With Or Without You

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_02/022601.php

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.... The stated goal of the White House summit on health care was to have a conversation. President Obama wanted to talk with lawmakers from both parties about areas of agreement and disagreement. He may have even held out some hope that Republicans would show more flexibility than they've been willing to consider thus far.

But now that the forum has come and gone, there can be no doubt that the White House intends to move forward with its plans for a comprehensive health care reform package.

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer posted an item last night, reiterating how the president perceives the state of the debate. Pfeiffer highlighted the merit of the Democratic proposal, rejected a conservative approach to regulations, and said "a problem this big cannot be addressed incrementally." He added:

{W}hile the President appreciated the participation and input of everyone today, he doesn't think we can just scrap a year's worth of work and start over. The millions of Americans that are suffering can't afford another year-long debate. There's too much at stake.

In effect, yesterday was about both sides asking the other a fundamental question. Obama's question for Republicans was, "We're offering a bipartisan, comprehensive package built around principles you claim to support. Are you willing to work with us?" Republicans came with their own question: "Will you throw out all the work you've done and promise to let us kill reform with a filibuster?" Both sides have the same answer to the competing questions: "No."

The difference is, Democrats are the governing majority, and the party's leaders see no reason to make Republican satisfaction a prerequisite for success.

snip//

Christina Bellantoni added, "Obama's statement and Democratic reactions after the summit were the clearest signal yet that the majority party is charging ahead and abandoning attempts at bipartisanship."

Dems were, of course, given no other choice. Republicans oppose health care reform.

With that in mind, Democrats have two short-term goals: crafting a final package that can (1) get 218 Democratic votes in the House; and (2) get 51 Democratic votes in the Senate. And those head-counting efforts are already well underway.

—Steve Benen

[LiberalFighter]

1. To be honest I don't think Obama or other majority leaders are abandoning bi-partisanship.

Just that they won't make it a requirement for a bill to pass. I'm sure there will be some bills that they feel they absolutely must for political reasons must be bi-partisan but a bill like this too important to let them stop it. Plus the Democrats are more at risk come election time if they don't pass HCR. And if Democratic candidates are smart they will use Republican refusal to help the process along in their campaign.

[Kind of Blue]

2. About time for that. The bill has plenty of Repub ideas.

If Rep. Cao and/or Sen. Brown vote for HRC, that's bipartisan enough for me.
KnR.