February 7, 2005

Bredesen: Flailing on TennCare, Insulting Social Conservatives

Matt White points the way to two must-read columns about Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, the first, from Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Greg Johnson (link - free reg. req.) of which exposes Bredesen's condescending attitude toward social conservatives, and the second of which, from long-time political commentator Frank Cagle, writing in Knoxville's Metro Pulse, peels the varnish off the governor's high-gloss image as the guy who could save TennCare.

Johnson:

When it comes to cultural issues, Bredesen borders on Neil Young-like disdain, Howard Dean-like condescension and downright disrespect for those with deeply held moral convictions.

"I'm perfectly capable of keeping (cultural conservatives) somewhat at bay," Bredesen told the magazine. "I tell people, 'If you want to go do that, fine. If you think your playing a game is going to elect you or elect the next president out of Tennessee, you're welcome to try and do that. Now, when you're finished messing around with that, let's sit down and talk about what we've got to do about the state of education.' I think I'll just keep doing that, and that we'll be successful."

Perhaps. But John Kerry learned cultural conservatives aren't playing a game. They are standing against what they perceive as unjust and even immoral. And they voted their cultural convictions in 2004. Meanwhile, even Hillary Clinton respectfully acknowledged the values of values voters when she recently admitted, "The primary reason teenage girls abstain from early sexual activity is because of their religious and moral values."

While Bredesen indicates he won't oppose a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, he consistently dismisses pro-life advocates by accusing those who lobby for the unborn of using a "wedge issue" for political gain. Bredesen seems strangely detached from the reality that, while balancing the budget is important, some convictions go deeper than the pocketbook.

When Gov. Phil Bredesen took office, I think we all assumed that, in reforming TennCare, Bredesen would run into the burning building and save it. It's sad to watch him standing on the sidewalk spraying water.

Bredesen's reform of TennCare shows no sign of a business executive fixing problems...

File the two columns away. Bredesen remains popular in Tennessee, but if he flails and fails to fix TennCare and continues to condescend to the deeply held views of Tennessee's social conservatives, that might not last.