as when Obama got in Office?
People vote according to their self-interests, and people who voted for Scott Brown were not against Healthcare reform, their were against changing what they had. They voted for the guy who said that would protect an entitlement that Democrats now want to extend to other States.
And I will tell you why I despair. Obama is making the unfortunate mistake of focusing on the 'process' of getting results, and not enforcing the right narrative. People are disgusted by the process. By trying to ensure that Healthcare is a result of bipartnership even though Republicans have refused to play all together, he allowed Scott Brown, a Republican, to frame himself as the protector of universal healthcare in his own state.
Democrats should say with conviction that Healthcare reform is a Democrat value, not a Republican one. Because Republicans in the House and in the Senate have voted against it despite containing many Republican ideas. Own it. Be proud of it. And please act like winners and not back down or slow down because of a setback.
Voters respect and reward conviction and fortitude, and even more so once they start understanding the implications of this bill.