Einhard,

I think you make a very good point: That a politician should have enough belief in his own "principles" that it can withstand "emotional blackmail," even intense emotional blackmail.

And I do think the clip has been oversold by the headline and by the CNN guy. (However, I will say that I showed it to my Mom without showing her the headline or the CNN guy's commentary and the clip moved her to tears of outrage. Same for my sister, although, no tears.)

For me what disturbs me about Coburn's response is this: He, for whatever reason, felt compelled to help this one lady who showed up to his town hall meeting. I'm not sure if that was a genuine offer, or merely rhetorical, but let's just say it was genuine and Coburn truly feels obligated to help a distressed woman.

The next question I'd ask is this: Why this woman in particular? Well, you might say, she was there, blubbering into his microphone. Well sure. But isn't he aware (as a doctor) that millions of Americans are blubbering into their walls, into their steering wheels, into their mirrors and into their pillows because they have no idea how they are going to deal with the injury of their loved ones or themselves? Is he, a doctor and senator, so naive as to believe that he is the only woman in the United States who needs help?

I'm pretty sure the answer is "No." That he is plenty aware that millions of his fellow Americans are scared, and stressed and hurting. So does he help them?

No, not directly at least. And I, a proponent of the public option (and single-payer system) would say that he doesn't help them legislatively either. (I'd say his opposition to health care reform directly and legislatively HURTS them. But let's put that aside for now.)

So the question still remains: Why this one lady? Why was he, a government official willing to use the authority of his government office to help this one lady?

I think the answer to that question is the same as the question that asks why he has a similar health care solution but still opposes everything and anything in the Democratic plan:

POLITICS.