Watch as Robert Gibbs goes into the belly of the beast to deliver the news that health care reform is going to become the law of the land — and it will become law of the land within the next week:
The subtext of Gibbs' statement couldn't be more clear. Not only did he basically declare victory on the question of whether health care reform would pass, but he did so on Fox News, the biggest media cheerleader against reform.
In political terms, Gibbs wasn't just saying "we won" -- he was also saying "you lost." Despite months of biased coverage, partisan political attacks, and a steady stream of outlier polls from Rasmussen, despite the best efforts of Sarah Palin, John Boehner, and Mitch McConnell, Republicans lost, demonstrating their political impotence beyond any shadow of doubt.
Thus far, the conventional wisdom has been that Republicans are enthusiastic and Democrats are demoralized. Thus far, that conventional wisdom has also basically been accurate. But the thing you have to remember is that thus far the Democrats have failed to pass health care reform. Republicans were actually winning, against all odds.
But in this coming week, all that changes. Health care reform will pass. Democrats will have demonstrated their ability to tackle big issues. Republicans will have demonstrated their irrelevance. After reform passes, there might be an initial surge of excitement among Republicans, but that will quickly fizzle in the wake of the GOP's failure to stop reform.
If you want to preview the reaction of the GOP base, check out the comment thread on Fox's coverage of Gibbs' appearance. Instead of reflecting enthusiastic GOP tea partying, that thread is filled with comment after comment from Republicans angry at Fox and the GOP for failing.
That sort of reaction is not surprising; nothing encourages finger pointing more than losing. Moreover, it's a blow to the confidence of the Republican base in their party's ability to get anything done, or, as the case may be, in their party's ability to block Democrats from getting anything done.
Meanwhile, Democratic voters will finally be assured that their party can tackle the big issues, and get something done. It's not that anybody believes this bill is perfect. It's not. But it's progress. And it's a sign that on the next issue, instead of just talk, we'll be able to make progress as well. The confidence that instills in Democratic voters will serve the party well in 2010.