Summit? – - or Nadir??
Republicans better get their ship together before sailing on February 25th
By David McNeil, M.D.
February 9, 2010
Given their time-honored tradition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the agreement by Republicans to participate in President Obama’s Health Care Summit called for February 25 is nothing short of alarming.
For decades, the Republicans have had a tradition of being the minority party, the too-loyal opposition, which role they exercise by ceding enough votes – or adding enough toothless amendments – to Democrat initiatives to claim they are “bipartisan”, though this is believed only among themselves. Democrats, on the other hand, have the tradition of demanding bipartisanship, by which they mean Republican capitulation. The overwhelmingly Democrat press supports this approach – brutally in editorials, more subtly in “news” items. How else could the label “The Party of No” stick to Republicans? They have offered five health care reform bills. None have been reported.
Republican agreement to participate in a “summit” – televised no less – escapes my understanding. There is only one President who, by definition, has the initiative in any such proceeding.
This is like a football team, ahead by three in the final seconds and having the ball at midfield on second down, calling time out and giving their opponent the ball on the five yard line, provided the opponent’s star quarterback can call the plays.
This goes beyond what is conventionally meant by “crazy”. This is a psychotic death wish.
Perhaps Republicans can permit Senate Doctors, John Barrasso, M.D. (Wy) and Tom Coburn, M.D. (Ok), to lead their discussion, along with Minority Leader McConnell (Ky).
But can you imagine if Senators John (”Wrong-Way”) McCain (Az) and Lindsey (”Dishrag”) Graham (SC) seize the microphones, as they love to do? They are of a mindset to consider this their time to rise above the fray and lead. To where? They don’t ever seem to ask. They want to “look good” in the eye of the American people. But since that eye is focused through the lenses of mainstream media cameras, they wind up looking good only in the eye of major media, and idiotically weak to the rest of us.
Who wants this summit? Obama. Why does he want it? To revive his stalled health care initiative.
What do mainstream headlines tell us about this summit? AP: “GOP wary of pitfalls . . .”, AOL: “Republicans skeptical . . .”.
No kidding. The President is laying the groundwork, saying through Robert Gibbs, “He’s open to including any good ideas that stand up to objective scrutiny.” (Translation: We’ll have the media shoot down any Republican suggestion before anyone even hears it.) “What he will not do, however, is walk away from reform and the millions of American families and small businesses counting on it.” (Translation: It’s our way or the hightway.)
Other Democrats (unnamed aides) paved the way for “bipartisanship” by offering these tidbits: “Repubicans just keep coming up with excuses.” “It’s an opportunity to reframe the debate and put Republicans on the spot . . .” Republican Ron Bonjean added, “They’re trying to change the public narrative to one where the Republicans are at fault . . .”
The mixed nuts of the liberal blogosphere are salivating in excited expectation. Referencing the health care summit, “the reaction – liberalism unbound” posted, “If it exposes the GOP for the mindless, policy-free, fear mongers they are, then great. If it gives cover to those lawmakers still too scared to do the right thing, then great. If it brings a reluctant public along, then great.”
This is really unbelievable.
Common sense and political expediency would suggest that Republican leaders should treat the summit invitation as an offer they can refuse. They health care debate has become so white hot, so strident, and so corrupt that no reasonable reform can possibly come out of it. We need a cooling off period of at least several months. And in just two months Congress will be focused on being home for the summer to campaign. A jobs summit would be more timely and more likely to yield a positive result.
There is some talk of Republicans “boycotting” the Presidential summit. How you do that and avoid being a “Party of No” I cannot imagine. It seems like they are already snookered. And political moths of every stripe seem to find bright lights irresistible, even those devised to zap them to death.
Call, write, email them to be strong. They may need the suggestion.
Tags: AOL, AP, Barrasso, Coburn, editorials, Graham, Health Care Summit, liberal blogosphere, mainstream media, McCain, McConnell, news, Obama