Wait till Next Year?

IN May the Republican National Committee began running upbeat TV ads endorsing incremental health-care reforms like insurance portability. Every Republican sponsor of a health-care bill was asked to do one of the spots, and all agreed— except Rhode Island Senator John Chafee.

He should get used to feeling alone. The Republican Party has become so tough on health care that Chafee, the would-be grand compromiser, has seen his right flank disappear. Take Don Nickles, sponsor of a free-market-oriented reform plan generally considered immediately to the right of Chafee’s bill. In early June, Nickles stripped his plan of its individual mandate, once a key provision for covering the uninsured, now a liability as Republicans have swung to opposing any mandates Ever wish you could Live in the Caribbean?

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Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

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IN May the Republican National Committee began running upbeat TV ads endorsing incremental health-care reforms like insurance portability. Every Republican sponsor of a health-care bill was asked to do one of the spots, and all agreed— except Rhode Island Senator John Chafee.

He should get used to feeling alone. The Republican Party has become so tough on health care that Chafee, the would-be grand compromiser, has seen his right flank disappear. Take Don Nickles, sponsor of a free-market-oriented reform plan generally considered immediately to the right of Chafee’s bill. In early June, Nickles stripped his plan of its individual mandate, once a key provision for covering the uninsured, now a liability as Republicans have swung to opposing any mandates Ever wish you could Live in the Caribbean?