Michael Steele spoke recently to the National press club.  He made a thoughtful, if somewhat pedestrian, case against the current health care reform package.  The usually passionate Mr. Steele had a hard time articulating what voters most want to know “Who are these Republicans and given the chance, what will they do?”

Mr. Steele:

Republicans have presented their opposition to the administration’s health care reform as a choice between government control and the free market.  Many voters believe that the “government control” ship has long since sailed and that Republicans helped to launch it. 

Republicans have come to be seen as the proponents of a more modest socialism, a less intrusive nanny-state.  If elected, they will still intrude in the marketplace, but in a more principled and efficient manner than the Democrats.  The Republican alternative will be the party of the 500 billion dollar stimulus package, mini bailouts and reluctant takeovers. 

Politics has devolved into talking points, key words and purposeful ambiguity.  It really is less complicated than that.  What do you believe and what will you do if elected?   I’ve taken the liberty of preparing some remarks for you.  Try them out.  I think people could vote for this kind of Republican.

Republicans believe every individual has differing medical and insurance needs.  They differ from age-to-age, by occupation, financial circumstance, ethnic and genetic susceptibility and geographic location.  Those needs differ not only from person to person but also change throughout one’s own lifetime.

No political body possesses sufficient knowledge or authority to make those personal decisions.  Do you need medical insurance more than graduate school, more than a new house or a truck?   The Republican proposal will make all physician and hospital services, medications and insurance costs dollar-for-dollar deductible from gross income whether you itemize deductions or not.  All medical expenditures will be paid with pre-tax income.  Individuals will choose how much risk to take, how much insurance to buy and what services to contract for directly.  This is as it should be.  Choice, without the trillions.

The special circumstances relating to the chronically ill and the indigent will be debated separately from this reform and will be implemented incrementally.  We welcome the President’s embrace of efficiencies and will test them by incorporating them into the Medicare program.    

 If the voters are kind enough to return us to the majority, we promise to confine our activities to the responsibilities clearly outlined in the constitution.  The constitution requires change from time to time, but that responsibility falls to the voters, not the politicians.  We promise not to use the vast resources of government to retaliate or to reward.  The ninth and tenth amendments will guide our thinking and restrain our ambitions.  The Republican party will be humble and serve the citizens, not parent or police them.

Call me.  I’d love to talk.