When faced with political failure, true believers of all stripes tend to blame the failings of their leaders and messengers rather than flaws in their ideas or policies. If Obamacare stalls out entirely this year, will the Left really bring themselves to blame the One?

The San Francisco Chronicle’s best reporter, Carolyn Lochhead, explores the issue of Obama the messenger:

A president famous for his campaign skills has let the opposition define the debate on health care reform, the central issue of his party and his presidency.
As Democrats faced raucous town halls across the nation this week, President Obama labored to squelch doubts about draft health legislation rather than tout its virtues.
He must turn the debate around by next month, when Congress returns to Washington, many analysts say, or repeat the fate of the last Democratic president who tried to reform health care 16 years ago
“Obama has lost control of the debate, and when that happens, it’s over,” said health care consultant Robert Laszewski. “The well’s been poisoned.”

My own view is that if there’s no significant bill passed this year, the Left will blame Congress more than Obama — and, of course, they’ll blame the Republicans and conservative groups more than liberal leaders in Congress.

At that point, conservatives should agree with them!