Conservative's Conscience

Let's Move On

President Obama's nominee as health czar, Tom Daschle, turned out to be a poor choice because he was a tax dodger. The new Secretary of Treasury, Tim Geithner, shares the same tax hobby with Tom, but his case is almost humorously different because the beloved IRS falls under his jurisdiction, all of which gives new meaning to the old cliché: "Send a thief to catch a thief."

But enough! That's old news. And, to adopt a favorite saying of sticky-fingered politicians (think Charlie Rangel): "Let's forget the old and move on."

Fair enough. So, let's take a look in a different direction. How about, for instance, legal and health?

Eric Holder Jr. has been confirmed as the new attorney general. He served under President Clinton as assistant attorney general. He is a competent, experienced lawyer. But there's a little flaw in his background. He was an active player in approving the presidential pardon of Marc Rich -- one of the most controversial pardons in history.

Rich, a tax evader ($41 million), was also involved in shady oil deals with Iran during the hostage crisis. He fled the nation to Switzerland during his trial. Incidentally, Rich's ex-wife had given hefty donations to the Clintons. Could that possibly have anything to do with his pardon?

During a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Holder acknowledged that his handling of the Rich pardon was "flawed."

Oh well. Let's forget the old and move on.

Given the controversial choice of Holder as attorney general, the nominee of the #2 man in the department is sure to be as pure as the driven snow. Right? Well .... Let's take a look.

David Ogden is his name. He too served under Clinton as assistant attorney general, civil division. That, standing alone, qualifies him as a straight shooter. Right? Well....

Ogden is also a competent and experienced lawyer. But one of his specialties catches the eye. Patrick Trueman, a former Justice Department official, describes him as an activist in support of the right to pornography. Representing Playboy and some librarians, for example, he fought congressionally mandated internet filtering software designed to block porn sites. It would not be a stretch to say that if it's dirty and there's a buck to be made in selling it, call Ogden.

Ogden hasn't been confirmed yet. But the Messiah nominated him, Clinton employed him and the Senate Judiciary Committee is stacked with Democrats. Do you doubt that he will become the second most powerful lawyer in the nation? Won't that make you proud? Wow! Another roll model for the kids.

That's about it for legal. Change? Yup! Sure is. Number of fresh faces? Zero. Number of clean faces? Zero. But don't look back. Let's move on.

How about health coverage. What's the news?

One ordinarily looks for news about health coverage in a health bill. No more. You've forgotten. Things are going to change in the Obama administration. Transparency is the rule.

Oops! Surprise! The big news about health coverage is buried in the stimulus package that just passed.

Hidden in the fine print are a few shocking provisions. The head of Health and Services will become, in effect, a health czar. One new bureaucracy will monitor your doctor's treatments for cost effectiveness. Doctors will give up autonomy and bend to the system or face undefined meaningful penalties; the development of new technologies and medicines will be deliberately slowed because they increase costs with experimental treatments. Change "will not be pain free," is the governing statement of principle -- the pain, of course, will be yours. Medicare now supports treatments that are safe and effective. That standard will be changed to "cost effective."

The lessons? Don't get sick; don't get old.

On it goes. Socialized medicine, which you've been begging for with the votes you've been casting, is almost here. The road to it is being paved within a bill that's supposed to stimulate the economy.

In other words, rationed care managed by bureaucrats is being snuck under your noses without debate. By the time you're ready to criticize it, it'll be law.

Now that's change. But .... Let's move on.