HILLARY'S FAULT???

Some wingnuts have blamed Hillary for our current health care problems because she botched the overhaul she attempted in 1993. As usual, the truth lies elsewhere, as I learned from Jonathan Chait's book, The Big Con. Chait cites a 1995 article by Thomas B. Edsall and lets us know that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was supporting Hillary's plan UNTIL Norquist organized a campaign to make it change its position. From Lexis -Nexis:

The Washington Post
September 04, 1995, Monday, Final Edition
Right in the Middle Of the Revolution; Activist Rises to Influence In Conservative Movement
BYLINE: Thomas B. Edsall, Washington Post Staff Writer
SECTION: A SECTION; Pg. A01
LENGTH: 1704 words

Two years ago, Norquist orchestrated a 15-month drive to force -- shame is not too strong a word -- the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to repudiate its endorsement of employer health care mandates, a key provision of the Clinton health care plan.

Under Norquist's direction, GOP congressmen boycotted the Chamber's award ceremonies. National Empowerment Television broadcast two shows criticizing the Chamber, copies of which were shipped to state and local chambers. The Wall Street Journal editorialized, while the Small Business Survival Committee sent out a critique of Chamber policy to 800 talk radio shows. Under this assault, the Chamber gave in.