Will Obama and Democrats become a laughing stock over health care?

[Better Believe It]

Will Obama and Democrats become a laughing stock over health care?
By Marc Rubin
December 16, 2009

Reality is setting in that Harry Reid is facing two choices. Pass a senate bill containing a public option with budget reconciliation or risk having the Democrats and Obama be a laughing stock politically who will see much of their Democratic support disappear and be portrayed as weak and incompetent by Republicans. A health care bill with no public option will certainly alienate most of their base and make Obama and Senate Democrats a laughing stock no matter what way Obama tries to spin it

With large majorities in both the House and Senate and, according to the latest poll with 59% of Americans saying they want a public option, if the Democrats can't deliver they might be finished in the next election and so will Obama. And no amount of snake oil that Obama tries to use, no amount of sugar coated words or deception, will cover up a massive and humiliating defeat.

Obama came out after a meeting with the Democratic caucus and said that while some agreement had been reached there was work that needs to be done. That sounds like not all of the Senators are on board with a compromise that both drops the Medicare buy in and drops a public option.

If the Democrats try and sell a health care bill that has neither, the Democrats will look weak and Obama who has already seen his approval ratings plummet will be seen as hopelessly ineffective. And if he tries to portray a health care bill without a public option as a victory he will in all probability, become a national joke both with Democrats and Republicans.

Unlike the super salesman the Democrats thought they were getting with Obama, he has been a disaster on health care, weak in the face of Republican attacks, some so brazen that, in the case of Senator Jim DeMint, they even admitted that opposing healthcare reform was a political act to destroy Obama. Obama took it lying down. Obama has let opponents of the public option turn the tables on him in a way an experienced politician fighting for a cause never would.

Read the full article at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-6572-NY-Obama-Administration-Examiner~y2009m12d16-Will-Obama-and-Democrats-become-laughing-stocks-over-health-care

[Laelth]

1. Better to be seen as ineffective than to pass this disastrous bill.

Kill the bill.

:dem:

-Laelth

[freddie mertz]

2. If laughing is your idea of an appropriate response to tragedy, yes. nt.

[Better Believe It]

3. There will be more head shaking and anger among progressives and laughing by Republican leaders

[hayu_lol]

4. The cheering and laughing at the shape of this bill...

is already filling the 'letters' column in small local papers.

[ROakes1019]

5. how bad

This bill couldn't be as bad as some here think, else the Repugs wouldn't be doing everything in the world to thwart it.

[Better Believe It]

9. They will oppose any legislation except for war funding and tax cuts that is proposed.

At least that's their public stance.

[freddie mertz]

11. They know it sucks. They will be able to say they opposed it.

With each compromise, the scope of their coming victory widened.

They may be evil, but they are not all fools.

[senseandsensibility]

6. Only if you are into gallows humor

Well, I suppose the insurance corporations will find it hilarious. Other than that, I see mostly tears and anger in the future.

[Honeycombe8]

7. Yes. It is NOT true that passing anything is better than passing nothing.

That is a totally silly proposition.

They will find that out, when scads of Dems don't go to the polls in 2010.

[flyarm]

8. no one will be laughing..there will be anger beyond repair. eom

[Thickasabrick]

10. If the mandates are removed - I think it will be ok. The mandates are

what will destroy our party because it is forcing us to contribute to for-profit organizations with no choice.

If these are not removed, the republicans will win in 2010 and remove them. What great campaign fodder for them to run with....it's like we're begging them to win.

[Jakes Progress]

12. Less of a laughing stock, more of a focus point.

Between this arcane convolutions of this bill and the neocon media machine, Obama will become the focus point for the anger and frustration of millions.

[jenmito]

13. Right-Obama's approval "plummeted" UP to 52% yesterday.

:rofl: http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx

[lunatica]

14. I feel like we're the laughing stock

They will be fine.