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Clinton: Whoops, I Thought Health Care Would Be Popular

Long Timeline and GOP Opposition Have Stifled Support

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2010 8:44 AM CDT

(Newser) – Bill Clinton thought that once it was signed into law, Barack Obama's health care reform bill would become amazingly popular. But the polls are in, and now Clinton admits he miscalculated, the Hill reports. "First of all, the benefits of the bill are spread out of three or four years," he told Meet the Press. “And secondly, there has been an enormous and highly effective attack on it.”

With Republican leaders mounting stiff opposition to the reform, Clinton says “they learned from my first two years that, if you just say no, even though people hate it, you get rewarded for it because it discourages the Democrats and it inflames your base.”

Former President Bill Clinton speaks at a rally for Ohio Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, in Cleveland. Clinton said Strickland has created an award-winning economic development... (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, right, speaks at a campaign rally for Nevada gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010, Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jessica Ebelhar, Pool)

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Clinton: Whoops, I Thought Health Care Would Be Popular

Long Timeline and GOP Opposition Have Stifled Support

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Barack Obama • Bill Clinton • health care reform • conservative base • opposition • Republicans • health care debate

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But Dems are in a better position than they were under Clinton

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