Economist Krugman practically endorses Edwards over Obama

by: Jan A

Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 16:01:59 PM EST

"Over the last few days Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards have been conducting a long-range argument over health care that gets right to this issue. And I have to say that Mr. Obama comes off looking, well, naïve."

Krugman agrees with John Edwards' view that insurance and pharmaceutical corporations are not going to hand over their power without a BIG fight.  Ironically, it is Edwards who he sees as the best agent for real change.  He compares Edwards' stance to that of FDR who was a polarizing figure to many on the right but who succeeded in getting things done for the common good.  The candidate who doesn't understand this is in for a big shock when the shooting starts.  

This has always been my beef with Obama.  It's what I call the Rodney King strategy.  He thinks that "we" (meaning corporations and the rest of us) can all just get along.  Not gonna happen.

"it's actually Mr. Obama who's being unrealistic here, believing that the insurance and drug industries - which are, in large part, the cause of our health care problems - will be willing to play a constructive role in health reform. The fact is that there's no way to reduce the gross wastefulness of our health system without also reducing the profits of the industries that generate the waste."

In other words, Edwards sees what he is up against and Obama is clueless.  It is too late to have to relearn the lessons that are already clear to anyone who has paid attention to the long battle for health care. This denial of reality could not only lose the health care fight again but the whole progressive enchilada.  

"As health care goes, so goes the rest of the progressive agenda. Anyone who thinks that the next president can achieve real change without bitter confrontation is living in a fantasy world."

Krugman believes either candidate, Edwards or Obama, will prevail in the general election, but that the margin for Obama would be much smaller.

"So what happens if Mr. Obama is the nominee?

"He will probably win - but not as big as a candidate who ran on a more populist platform. Let's be blunt: pundits who say that what voters really want is a candidate who makes them feel good, that they want an end to harsh partisanship, are projecting their own desires onto the public.

"And nothing Mr. Obama has said suggests that he appreciates the bitterness of the battles he will have to fight if he does become president, and tries to get anything done."