The New York Times, which doesn’t hide from its favoritism of all things Democrat and “liberal,” took to task the Senate in its softball-type approach in the first confirmation hearing in Tom Daschle’s bid to become secretary of Health and Human Services.

Th former Senate majority leader was greeted with open arms, according to the Times, and the Senate basically allowed him to skate through without answering any questions about what President-elect Barack Obama proposes for health care reform. With such a monumental task before him, perhaps some clear, straightforward answers were due. If Daschle is not the man for the job, the Senate committee made no attempt to find that out.

Sen. Ted Kennedy, who lobbed the first volley in the bid to introduce health care reform legislation, deftly avoided answering any questions about when the country might see the bill that he promised months ago. The comments Kennedy made in the footage from CBS were so vague, that it is doubtful Katie Couric could even use them on the air.

Hopefully, Mr. Obama and the Democrats that have voiced great concern over health care reform will give the press — and thus the American people — more to chew on as the new Administration and the Democrat party take control of our country.

Change to our health care and insurance system is inevitable, given the change in leadership. Let’s hope that we get true bipartisanship, that the contributions of the agents and brokers who have insured hundreds of millions of Americans are honored, and that we come together to make sure that what is proposed is the best for ALL Americans.