Legislative proposals don’t suffer massive heart attacks, but health care reform experienced some serious chest pains over the past couple of weeks. Part of the diagnosis for President Obama’s signature policy initiative is straightforward: the transition from feel-good slogans to specific plans always increases public controversy.

But a less obvious explanation also contributes to the measure’s sagging support: President Obama himself. His constant drumbeat that failure to act now will produce catastrophic results is more indicative of presidential hubris than sound legislative strategy.