President Obama made a dramatic attempt to jump-start the stalled health care debate Sunday, inviting Republicans in Congress to a half-day summit on the subject to be televised live later this month.
No doubt, by the time the summit is over, Republicans will be ready to move forward on health reform. After all, I think the only problem is that we haven’t discussed this enough yet.
In all honesty, though, I’m starting to wonder if Obama is watching the same scene unfold in Washington that I am. Because, from where I’m sitting, I’ve barely seen a single Republican vote for any significant Democratic proposal since he took office. What in the world would make him think that this particular summit is going to change anything?
There’s only one word in the article announcing the health care summit that gives me a bit of hope, and that is televised. Let’s get Republicans on camera offering no solutions and refusing to participate in the process, and show the American people why the Democrats had to do it themselves through reconciliation. To do that, though, Obama will have to really come on strong, demanding concessions from Republicans and asking them on camera whether they will support his proposals. He needs to make a number of “hard asks” and make the Republicans tell him in front of a national audience that they won’t cooperate. I have my doubts as to whether he’s willing to do that.
If he’s not willing to, then all he’ll be accomplishing will be pushing health reform back yet another few weeks. I wonder if we can stretch it out all the way to the November elections.
“televised. Let’s get Republicans on camera” I agree
“show the American people why the Democrats had to
do it themselves through reconciliation” I agree
“Obama will have to really come on strong” I agree
“demanding concessions from Republicans” I agree
The televised discussion also has the possible benefit of putting Republicans in a hard place if the Democrats decide to include many of the ideas they present within the bill. If the Republicans then come out against the bill despite its containing their own ideas, they will come across as obstructionist. If they decide that they are supportive of the changes, then some version of the bill gets passed and Obama gets credit.
This has already taken place. Witness the inclusion of Orrin Hatch’s “abstinance only sex education” in the senate bill…which he failed to vote for.
Ezra Klein explains that 6 GOP ideas are already incorporated into the senate health care bill, which is pretty much their whole health care platform. Of course there is room to debate the details, but that is clearly not the GOP intention.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html
One more thing, about how “Obama will have to really come on strong, demanding concessions from Republicans,” this quote from Paul Krugman really cracked me up:
“But by now, we know how the Obama administration deals with those who would destroy it: it goes straight for the capillaries. Sure enough, Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, accused Mr. Shelby of “silliness.” Yep, that will really resonate with voters.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08krugman.html?ref=opinion
I for one appreciate Obama acting as an Executive rather than just another partisan legislator. Worth a shot.
The one question I will want President Obama to ask Republicans is this…”If you aren’t for the American people, who are you for?”
Another reason why Keith Olbermann has my respect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhzGLLnZj14