Focusing on white voters...

Two articles today specifically reference the white race when it comes to health insurance and the Democratic Party. I'm not sure I agree with the findings of the one article that White men shun Democrats is happening by the millions as the opinion writer suggests, I think it's more likely those who did not support Obama or the health care reform feel more strongly now than before. I've not heard one white male that I know that supported Obama say he's now going to become a Republican.

When you take this next article from National Journal into consideration, Dems Caught In Populist Crossfire, it points out that most white americans don't think they will benefit from the health care reform bill.

That is one area the Democratic Party did really fail in, communicating what the bill was about. People are not sure as to what it means for them. One part of the article:

In the Kaiser poll, even fewer noncollege than college-educated whites said that the plan would benefit the country. In one sense, that's ironic: Census figures show that noncollege whites are more than twice as likely to lack health insurance as whites with a degree. But these working-class whites have grown more skeptical than better-educated whites that government cares about their needs. And the searing recession has only hardened those doubts. In a recent memo, Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg warned that these anxious and alienated voters are approaching a "tipping point" that would send them hurtling toward Republicans in November. House Democrats seem aware of that risk: Of the 34 Democrats who opposed the final health care bill, 28 represent districts with an above-average share of whites without college educations.

This basically means the real problem is a lack of information and faith. It's impossible for many (including myself) to have faith in the government or either political party. Which means the task is to provide as much information as possible. As the second article points out, keeping children on insurance until age 26 will benefit middle class families, and with the job market being a problem in some areas, the pre-existing condition clause is a huge problem for many who struggle to pay COBRA and then when that runs out? Had few options.