Posted by Jed Lewison on Fri Jan 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM Pacific

Do you still believe in a place called Hope?

In the final debate of the 1980 presidential election, Jimmy Carter addressed the need for national health insurance, taking Ronald Reagan to task for opposing universal coverage.

Reagan dismissed Carter's criticism with one the most memorable lines in presidential campaign history: "There you go again," he said.

Twelve years later, in 1992, Bill Clinton became the Democratic nominee for president. He delivered a stirring acceptance speech, ending with a reference to his birthplace, Hope, Arkansas.

"I end tonight where it all began for me," he said.

"I still believe in place called Hope."

His speech was followed by a rousing celebration, the mood captured by the signature anthem of his campaign, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)".

Over the next few months, Clinton campaigned on a simple message, developed by James Carville. George Stephanopoulos called it a haiku, and it stayed on the campaign's white board, pictured above, for the duration of the contest.

Change versus more of the same

It's the economy, stupid

Don't forget health care

In the final staff meeting of the campaign, a wide-eyed Stephanopoulos, brimming with confidence that Clinton was would win the election, told the assembled staffers that because of their work, more people would have better health care for less money. They had brought change to America.

Despite Stephanopoulos's optimism and good intentions, things didn't work out as he -- and we -- had planned and hoped.

In 1992, 15.0% of the population had no health coverage. Today, 15.8% are without care.

In 1992, we spent 13.8% of our GDP on health care. Today, we spend 16.0%.

It wasn't supposed to happen that way. But it did.

We were supposed to get universal health care. But we didn't.

Why not?

Did Bill Clinton fail to inspire us?

Did he not offer us hope?

Was it because the American public did not want universal health care?

If Hillary Clinton had televised the task force meetings on C-SPAN, would Congress have enacted her proposal?

Was Bill Clinton too divisive?

Was it because powerful, entrenched interests stopped us?

What does that mean for today?

What are the biggest challenges we face now?

Is it a lack of inspiration?

Is it that we've lost all hope?

Is the problem with the American people, or is it with the structure of our political system?

What do we need to do to overcome those obstacles?

These are the questions to ask yourself.

Do you still believe in a place called Hope?

In the final debate of the 1980 presidential election, Jimmy Carter addressed the need for national health insurance, taking Ronald Reagan to task for opposing universal coverage.

Reagan dismissed Carter's criticism with one the most memorable lines in presidential campaign history: "There you go again," he said.

Twelve years later, in 1992, Bill Clinton became the Democratic nominee for president. He delivered a stirring acceptance speech, ending with a reference to his birthplace, Hope, Arkansas.

"I end tonight where it all began for me," he said.

"I still believe in place called Hope."

His speech was followed by a rousing celebration, the mood captured by the signature anthem of his campaign, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)".

Over the next few months, Clinton campaigned on a simple message, developed by James Carville. George Stephanopoulos called it a haiku, and it stayed on the campaign's white board, pictured above, for the duration of the contest.

Change versus more of the same

It's the economy, stupid

Don't forget health care

In the final staff meeting of the campaign, a wide-eyed Stephanopoulos, brimming with confidence that Clinton was would win the election, told the assembled staffers that because of their work, more people would have better health care for less money. They had brought change to America.

Despite Stephanopoulos's optimism and good intentions, things didn't work out as he -- and we -- had planned and hoped.

In 1992, 15.0% of the population had no health coverage. Today, 15.8% are without care.

In 1992, we spent 13.8% of our GDP on health care. Today, we spend 16.0%.

It wasn't supposed to happen that way. But it did.

We were supposed to get universal health care. But we didn't.

Why not?

Did Bill Clinton fail to inspire us?

Did he not offer us hope?

Was it because the American public did not want universal health care?

If Hillary Clinton had televised the task force meetings on C-SPAN, would Congress have enacted her proposal?

Was Bill Clinton too divisive?

Was it because powerful, entrenched interests stopped us?

What does that mean for today?

What are the biggest challenges we face now?

Is it a lack of inspiration?

Is it that we've lost all hope?

Is the problem with the American people, or is it with the structure of our political system?

What do we need to do to overcome those obstacles?

These are the questions to ask yourself.

The Jed Report Home Page

© Jed Lewison