Zelizer : During World War II , as government spending skyrocketed as a result of defense needs , the Roosevelt administration supported a massive expansion of the income tax . Since Reagan , liberals have been cautious about health coverage . Conservatives first backed a private health care mandate in the 1970s . Obama touted efficiency in his bill , not the right to affordable care , Zelizer says . Obama 's hesitant defense of a complex bill has n't escaped debate , he says .
Zelizer : Since Reagan , liberals have been cautious about health coverage . Conservatives first backed a private health care mandate in the 1970s . Obama touted efficiency in his bill , not the right to affordable care , Zelizer says . Obama 's hesitant defense of a complex bill has n't escaped debate , he says .