Obama's New Health Care Strategy: Divide And Conquer?
Over the weekend, President Obama finally insisted, in no uncertain terms, that Congress pass a health care reform bill that includes a public option. But if the House and Senate don't each pass legislation before recessing, that might be a harder sell, and these days, the White House seems a bit less confident that they'll meet their deadlines.
But if Democrats are going to get it all done before adjourning early next month, they're going to have to prevail upon conservative members in their own party--many of whom are trying to slow down the entire reform project--that time is of the essence. Just how successful their efforts will be remains to be seen, but for now, they seem to be trying to divide Congress into pro- and anti- reform camps, characterizing Republican calls to delay as political gambits meant to kill the legislation, and asking those on the fence to choose their allegiances. The hope seems to be that, faced with the GOP's naked political considerations, conservative and vulnerable Democrats will resist the urge to aid and abet the White House's enemies on Capitol Hill and in the conservative movement, and support swift action.
To that end, the White House already has its whipping boys. Conservative commentator Bill Kristol, who helped Republicans kill Clinton Care is now advising Republicans to "[r]esist the temptation" for compromise, and "[g]o for the kill."
That caught the attention of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who today said, "the familiar mantra of delay has been the message for many of those years to put off the needed and necessary reforms that have to take place in our health care system. You could just as easily have quoted a Republican strategist...who said to go for the kill and asked opponents to resist the temptation to be responsible."
In an afternoon speech, Obama himself alluded to the words of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC). "Just the other day, one Republican senator said--and I'm quoting him now--'If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.'"
Think about that. This isn't about me. This isn't about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America's families, breaking America's businesses, and breaking America's economy.And we can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time.
Delay, in other words means defeat. Obama will omnipresent this week, pressuring Congress to get work done, with a particular focus on conservative Democrats and Democrats with cold feet. It's hard to know what exactly he'll say behind closed doors. Surely he'll address the importance of the public option, and the need to settle on a financing scheme. But if today's public appearances any indication, the political implication will be clear: To anybody who's thinking it might be best to crawl toward the finish line, you're either with me, or you're with the right wingers.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
I will only say this, if you didn't call your congressperson today and everyday for the next two weeks. STFU and never comment on this subject again.
July 20, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
You assume Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts give a damn what their ordinary constituents think… or need. The former is bailing so he can impose a theocracy on state government; the latter won last November and won't listen to voters again until sometime in 2014. Meanwhile, my representative is looking for big bucks for a re-election campaign. Urging responsible representation is great in theory, but…
July 21, 2009 8:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
In this case, find out their schedules--and believe me, they will be out and about during the day and at night meeting with their presumed supporters--and then picket the locations with calls to the local television stations before and during.
Our freedoms include the right to assemble and the right of free speech. Exercise both.
July 21, 2009 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever it takes. But tell me how in the world Blue Dogs can even claim they are fiscal conservatives and really care about price tags?
July 21, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sen. Jim DeMint is right. If Obama & the dems fail, there toast! Obama has to hold congress accountable, no bill, no vacation.
July 20, 2009 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats would not really be "toast". Since the Party of No has not offered anything that comes close to health care reform. And the majority of Americans want health care reform. They certainly won't go back to the Repubs for health care!
July 20, 2009 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, the Democrats (at least most who support health care with a public option) will not be toast. However, those who join the RW Republican nut jobs will be.
President Obama, is in a win-win situation on health care. Either it gets done in an acceptable manner or the Right Wing Republican nut jobs defeat it.
How are THEY going to explain to all the middle class citizens who have been losing their health care, can't afford the monthly fees and may have been kicked out due to a pre-existing condition about their GREAT victory?
If Republicans can't see that this is their Waterloo, they are crazier than I realize.
July 20, 2009 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
My memory is long and I hope everyone else's is so that when these slime pond scum come up for election to dig into your pockets to defeat them
I brown bagged my lunch from the day Obama announced he was running fpr president so I could donate to his campaign. Now I am doing the same thing to save up to be able to donate to defeat everyone of these bastards
July 20, 2009 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems to me, if Obama and the Dems fail, it means they fail. That's it. If we can survive 8 years of W and some 30 years of Republican domination, we can survive til the next election--where we'll pick up more seats. Assuming the Demos can make a convincing case that they really will fight to make a meaningful difference. Fighting for the public option will help make that case.
It would be beyond awful and far more damaging if a bill is passed, but is so watered down as to be meaningless.
It's a tough spot for the blue dogs and moderate Republicans, but it looks like we have a President that's forcing these guys to make a stand. One way or another.
July 20, 2009 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do the Republicans really want to put such high stakes on it? Perhaps if Obama wins, then it is Waterloo, only Obama is Wellington, and the Republicans are the ones who came out of exile for one last desperate gamble.
