There are issues in politics ripe for demagogues that can be easily dismissed. And than there are "children's issues."
Yesterday, the Senate voted 67-29 to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion.
"Anyone who votes in lock step with the president and against children's health, they are going to hear about it back home," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
"Against children's health."
This language is ludicrous. Yet effective.
The merits of a "children's issue" don't matter. The facts don't matter.
Republicans are petrified. Petrified at the thought of Democrats attacking them if President Bush vetoes this bill.
Who can possibly be "against children's health" in our country? Anyone who uses such simpleton language should be laughed out of public life. Not only does that not happen, the Chris Van Hollens go on to hold positions of immense power.
Van Hollen language debases the body politic.
