Cillizza: "Why Health Care Will Pass (and what it means.)"

Clio the Leo

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Wed Dec-16-09 06:19 PM
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Cillizza: "Why Health Care Will Pass (and what it means.)"

I remember what nine years ago was like. I even remember what 15 years ago was like. I would ALWAYS rather have Dems controlling Congress and the White House passing adqeuate bills than Republicans passing anything. Obviously, you are well within your right to disagree with me.

Pick your poison.

While the deal-making has left many liberals cold about the final product, it has also virtually guaranteed that the President will be able to hold a Rose Garden signing ceremony sometime next year, declaring victory in the overhaul of one of the stickiest wickets of social policy in the country.

The broad strategy adopted by the White House toward health care is based on a single fundamental belief: coming out of this extended fight with nothing to show for it amounts to a political disaster not just for the President but for congressional Democrats as well.

"It's a huge problem if nothing gets passed," said one senior Democratic strategist. "Huge."

The problem would be two-fold, according to the source.

First, it would makes a pivot to a focus on jobs and the economy -- the two front-of-mind issues for most Americans -- virtually impossible for Obama as he would be faced with months of "what if" and "what now" questions about the future of his number one legislative priority. (Look back to the aftermath of former President Bill Clinton's failure to reform health care for evidence of how much damage the collapse of a major legislative initiative can have on a president's agenda going forward.)

Second, the failure of a health care bill would substantially erode two basic pillars on which Obama was elected -- "competence" and "change", according to the source.

Obama promised a new way of doing business in Washington, a promise based on a belief that his election could break the partisan gridlock that has gripped the nation's capitol for decades and make government work for the average American again.

With the exception of three Republican Senators casting votes for his economic stimulus package earlier this year, Obama has struggled to make those promises a reality. Without a health care bill, the gap between Obama's statements about changing how Washington works on the campaign trail and what he has accomplished (or didn't accomplish) in office would be broadcast for all the country to see.

Obama has made the case publicly and privately to Democratic Members of Congress that whether they like it or not, their fates are intimately intertwined with his. His successes are their successes and vice versa.

He -- and his senior staff -- are certain to repeat that argument ad nauseam in the coming days to convince liberals in the Congress that any talk of killing the bill on principle amounts to political suicide. (Are you listening Governor Dean?)

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/