July 21, 2009 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
The lines are drawn
The game is now zero-sum
July 20, 2009 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did Bolton call for bombing for regime change?
July 21, 2009 12:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
July 20, 2009 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thats sickening but what to expect from these guys who still believe the universe is 6000yrs old?
July 20, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
So the Repukes should be in favor of abortion so that the next Obama is aborted, then. They just can't seem to think their strategies through!
July 21, 2009 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
The republicans aren't really the issue. The President & all democrats literally have the power to get this done, & it needs to get done!
Take away the senseless right-wing predictable talking points & you have cost issues, which are being looked at in many ways, & the need to get this as close to what's needed as possible. In other words, the right bill at the right price.
The right-wing is dead weight. Holding any & all democrat hold-outs feet to the fire is the best effort that can be made.
July 20, 2009 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama conference call with bloggers, its brilliant
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/obamas-blogger-conference-call
July 20, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seen the recap on KOS. Was TPM represented?
July 20, 2009 9:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
there is hope!
July 20, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh the Republicans are the problem all right, and if wavering democrats do not know this, all they have to do is listen to them
The question is as Steve Benen framed it - do the "centrist" democrats really want Obama's presidency to fail?
It's up to the Democrats, you are right, and if they don't do it, if they can't do it, what good are they?
July 20, 2009 9:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
But I guarantee you that if the "centrist" Benedict Arnolds kill the healthcare plan and destroy Obama's Presidency they will blame the left and I can just hear the posters now telling us it's all because McCarthy challenged LBJ or some such nonsense. If the left had only defended the Vietnam War LBJ wouldn't have wasted all that money on Medicare and we'd be in a better position for our next free war in Iran. (I stole Lieberman's talking points).
July 20, 2009 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Their only good then will be that they are exposed & we can get rid of them as soon as possible.
July 20, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Kristol, that utterly useless human thing. funny he should use the phrase: "...in for the kill...", as I so wish someone would take that up with him in person. i mean really who needs him poisoning the planet with his waste of a presence. and yes i do mean it.
July 20, 2009 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it particularly vile coming from Kristol because he's not one of the morons. He actually understands the full meaning of the words he speaks.
July 20, 2009 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jim Demint is a failure to many of his constituents who actually can benefit from health care reform. he only cares about politics and seeing Obama fail, and doing the bidding of his masters, the healthcare and insurance industries. he doesnt care about what he should care about. partisanship 24/7. no wonder the country is the way it is, with things like this in the 'party of no'. what a waste he is.
July 20, 2009 10:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
On the tv, they refer to Blue Dog Democrats opposing health care reform as "moderate" Democrats. If Ben Nelson, the senator from the insurance industry is a "moderate" Democrat, who does the media identify as conservative Democrats?
July 20, 2009 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a perfect example of the death of journalism. These are the same gung ho gang who were all for an unprovoked invasion of Iraq. What's moderate about that?! Of course, wars are free. They don't cost any money and no one gets hurt.
July 20, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely nothing is as important to a member of Congress as his/her reelection. And, that means raising enough money to make it impossible for a challenger to stand a chance.
Federal campaign finance laws prohibit a corporation from donating money to a political campaign. Only individuals may do so. When you donate, there is a blank you have to fill in, that says who your employer is. And, you have to sign a statement swearing that the money you donate is yours, wasn't given to you to donate, and you are donating of free will.
The lists of corporate donors we see are actually lists of the companies that people say on those forms that they work for. In other words, people who work for insurance companies have to say that on the form, but that doesn't mean the total of those donations is a corporate donation. It means that employees want to stay employed, so they donate to a candidate who protects their turf.
The real enemy here is us. We are the ones who don't have the incentive to donate that company employees have. If all of us who don't work for an insurance company donated to our congress critters, we would be the "special interest" the congress critter has to play up to. I don't think this simple fact is understood by nearly enough people.
Of course lobbyists are another matter. While they can't donate to a campaign beyond the same $2500 or whatever it is limit we all have, they can and do provide lots of other favors for sitting members of Congress, earning their "gratitude" which is expressed by voting as the lobbyist wants.
We can counter this also, by helping our own pressure groups afford and provide a lobbyist to "do favors" for the same Congress critters, thus diluting their power.
To summarize, we can only get from our member of Congress what we earn by our support for him/her.
July 20, 2009 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
How sad a state is our country in when we have to pay our representatives to actually represent our interests?
This is why I get so upset when real, binding campaign finance reform fails time after time after time after time. It all comes down to money.
