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June 28, 2009 10:14 AM UTC

Sen. Bennet Faces a Tough Crowd; His Base

  • 24 Comments
  • 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.

Comments

24 thoughts on “Sen. Bennet Faces a Tough Crowd; His Base

  1. Senator Bennet gave a similar performance at the Jeffco Young Dems picnic last Saturday: He’s very dilligent about attending these small-venue events (I know a good one he could attend today :)). I’ve seen him at three now, and he has always impressed me as smart, sincere, and capable. I think that his “poor public speaker” label really emanates from an excess of humility, which, all-in-all, is a good quality for a politician to have. As you said, he’s improving on that score, and I suspect will continue to.

    As I’ve said before, I think that the demands of the base tend to draw their elected officials away from the center, leading to popular alienation from that party, causing a pendulum-swing between the two parties. Personally, I’d like to create a sustainable momentum rather than just achieve a few bold successes only to lose power again, and lose ground as a result. I recognize that there are arguments on both sides (“slow and steady” v. “strike while the iron is hot”), but, wherever we each fall in that debate (including those who oppose politically facilitated progress altogether), it’s certainly best for all of us to strive to be reasonable people of good will work harder toward ahieving better results while being slower to erupt with righteous indignation that it’s not all going “our” way (whoever “we” happen to be).

    1. Ken Salazar very publicly hewed to the middle. Michael Bennet is trying to do something more difficult, talk like a progressive but keep his vote pretty moderate. I think that is going to be rough as people talk a lot more about what the specific actions and votes of an official mean.

      Part of this may be him still trying to find his way. He’s never held office before and he’s probably trying to figure out how to handle the various forces pulling him in each direction and how to balance that out.

      And the cautious response when learning is say as few specifics as possible and vote as a moderate. That way when you decide which way to learn, it’s not that big a change.

      1. I’m fully supportive of him at this time.

        He;s smart, affable, and very well connected.

        I enjoyed talking to his brother Jay who is the ditor of Atlantic Monthly. Jay also was the former NY TImes bureau chief in Jerusalem.

          1. but he’s explained his position on EFCA, and he’s not the sole swing vote, so labor probably feels they can live with him for now. Ritter, on the other hand, was the one who decided to veto the two labor-friendly bills. It was all up to him, and he should be held accountable.

            Or were you really wondering?

            1. You told Ritter of your displeasure.  You even demonstrated against him.  You held him accountable.  Now move on.

              As for Bennet, you’ll turn on him like you turned on Ritter.  As time goes on it is becoming clearer and clearer there is no compromise to be had, and EFCA will fail, and you’ll blame Bennet for it.

          2. The unions are putting their largest effort into EFCA. I think they would be a lot better off if they dropped that and turned their attention to figuring out how to represent the knowledge workers that are now the key part of our economy.

            A lot of union strength in the past came from unionizing the industries that were key to our economy – coal, steel, auto, railroads. Sitting on the lifeblood of the economy gave them a lot of power.

            If they can’t unionize Google, Pfizer, etc then EFCA, son of EFCA, and EFCA III are not going to be much help.

        1. Nothing about what he’s going to do in office.

          I like him because he clearly has an open thoughtful mind on education and is focused on it. I think that alone could make him a very good Senator.

    1. Clearly, MAH, you have experience knocking on doors and begging for votes, and look where it got you–nowhere.  Bennet is a US Senator, for goodness sakes, and by attending this picnic, that’s the equivalent of knocking on doors.  If you don’t like the guy, fine, but at least come up with a good argument against him.

      1. I recall the generic ballot had the GOP down 10-15 pts, yet Mr. Hasan nearly pulled it off versus what you Dems probably labeled as a Conseradem.

        Net. Very un-sportsman like of you to be so bitter; it must be a values or principles issue in your DNA.

        Three items on Super cum Senator Bennet:

        1) Any position on Card Check-Forced Arbitration, yet?

        2) Bennet for Senate: for a DPS 50% Graduation Rate (so how does he handle that one)?

        3) Just who is the looker in the stretch pants and tight baby blue T to his right?

        1. Even for you. You really are a petty little piece of shit.

          Just who is the looker in the stretch pants and tight baby blue T to his right?

          1. …of a Jimmy Buffet song.

            MiddleRoadDem deserves all the credit, i’m sure. Do you suppose he’s worked at it his whole life, or was he born that way?

          2. You’re the POS.  She has a beautiful face, shiny long auburn hair and beautiful milk skin.  I bet she is a great human being too, full of life, etc…

            Sorry if you feel like an ugly duckling because you don’t have the same beautiful face and personal presence she appears to maintain.

            1. I would really like to know if you look like how myself and many others here envision you to appear:

              (Lib is on the right, of course, father/brother on the left)

        2. Rush Limbaugh himself couldn’t have said it better.

          It’s sexist and insensitive comments like those that so endear libertarians and Republicans to the public at large.

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