A GOP RESPONSE ON HEALTH CARE?  ABOUT TIME - AT 8:16 A.M. ET:  The Politico is reporting that the Republican National Committee is coming out with a health care bill of rights for seniors.  That's good news.  We've long argued here, as readers know, that the GOP can't simply oppose.  It has to propose. 

EXCLUSIVE -- The Republican National Committee today makes a play for senior support by rolling out a “Seniors’ Health Care Bill of Rights,” aimed at amplifying concerns -- already clear in polls -- about the effect of health-care reform on Medicare. RNC Chairman Michael Steele: “America’s senior citizens deserve access to quality health care that will not bankrupt them. … Unfortunately for America’s seniors, President Obama and Congressional Democrats are looking to fund their government-run health care experiment by cutting over $500 billion from Medicare.” The first point in the six-point “Bill of Rights”: “PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM.” And, of course, it includes: “PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS.”

COMMENT:  The "bill of rights" device in the health-care debate is a good one.  This is a subject that produces high anxiety and fear.  People want to be reassured that their rights involving health care are guaranteed. 

Let's hope this is the start of a positive Republican agenda for 2010 - practical, imaginative, and stated briefly.  The Dems are having trouble selling a 1,000-page bill, and for good reason.

August 24, 2009