Since the passage of Obamacare we’ve observed a decided lack of enthusiasm for the “historic bill.” The polls show that a substantial majority still oppose it. Democrats running for office are reticent to mention it and to appear with the president. And vulnerable freshmen are more vulnerable than ever. The AP reports:

Tough votes for Obama’s health care plan have further complicated the re-election prospects of dozens of already vulnerable freshman and second-term Democrats. There’s even a chance the party could lose control of one or both houses in the midterm elections.

Lawmakers are weary of facing uncontrolled gatherings as they did last August when mere citizens had the nerve to appear and call out their representatives for supporting a fiscally irresponsible bill. So naturally they are trying to clamp down on spontaneous outbursts: “In districts and states where the overhaul was most controversial, town-hall meetings have been replaced with tightly controlled business round-tables and other gatherings with voters.” I bet.

The telltale sign of ObamaCare’s political toxicity: Republicans seem eager to discuss it while Democrats hunker down:

Republicans dismiss the notion that voters opposed to the new law can be sold on it. They equate the overhaul to a “government takeover” of health care and blame it on one-party arrogance. The theme is central to House Republicans’ plan to cast the GOP as the party that will listen to what voters want, not pass bills the people oppose. . “They’re just hunkering down and hoping it blows over, that people will move on to a new subject. But I don’t know if it’s working,” said Republican David Schweikert of Scottsdale, Ariz., who unsuccessfully ran against [Rep. Harry] Mitchell in 2008 and seeks a rematch.

The 2010 election — much as the Democrats would like it to be about  Sarah Palin or George W. Bush — will be a referendum on the Democratic majority and on Obama himself — especially their record on unemployment and the deficit and their prized health-care bill. No wonder they want to change the topic.