- The part of Barack Obama that knows how change really happens in America has long been quietly at war with the part that wanted to stay on good terms with Republicans, and with powerful elites in the business and financial worlds. In the most consequential decision of his first term, when he decided to pass healthcare reform via reconciliation, Obama chose identity No. 1 over identity No. 2. Now, in what may prove the most consequential decision of his second term, he has done the same. He has decided once again to trigger the hatred of defenders of the status quo because, I suspect, he knows American history well enough to know that real moral progress doesn’t happen any other way.
Not sure I agree with the bit you quoted ... the health care he passed theoretically allowed him to stay on great terms with Republicans and business interests (insurers). And many ultra-liberals would not agree that it really changed America. I don't agree with them, but there's no question Obama definitely chose largely to compromise -- not his fault it was summarily rejected by Rand Paul.
there's no question Obama definitely chose largely to compromise
This is true and it's certainly revisionist history to suggest otherwise. We went from single payer to this hybrid model that keeps the money flowing in to the large insurance companies, in droves. They now have a huge swath of new, incremental revenue from people that otherwise would have never been customers. This was certainly the type of healthcare plan that should make the GOP grin from ear to ear. In fact, had it been proposed by a GOP president, there'd be no such animosity about it. So much of the anger is via the careful and frankly, artful packaging of it by the right wing media. They're really, really good at what they do.