September 2, 2010 5:04PM 

# Credit Where It’s Due, National Journal Edition 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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A week ago today, I [questioned](https://www.cato.org/is-national-journal-giving-obamacare-a-big-wet-smooch/) both the premises and purpose of an upcoming *National Journal* [forum](http://www.nationaljournal.com/events/event/36/) on [ObamaCare](https://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/BadMedicineWP.pdf) and job creation. The forum’s promotional materials touted the new health care jobs that the law will create as a Good Thing, even though we already have too many health care jobs. All in all, it looked to be a very dignified pro-Obama(Care) rally, funded by one of ObamaCare’s biggest beneficiaries, the drugmaker Eli Lilly. The *Washington Examiner*’s [Tim Carney](http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/we-know-why-eli-lilly-is-rallying-behind-obamacare-why-is-national-journal-101746608.html) picked up on the story. Then [Instapundit](http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/105353/) added his own pithy interpretation: “Hey, the *Atlantic* media empire needs money. Eli Lilly has it. Plus, it boosts Obama. Win-win!” (Actually, I believe that would be win-win-*win*.)

To its credit, *National Journal* has since added balance to the forum and its panel. I received a promotional email today that reframes the event by asking, “are *the right jobs* being created?” (Emphasis mine.) They’ve also added AEI’s [Tom Miller](http://www.aei.org/scholar/115) to the panel, who I’m guessing will cast a skeptical eye on the value added by these new health care jobs. Now the event looks to be a dignified and balanced discussion of ObamaCare.

*National Journal* still describes ObamaCare as “reform,” which I submit compromises objectivity. But this is progress. Kudos to them.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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