Political Will and Divided Government: "Harry and Louise" and the "Scorched-earth" Policy

Red and blue America—an ideologically fractured country—will be one of the biggest obstacles Obama must tackle to pass comprehensive reform. 

The Republicans’ “scorched-earth” policy, the fierce opposition to any of Clinton endorsed legislation, played an enormous part in stopping major health care reform in the early '90s. Special interest groups and their “Harry and Louise” campaign fueled the public resistance. 

“Gingrich Republicans weren’t going to let anything get passed by Clinton, and the [insurance] lobby pulled every lever they could to prevent this change,” Sen. Durenberger said. “The worry now is what Obama is going to do that is different from all these attempts in the past.” 

Passing the federal stimulus bill proved Obama can push legislation despite strong partisan opposition. But he managed to do so by committing himself fully to the legislation and campaigning aggressively to the public. Despite it being one of his first campaign promises, Obama has not yet shown that kind of dedication to health care reform. 

“He needs to be passionate about this, the way Hillary Clinton was, to convince the American people that we’re on a path that will destroy our national economy and our way of life.” Sullivan said. 

Stephen Parente, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Specializing in health economics, his experience with medical databases, major health insurance structure and understanding of government agencies makes him an expert on any prospective health care reform. 

“Obama is coming in with one of the sexiest lines you can possibly imagine: 'I am here to cover everybody, and I can personally empathize because my mother was toughed up from this stuff,'“ Parente said. “It’s a special card for him, and if you challenge him on it, you’re going to die. It’s a no-brainer.” 

Former Senator David Durenberger now heads the National Institute for Health Policy at the University of St. Thomas. A Senator from Minnesota for 17 years, he served as chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, giving him a leadership role in shaping U.S. health policy. 

“I think by the end of the year, he will get something passed, but this is not something where you have the grand signing like the Medicare bill of 1965, and then you go back to Vietnam,” Durenberger said. “You have to pass something this year, and next year, and just keep after it.”

In order for the legislation to be successful, all three experts agreed Obama will have to choose initially between pursuing coverage and addressing costs, and change will be both slow and painful.