Make it more attractive for our representatives to actually represent us instead of pocket-lining special interests. I think a lot of things would suddenly start falling into place.
July 21, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
"President Obama finally insisted, in no uncertain terms"
- Pass or I'll call you names, again, in my next strawman speech! And it'll be even more fiery than the one I gave just today. I can read a good speach, dammit, twice a day if I have to! And this time, both teleprompters will come crushing down, not just one!
July 20, 2009 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
whine much? and a teleprompter reference too...
almost sad how youve completely worn away your own inaginary veneer, and so much so that the condescension vibe is now more pitiable than annoying. teleprompters? really? right.
someone send in a fresh troll please - this one's all used up.
now, back to health care...
happy to see our man stepping up to the plate and not taking any excuses as regards the public option. next stop: single payer.
July 20, 2009 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you believe it? A teleprompter! Why, I'll bet he even uses a...a...podium!
The first president in U.S history EVER to use a teleprompter instead of reading off of sheets of paper. It's a disgrace I tell ya.
July 21, 2009 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
get over yourself. BTW how was the eight year hibernation? Also, your base isn't at this site, time to "move on".
July 21, 2009 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lalo..you are better when you are not here! a real shit stirer troll
July 21, 2009 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
There are no issues anymore, as far as the Republican are concerned. There is nothing that needs to be fixed. Nobody is suffering. Nobody is maxing out their credit cards or wiping out their retirement savings to pay for health care. Everything's really just hunky dory.
The only thing that matters to the Republicans is winning and losing. It doesn't go any deeper than that. There is no greater good to be served. It's just that they want their team to win. It's been reduced to a spectator sport. And, apparently, they haven't noticed that other people are actually trying to solve problems, not just win a fucking game.
July 21, 2009 12:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
And, there not even doing that very well. No coach, shitty team, no bench but a hell of a lot of cheerleaders.
If this is an actual plan, it must be very deep.
July 21, 2009 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Creating An Insurance Monopoly: A government-run plan similar to Medicare would be set up in competition with private insurance, with people able to choose either private insurance or the taxpayer-subsidized public plan. Subsidies and cost-shifting would encourage Americans to shift to the government plan. For more on this story, please read the complete article titled "Reagan Refutes The ObamaCare Hypothesis" posted on http://www.cliffyworld.com
July 21, 2009 1:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would call this somewhat of a post partum backlash towards the health care efforts, but I think that the 2010 election cycle will be heavily influenced by this legislation. If it passes, we probably could see even further gains for the Democrats. Keep up the efforts!
July 21, 2009 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
This spring, due to the demand decrease, the highest fuel price came down below $40 per barrel, though, the 'similar' insurance premiums still go on rising, which may imply that health care is not optional, but essential, and the inaction could bankrupt family, business, and government beyond this recession, as all across the board agree.
Earlier, the revised HELP BILL with the public option and employer mandatory has got a green light from the CBO, yet still, a new 'incomplete' analysis of emerging House legislation said it would increase deficits by $239 billion over a decade.
But, CBO does not score any savings from prevention / wellness and the rest, even as Prevention / Wellness is an actual and essential part of the savings, without which the reform would be meaningless.
And I think the other things such as increased productivity / consumer confidence, 'potential stem cell effect', 'decreased mental stress', and 'massive job creation', 'stock price effect' and etc considered, the reform might be within reach. Most importantly, a few years later, if the excessive war and military spending goes toward the health care program, the cost issue does not matter at all, I think.
Edward M. Kennedy argues, the perfect should not be the enemy of the good, "Everyone won't be satisfied and no one will get everything they want. But we need to come together, just as we've done in other great struggles in World War II and the Cold War, in passing the great civil-rights laws of the 1960s, and in daring to send a man to the moon. If we don't get every provision right, we can adjust and improve the program next year or in the years to come. What we can't afford is to wait another generation."
Thank You For Reading !
July 21, 2009 3:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your comment does not belong here - just create your own "blog" entry with the "blog now" link when signed in.
July 21, 2009 4:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope this post is wrong, because betting the Vichy Dems won't line up behind their Republican soulmates and paymasters when push comes to shove doesn't strike me as a very smart strategy.
July 21, 2009 7:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
One would wonder why the president and his followers have not been pressed as to whether or not THEY are willing to give up their present health care system for the NEW and IMPROVED Obama style health care he is trying to force on us! Could it be because the govt can't even run Medicaid and Medicare without going bankrupt, and the 'elite' members of our govt don't feel safe with the healthcare system they want to use to 'take care' of us peasants?
Everyone who hasn't already needs to go read Animal Farm before it is too late!
July 21, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you have health insurance already, you get to keep it and keep your same doctors. What exactly is being forced on you?
July 21, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink