Politics | health care reform Health Care Reform Victory, Not Defeat, for Liberals Progressives actually provided most of the votes By Kevin Spak Posted Dec 28, 2009 1:03 PM CST Copied Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, answers questions outside of the Senate chambers on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 24, 2009, after the Senate passed the health care reform bill. (AP Photo/Mannul Balce Ceneta) Lately the left has been taking its lumps, courtesy of the conventional wisdom that health care reform passed over liberals’ objections. That’s just plain incorrect, writes Tom Schaller for FiveThirtyEight. A lingering narrative holds that liberals can’t govern because the left is so unmanageable. But progressives provided most of the votes for health care. “They were its progenitors and protectors.” “Let’s remember how President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Harry Reid obtained their power,” writes Schaller, “Namely, through a surge in support from liberals.” Obama has disappointed that base, but no more than Hillary Clinton probably would have. Democrats may suffer in 2010, but they’ve accomplished something and have proved they can govern and forge policy consensus. “This was a liberal victory. A perfect, pure victory? Nope. But a liberal defeat? No way.” Read These Next Rudy Giuliani has 'some healing to do.' Bill Belichick's first big UNC game didn't go well. A game of doorbell ditch turns fatal for 11-year-old. That CEO who grabbed a tennis pro's hat has some words. Report an error