An out-of-nowhere Republican state senator, Scott Brown, defeats the Democratic attorney general in Massachusetts, Martha Coakley, for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat and now the sky is falling (if you're a Democrat) or the revolution has begun (if you're a Republican).

In the long-run, I doubt either scenario is true. But I'll let the pundits in Washington and the spokespeople for the parties sort out what the special election means for President Obama's agenda, the mid-term elections next fall and a possible Republican resurrection.

My fervent hope when the dust settles is that national health care reform is not a victim of one election in one state where most people already are covered under a state-mandated plan. What a sad legacy for the late Senator Kennedy, who spent his entire career fighting for health care reform, if his successor contributes to the death of his dream. Brown has said he opposes the health care legislation that passed the Senate and will join his 40 Republican colleagues to block final passage.

The president and Congressional leaders are discussing all kinds of options including trying to get the House to pass the Senate bill as is. The president has also signaled he might be willing to compromise on a scaled-back bill that perhaps could draw support from Republicans who to date have been unwilling to support reform legislation.

Something most lawmakers agree on is that people shouldn't be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. But without expanding coverage, and creating a much larger insurance pool, premium costs would be excessive.

The health care and insurance systems are so complicated and so large, it's difficult to fix one part without affecting another. That's why Obama and reformers have tried to expand access and control costs simultaneously, while encouraging innovative practice approaches and healthy outcomes. Republicans keep saying let's slow down and try to solve one small area at a time.

Before the president and Congress back off from an ambitious reform, let's keep some things in mind. Forty-six million people in the richest country in the world don't have health insurance. When they go to the emergency room for treatment, they drive up the cost of health care and everyone pays for it. People with pre-existing conditions often can't be insured. People lose their insurance when they lose their jobs. We spent more than any other country on health care and rank 37th in the health of our citizens. Thousands of families go bankrupt every year because of health care costs. And presidents since Harry Truman have been trying to come to grips with this issue.

We have the best chance in 60 years to do something about health reform. The President and his Congressional allies should not give up the fight so easily. These problems cannot be addressed with piece-meal solutions. They were elected to make changes. They shouldn't be obsessing about next fall's elections.

As Iowa Senator Tom Harkin told his colleagues Wednesday: "Don't panic. Be strong. Be positive."