Health care reform finds unlikely allies

When Bill Clinton's administration attempted health care reform in the 90's, his plans were successfully blocked by an oppositional wall of hostile Republicans, conservative Democrats, and powerful interest groups within the private health care sector. The public became skeptical as lobbying groups successfully branded the reform efforts as 'socialized' and 'dangerous.'
Almost 16 years later, the current white house, learning from those lessons, has banded together a powerful coalition of groups within the health care industry, the same groups that successfully killed reform before, to try and defang possible opposition before it can grow. Representatives from every spectrum of the health care industry including pharmaceutical and insurance company executives, prominent medical professionals, doctor's associations, and union groups will meet with Obama today and present a plan to reduce overall health care cost by almost $2 trillion over 10 years. This number will embolden reform activists inside and outside of congress, as well as give the administration momentum to push it's reform agenda without being attacked by beneficiaries of the 'medical-industrial complex.'
For once the white house wouldn't mind you read today's Paul Krugman op-ed in which he takes an uncharacteristically optimistic tone on how reform can actually happen, and how today's meeting should be seen as genuine progress.
Some liberals are skeptical though still and think maybe Obama is cozying up a little too much with the health care industry and thinks that in an attempt to compromise with the insurance giants he may leave out key provisions for universal coverage subsidized by the federal government. Provisions that these industries have long opposed.
Also, today's Washington Post profiles a former Hospital CEO that doesn't care of his colleagues are ready for reform, he's ready to fight Obama's plans tooth and nail. An indication that today's big meeting, touted by the white house as 'unprecedented' may merely be simply a first step in a series of first steps, heated debates, and a whole lot of money getting spent by people who want their way.