Democratic leadership in Washington is acknowledging that promises of deficit reduction and costs cutting under the government-run health care legislation, rammed through Congress this year, were false and unfulfillable.

According to Politico:

Key White House allies are dramatically shifting their attempts to defend health care legislation, abandoning claims that it will reduce costs and deficit, and instead stressing a promise to “improve it.”

So let’s get this straight. Democrats hope to salvage their re-election chances by promising to fix devastating-flawed legislation that they rammed through Congress despite quite vocal opposition from the American people.

“Don’t worry, we’ll totally fix that deficit-exploding legislation you never wanted in the first place but we shoved through the legislature anyway. Also, please give us another two years of absolute power.”

Just how stupid do Democrats perceive the American public to be? Apparently very:

The presentation advises, instead, sales pitches that play on personal narratives and promises to change the legislation.

“People can be moved from initial skepticism and support for repeal of the law to favorable feelings and resisting repeal,” it says. “Use personal stories – coupled with clear, simple descriptions of how the law benefits people at the individual level – to convey critical benefits of reform.”

In other words, ignore the increasing deficit and damage inflicted to the American health care system as a whole. Ignore the unconstitutionality of the individual mandate or the higher taxes levied against the private sector. Divert attention away from the opening stages of rationed care and less control over personal health care decisions.

Instead, resort to personal anecdotes that prove nothing of substance whatsoever. Opponents hold up a chart demonstrating increasing costs? Hold up a picture of Activity Granny really loving that new health care system. Opponents point out that Activist Granny died last week while waiting in an emergency room? Move on to the next poster child/grandmother.

This would all be quite laughable if the subject matter weren’t so serious. Democrats gutted Medicare, took over person health care choices, placed bureaucrats between patients and doctors, initiated a plan to drive private health insurance companies out of business, instituted the early stages of health care rationing, and levied new taxes on the private sector. All in the name of driving down costs and expanding coverage.

Now we’re told that not only will millions remain uninsured, but health care costs won’t actually decrease. So what did we get? The opening salvo in the government’s war to control the American health care system.