Like I've said before, I'm not much of a writer, so this will be short and to the point, without much eloquence to it.
Regarding this 'health care summit' and the cobbling together of a Democratic-only bill just days before: (follow below the fold)
For some background, I was ecstatic about the idea of holding a Health care Summit, forcing the Republicans to come up with a plan of thier or be forever labelled as obstructionists in the eyes of the electorate.
I thought "what a great idea", never doubting that Obama's brilliance concocted it.
Now however, I am at a loss. I read this morning that in the runup to the Summit, the President is putting together a version of the HCR that can be pushed through without Republican support.
Now, don't get me wrong. THe idea of a summit I like. The idea of using reconciliation I like.
But both, at the same time?
Here is the problem. The whole political benefit to holding the summit (as we know the Repubs won't support anything the President proposes) was to force their hand. To let the American voting public see what they truly are, and what they truly stand for.
This was all well and good.
But now we have, right smack in the middle of the preparation for the summit, news stories coming out appearing to show that the President is simultaneously crafting a partisan version of the very same bill.
The problem with this tactic (if that's what it is) is that it turns the positive political effect of holding the summit into a net negative effect. I just don't get it. What is Obama thinking?
Or, is it another example of Rahm screwing things up?
Anyway, thanks for reading. I wish someone could make sense of this for me. because to be honest, it looks like amateur hour to me.