President Obama is making good on his pledge, first put forth in the State of the Union, to reach out to Republicans on health care reform.
In a CBS News interview with Katie Couric that just aired, Obama announced that he's inviting Republican leaders to the White House this week to put their ideas on the table--and then holding a public forum to discuss them.
White House officials say the forum will be February 25. The meeting will be open press, with C-Span (and, I presume, other networks) televising the whole thing. The likely setting will be Blair House, across the street from the White House.
A White House official, speaking on background, stressed that the meeting in no way signals a retreat from Obama's commitment to push ahead with comprehensive health care reform. He's interested in hearing out Republican ideas, the official said, but when the discussion is done he wants to see a bill move forward--and pass.
And Obama's rhetoric in the Couric interview was consistent with that. Citing recent premium hikes in California, he stated that the need for reform was only becoming more urgent with time. Later in the interview, when Couric asked him about deficits, he brought the discussion back to health care--reminding viewers that controlling health care costs was the surest way to reduce deficits in the long run.
The move makes sense, given the political moment. As my colleague Jonathan Chait noted the other day, Republicans have been complaining that Democrats locked them out of the process. And large swaths of the public seem to agree, even though the argument seems plainly untrue, given the exhaustive efforts Obama and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus made to accommodate Republicans. The public forum will give the GOP one more, high-profile opportunity to air their views--and, no less important, it will give the public a chance to see which approach to health care they really prefer.
My only complaint about it: Democratic leaders will apparently be joining Obama and the Republicans at the public forum. To be perfectly honest, I think Obama can make the case for Democratic reforms on his own. Then again, if there's going to be a truly open discussion, I suppose both parties have to be present.
Update: I still worry, as I wrote last week, that Obama isn't pushing hard enough on the inside. But I don't think public outreach to the Republicans interferes with that.
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"I still worry, as I wrote last week, that Obama isn't pushing hard enough on the inside. But I don't think public outreach to the Republicans interferes with that."
More talk, as usual. Put everything on hcr on hold for at least three weeks (sure cant offend the Repubs if yer gonna invite 'em over for tea and crumpets). Also excellent way to keep tnr Jons and their few commentors happy. No action is preferred and any action musn't offend any Blue Dog. Guaranteed good policy and vote getting strategy of the last year to continue to 2010 and beyond.
"I still worry, as I wrote last week, that Obama isn't pushing hard enough on the inside. But I don't think public outreach to the Republicans interferes with that."
More talk, as usual. Put everything on hcr on hold for at least three weeks (sure cant offend the Repubs if yer gonna invite 'em over for tea and crumpets). Also excellent way to keep tnr Jons and their few commentors happy. No action is preferred and any action musn't offend any Blue Dog. Guaranteed good policy and vote getting strategy of the last year to continue to 2010 and beyond.
Medicare-for-all is the only way out of this mess.
See the op-ed by Dr. Johnathan Ross (Yes--Johnathan with an H) making the case for single payer.
In the Feb 7 Toledo Blade. http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100207/OPINION04/207...
Medicare-for-all is the only way out of this mess.
See the op-ed by Dr. Johnathan Ross (Yes--Johnathan with an H) making the case for single payer.
In the Feb 7 Toledo Blade. http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100207/OPINION04/207...
Oh dear God - please keep anyone from the Democratic party but Obama off that stage.
Oh dear God - please keep anyone from the Democratic party but Obama off that stage.
Would the President support a public "airing" of Progressive ideas? Of course not. This forum is meant to provide an exclusive opportunity for Republicans to present and sell their ideas to the public -- without competing ideas being presented. It is nonsense to think that it will give the public an opportunity to "choose." Those ideas which the White House knows are most likely to be popular with the public won't be presented.
The Senate plan as it is incorporates long standing Republican ideas for "reform." With a few concessions to Progressives, Democrats could pass that plan right now. But the President (with support and encouragement from people like you) refuses to deal with Progressiv ... view full comment
Would the President support a public "airing" of Progressive ideas? Of course not. This forum is meant to provide an exclusive opportunity for Republicans to present and sell their ideas to the public -- without competing ideas being presented. It is nonsense to think that it will give the public an opportunity to "choose." Those ideas which the White House knows are most likely to be popular with the public won't be presented.
The Senate plan as it is incorporates long standing Republican ideas for "reform." With a few concessions to Progressives, Democrats could pass that plan right now. But the President (with support and encouragement from people like you) refuses to deal with Progressives.
Everything he has done so far has signaled that on this issue he is pretty consistently aligned with the Republicans. There is no reason to believe that he would be unwilling to adopt more of their ideas (vouchers for the elderly?) to gain their votes. He wants a Republican bill.
It is obvious that he finds any concessions to Progressives and their constiuents' best interest unacceptable. He's unwilling to do anything to gain their votes because he wants a bill that will not require their votes.
Well put enmense. Progressives are always the first to be thrown under the bus. Twas ever thus. But once Obama lost to Holy Joe, he lost progressives anyway - I don't see how there was any way around that scenario. I still think the case for passing a health care bill (even as is or with more Republican nonsense attached) is a very strong. I don't see how Obama ignores the polls for mid-terms. Seriously, help me out here.
Obama is trying to re-engage independents, who are still get-able. I sensed that he made small, but real progress doing just that in the Republican retreat. The case for reform is still strong and Americans still want it.
Obama performs well with his back against the ... view full comment
Well put enmense. Progressives are always the first to be thrown under the bus. Twas ever thus. But once Obama lost to Holy Joe, he lost progressives anyway - I don't see how there was any way around that scenario. I still think the case for passing a health care bill (even as is or with more Republican nonsense attached) is a very strong. I don't see how Obama ignores the polls for mid-terms. Seriously, help me out here.
Obama is trying to re-engage independents, who are still get-able. I sensed that he made small, but real progress doing just that in the Republican retreat. The case for reform is still strong and Americans still want it.
Obama performs well with his back against the wall. The risk seems worth it. It's all about momentum and perception right now, sausage making admittedly.
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Do we know if the GOP believes they can change their zero sum strategy before Autumn? They appear to be heavily invested in the "If Obama wins, we lose." calculation that has provided most of the enthusiasm.
The rhetoric on the district level in close races, contested primaries and Democratic held seats shows no sign of accepting compromise, moving toward the center or backing away from a strident anti-Democrat reflex.
Both the primary and general will demand the GOP generate as much heat as possible and it may be too late to dial back or risk the accusation of "Candidate X was against _____ and is now for ____ .".
The margin for a GOP takeover, the candidates who may deliver ... view full comment
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Do we know if the GOP believes they can change their zero sum strategy before Autumn? They appear to be heavily invested in the "If Obama wins, we lose." calculation that has provided most of the enthusiasm.
The rhetoric on the district level in close races, contested primaries and Democratic held seats shows no sign of accepting compromise, moving toward the center or backing away from a strident anti-Democrat reflex.
Both the primary and general will demand the GOP generate as much heat as possible and it may be too late to dial back or risk the accusation of "Candidate X was against _____ and is now for ____ .".
The margin for a GOP takeover, the candidates who may deliver the knock out won't be part of any negotiation, they are on the outside and seem willing to keep their distance from anyone in Washington.
A genuine effort to negotiate may run into a brick wall if the result is rejected by candidates who can't dilute the anger and still win.
If so, GOP incumbents will walk right up to the line with Democrats and balk. So far, the path to a Republican majority is local and it doesn't allow granting Obama any credit.
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