Health Care Reform: Preventative Care for Potomac Fever

On Saturday the Senate voted to open debate on their major health care reform bill. Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas provided the pivotal 60th vote, though she said she made clear she might not support the bill in its final form. But as The New York Times points out, her final vote could be heavily influenced by political, not policy, considerations. She is, after all, up for reelection in November, and her home state is divided on the issue, so she needs to choose her position carefully.

Of course, she denied that politics would influence her decision, saying, "I’m thinking about the 450,000 Arkansans who have no health insurance...I’m not thinking about my re-election, the legacy of a president or whether Democrats or Republicans are going to be able to claim victory in winning this debate."

Yeah, right. By stating her home state as her number one priority, she is exemplifying the exact behavior of someone trying to get reelected. Since only Arkansans will be voting for her in the Senatorial election, it is them she needs to focus on to avoid accusations of "Potomac fever" or "neglecting the district" from her Republican opposition.