The Case for HHS Secretary Arnold
With the news today that Tom Daschle is withdrawing himself from consideration for HHS Secretary, the criticism is flying over the fledgling Obama administration’s nomination and vetting process. But where the media will undoubtedly see a trainwreck, OBAMARAMA sees an opportunity.
What is the one thing the HHS Secretary needs to accomplish this term? Getting universal health care passed. And what is the primary political problem with getting that done? Partisanship.
At the moment, the public — and, perhaps more importantly, the Congress — sees universal coverage as an exclusively Democratic issue. This may be because it is still tied in many peoples’ minds to Hillary Clinton, or because interest group smearing of universal care as “a step toward socialism” has left an impression that health care reform belongs on the Left. But many conservatives recognize the economic as well as the moral value of universal coverage. Democratic leaders just haven’t embraced them.
What health care reform needs is a champion who can wipe away its partisan image, flex some policy muscle on Capitol Hill, and convince the country that switching to a universal system of coverage is healthy, responsible, and wise. For all his talents, Tom Daschle never struck me as that man. But President Obama would be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic or compelling advocate than Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Now, I have plenty of issues with the Governator. But health care reform is not one of them. Schwarzenegger has repeatedly called for universal health care in his state, and while he vetoed an imperfect plan last fall, he apparently remains committed to finding a remedy that doesn’t exacerbate the state’s current fiscal crisis. Arnold’s health care proposal for California can be viewed here.
In addition to expanding the base of partisan support for reform, enlisting Schwarzenegger would have other incidental benefits which, despite my better judgment, I can’t help but mention. They include:
- The chance to say “Hasta la vista” to employer-based coverage that doesn’t follow you from job to job
- An advocate willing to call out congressional “girly men” for taking refuge in the pockets of the insurance industry (and then to swiftly apologize for his choice of words)
- A sure-fire change of subject from all the hand-wringing over the other nominees’ tax issues
- A nominee who has been thoroughly vetted by dint of his current public office, and whose skeletons, while not entirely savory, are at least well-known and accounted for
- The opportunity for 48 million previously uninsured Americans to stop saying “I’ll be back” to ER doctors
- “It’s not a tum-ah!”
Okay, I apologize for the jokes. I really am serious about this suggestion. Certainly Arnold is well outside the range of typical candidates for this job. But this is not supposed to be a typical administration. And passing universal health coverage is not a typical policy hurdle.
As my little league coach used to tell me, you can’t steal second with your foot on first. Nominating Arnold would be a risk, but the fact remains that if the Governator becomes the Secretarinator, and then teams up with the Obamanator, we will have formidable, truly bipartisan leadership with striking political credibility as we take on the most pressing moral policy issue of our time.
A pivotal weekend for Sen. Obama, who swept the four primaries and caucuses that took place — 
