Will Lungren Change His Tune?

If yesterday's special congressional election in upstate New York's conservative 26th district proved anything it is this - the politician pendulum can swing quickly, not to mention politicians.

Less than a year following their sweeping victory in the 2010 mid-terms based on pillorying of the so-called "Obama Care," Republican strategist and spin doctors are surely scrambling to neuter, or at least counter spin their Achilles heal - the so-called "reform" of the widely popular Medicare program.

Pushed by Wisconsin Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, the plan in essence calls for privatization of a plan designed to help senior citizen access health care. Interestingly, one of the early backers of the plan was our own Congressman Dan Lungren.

At at town hall meeting in Elk Grove last summer, Lungren defended Ryan's scheme, calling the "road plan" at that time, saying it was "mischaracterized." Lungren went on to say that Ryan was simply trying to save the program.

Now that voters in this rock-ribbed conservative district have thrown out the Republicans, will Republicans start changing their tune with regards to Ryan Medicare privatization scheme? Already in the Senate Republicans are starting to bail out.

Will Elk Grove's Congressman Dan Lungren stand by his Ryan? Hard to say.

Last summer after soundly criticizing Obama's stimulus plan, Lungren turned around and praised an in-district project funded by the same stimulus plan. Like any pol, Lungren is wanting it both ways.

So as the 2012 presidential election draws ever closer, it will be noteworthy to see how Lungren positions himself on what appears to be one of the defining campaign issues.