Performance Art and Health Care Politics are an Odd Mix

My wife and I just bought a new car. I agree to do this about every 10 years, whether the old car is still running or not. The sales/buying experience left me swamped in glossy brochures, videos and links to even slicker websites. As nice as it is to have a new car, it is even nicer the sales pitches have ceased. Unfortunately, the politicians in Washington are still selling and countering, promoting their and debunking the other guy’s healthcare policy in a seemingly endless loop.

The President and his team have put a lot at stake to get something done on healthcare. Mr. Obama is everywhere. He is talking tough, sounding confident and trying to convince members of Congress to vote yes on a bill that has yet to take shape. (I am hoping the final product has more in common with our shiny new minivan than the unreliable one we unloaded in trade last week.) They are making the sale to the American public through old media - the President did five major Sunday TV news shows - and by utilizing the newest technology available.

While buying the car, one of the car dealerships crossed a line during negotiation that is familiar to most who have sat in my seat in a showroom. The salesman and sales manager performed a little three act drama where they pretended to argue about the price of the new car. This is a false bit of theater that leaves the buyer feeling uncomfortable and usually wondering to himself, “how stupid do they think I am?”

Today the White House produced something that left me similarly unnerved, a five minute video blog of the Vice President talking to seniors about Medicare in a place called Leisure World in Maryland. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Traveling-with-the-VP/)

The video starts with theatrical shots of the VP’s motorcade winding its way past green lawns while a guitar strums tenderly in the background. Mr. Biden exits his car and gives his winning smile to the camera. The guitar fades out as he looks into the eyes of his crowd and begins to make his case. The guitar fades back in to emphasize he is making a connection with the grey haired, polo clad Americans listening to his every word. The camera cuts to the VP talking and wandering about with those who came to see him. And, as the video closes, the guitar is joined by drums and the music becomes upbeat and happy. All is well with the world.

I have no problem with a salesman making his pitch. Similarly, the White House should try to make their case to the American public. But, whether it is when I am spending a whole lot of money to buy a car or the American public is being asked to make a commitment to reform healthcare, I believe a little less performance art and a little more plain and simple fact telling is the best way to close the deal.

This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register blog entry.