June 28, 2009 10:14 AM UTC

Sen. Bennet Faces a Tough Crowd; His Base

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• by: Aaron Silverstein

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Six months on the campaign trail have sharpened Senator Michael Bennet’s speaking skills. Although raised inside the Washington Beltway, it took him a while to project the thoughtful grasp of policy displayed at today’s Arapahoe Young Democrat’s picnic. With a relaxed earnestness, he navigated a probing set of questions on health care from a gathering that made it clear that he had not yet proven himself to them.

Addressing a series of doctors, citizen health advocates, and others with more gray than ‘Young Dems’ expect to turn out, the freshman legislator won many over with answers that were direct, progressive, hopeful, and soberingly pragmatic.

(cross-posted from SquareState.net)  

He drew a clear distinction between what he would like to see and what he expected. Doing this had some questioners feeling he had surrendered before the war had begun, but others applauded this strategy of taking smaller, surer steps.

Would he support a public option in health care? Yes. In fact, he would prefer single payer. But even a public option was no sure thing. Yes, he understands that polling shows overwhelming support for greater change, but he believes that reaching too far, too suddenly can provoke a reversal of that support. He wants the change that is possible, and what he sees as possible today is something less daring.

Success for this year will be measured by the Senator on three bullet points. Will insurance costs keep expanding every year by double digit rates? Will the incentives underlying Medicaid continue to encourage more tests and procedures instead of more health? Will there remain people without coverage?

“But we don’t want coverage. We want care!”

The distinction was not lost on Bennet, and he garnered applause by suggesting that a non-profit model was even worth examining if one could gather the support. Unfortunately, this was one place of several where he thought the people were ahead of the politicians.

For now, he was going to fight for inches instead of yards. Speaking favorably of a story in the New Yorker, which compares Medicare systems in Mesa, Colorado, and McAllen, Texas, he advocated for a more “patient based” approach to care. Speaking with pride about Obama and Rahm Emmanuel’s whipping of the recent energy bill, he gave hope that the administration would be willing to twist arms as needed when they had to get things done. But on this bill, what was immediately possible might lie in the shared space between a number of opposing factions.

He was very generous with his time, and while willing to answer questions on any topic, health care clearly dominated the session. Just before it was time for him to go, one activist made a final request. If he did not think Washington was ready for what the people wanted, could he at least take the message back to Washington that the people were crying out for real change?

He indicated he wasn’t turning his back on the outpouring of support for progressive reform they delivered last November. He gave it credit for allowing the conversation about reform to occur at all. And while he was going to take the battles one small step at a time, he promised to let D.C. know that the people of Colorado were asking for more.

It wasn’t everything they wanted to hear, but the activists appeared to feel he was being straight with them. If unable to be their savior, he would at least be their advocate. It was a small victory, but even idealists can indulge in a bit of pragmatism. He was accessible, and engaging, and helped them understand his position. Never underestimate how charismatic it makes a man, and how appreciated, when he takes time to listen to concerns and answer them with frankness.

Senator Bennet left to a standing ovation.