All Democrats with an IQ above room temperature understand the gigantic stakes involved in the success — or failure — of President Barack Obama's commitment to overhaul the nation's healthcare system. Those stakes include nothing less than the political fate, fortune and future of this still-new Democratic administration and, quite possibly, the continued survival of Democratic majorities in the Congress.
In hushed, off-the-record conversations, nervous Democrats concede their nagging concern about the gifted young president. While almost everyone in both parties freely acknowledges Obama's exceptional intellect and temperament, doubts persist about his political toughness. As Mr. Dooley, the legendary saloon keeper-philosopher, famously observed, "Politics ain't beanbag."
Whenever any questions were raised during the long 2008 campaign about his toughness, Candidate Obama had variations of a one-size-fits-all response: Either, "In terms of my toughness, look, first of all, I come from Chicago politics," or, "I come from Chicago politics — we're accustomed to rough and tumble ..."
One frequently expressed worry among Democrats is that President Obama learned too well the lessons from the mistakes made on health care in 1994 by President Bill Clinton's administration, when congressional Democrats — including such significant health-care thinkers as Sens. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, George Mitchell and Bill Bradley — were excluded from the drafting of the health-care legislation, which was written in secret by the Clintons in the White House.
In the writing of the 2009 health-care legislation, the Obama White House has very nearly given the Congress carte blanche. It has always been expected that, at the crucial moment, President Obama would step in, assert himself, and resolve the thorny differences between the House and the Senate.
In the third week of July, that day has more than come.
Consider, for a moment, the political situation of House Democrats — many of whom have already cast a politically controversial and potentially costly vote on the climate-change bill and who now are expected to back a Democratic health-care bill that, over the next 10 years, includes a $540 billion tax increase assessed on individuals earning more than $280,000 a year or married couples with an annual income above $350,000.
House Democrats, admittedly not a universally beloved group, fret about being "hung out to dry" after voting for chancy bills that never even make it to the Senate floor. Understandably, Democrats in the House ask just when their "fellow" Democrats in the Senate will start casting some tough votes.
Crunch time has arrived. President Ronald Reagan, who survived more than a few showdowns with Capitol Hill, said about dealing with the Congress, "When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat."
Health-care reform was the life's mission of Sen. Ted Kennedy. He is truly irreplaceable within the Congress. But President Obama must step into the breach, and he must personally take individual Democrats to the woodshed. Loyalty to the president in this fight must be rewarded, and those who cross him on this defining issue of health-care reform must pay a political price — and that price must be known by their colleagues.
Only the president can make clear to his fellow Democrats that if Democrats fail, before the 2010 election, to pass genuine health-care reform, then not only will the Obama administration be judged as having failed, but there will be no place to hide politically for congressional Democrats.
Voters generally do not question the good intentions of liberals, but they often do harbor serious doubts about the toughness of the garden-variety "can't we all get along " liberal. It's now time for Barack Obama to show the Congress his iron fist and the country his steel backbone. His presidency hangs in the balance.
To find out more about Mark Shields and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
COPYRIGHT 2009 MARK SHIELDS
|
 |
Comments
|
5 Comments | Post Comment
|
|
I'm a Dem who voted for Obama and believe that fixing healthcare is key to restoring the economy. But I'm concerned about the rush to pass this bill. As I understand it, the bill is loaded with money for things like parks, bike trails, and playground lights, which are supposed to be "preventive" measures. Please!!! Much as I personally think those things are important, they are not critical for a healthcare plan! Furthermore, they give critics plenty to lambaste. I want this done, but I want it done right.
Comment: #1
Posted by: cadbury
Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:56 AM
|
|
|
|
Well, if by liberal you mean supporting the kidnapping, torture, and indefinite imprisonment without trial kind of liberal.
Or the increasing the faith based initiative (which gives our tax revenue to churches) kind of liberal.
Or the spy on our own citizens via FISA kind of liberal.
Or the creating a 25 member religious panel and placing one of them at the Health and Human Services department kind of liberal.
Or the denial of equal rights for gays/lesbians kind of liberal.
Then your right, Obama is one tough liberal.
Comment: #2
Posted by: robert
Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:52 AM
|
|
|
|
Re: cadbury
Congress's chief budget analyst delivered a devastating assessment yesterday of the health-care proposals drafted by congressional Democrats, fueling an insurrection among fiscal conservatives in the House and pushing negotiators in the Senate to redouble efforts to draw up a new plan that more effectively restrains federal spending.
Under questioning by members of the Senate Budget Committee, Douglas Elmendorf, director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, said bills crafted by House leaders and the Senate health committee do not propose "the sort of fundamental changes" necessary to rein in the skyrocketing cost of government health programs, particularly Medicare. On the contrary, Elmendorf said, the measures would pile on an expensive new program to cover the uninsured.
Though President Obama and Democratic leaders have repeatedly pledged to alter the soaring trajectory -- or cost curve -- of federal health spending, the proposals so far would not meet that goal, Elmendorf said, noting, "The curve is being raised." His remarks suggested that rather than averting a looming fiscal crisis, the measures could make the nation's bleak budget outlook even worse.
Elmendorf's blunt language startled lawmakers racing to meet Obama's deadline for approving a bill by the August break. The CBO is the official arbiter of the cost of legislation. Fiscal conservatives in the House said Elmendorf's testimony would galvanize the growing number of Democrats agitating for changes in the more than $1.2 trillion House bill, which aims to cover 97 percent of Americans by 2015.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071602242.html?hpid=topnew
Comment: #3
Posted by: robert
Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:59 AM
|
|
|
|
Yup, time to get tough. Look what's happening in California, the state that is crumbing into anarchy because those fat, lazy democrats are so used to the soft, easy life of holding a standing majority in the state's legislature. They can't raise taxes and have continued to rack up a devastating deficit as a result. That's because they have completely forgotten how to play hard ball. They can't stand up to the one third plus percentage of Republicans in the legislature and get a two thirds vote as required by California to adopt a budget. The president should take a hard look at that. Those right wing maggots need to be targeted and choked off. You only need to pick off two or three. And in D.C., those who don't play ball need to be carefully selected for the same kind of treatment. Being nice only works up to a point. Then it starts to threaten the very fabric of our government.
Comment: #4
Posted by: Masako
Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:20 AM
|
|
|
|
Re: Masako; ..Sir, the "Fabric of Our Government" is Cant...There is no fabric, and no government if government means the people's ability to deliver the goods we all deserve... We have anarchy, and where there is anarchy there is profit...And suffering...Try to spend any amount of time in an ER waiting room, even if you have insurance... Sure, if you were bleeding out on the floor, you might get attention, but there is no money in it, and no way to refuse doing it so hospitals manage their own bleeding by making the prrocess as slow and painful as it is... People are hurting...You need every cent because wages are driven down...As a consequence, medical coverage is seen as a luxury...Well if you are not sick at this moment, it is a luxury, and if you have nothing to lose but your life, and the state will try to save that, even when they will do nothing to help you maintain it, then you are covered...There is not one of us getting what we need from this society...Even the rich piling up billions by the indignities they force on the population are not getting what they need... The more they seek security by taking security from the nation the more insecurity they spread...Look at us...Look at those who profit by turning the government away from its purpose, and against the people...Look at how government succeeds, and how officials are elected -by turning the people against themselves... Public health is a public problem, and all the more so with pandemics threatening... But the current of frustration, bigotry, and hatred is strong, and the government can feed that pain to keep power...This is your fabric...This is your government, that it can do anything for itself, and do nothing for the people...It does not have to give us health care...It needs to give us justice, and with that we will all be better off...Thanks...Sweeney
Comment: #5
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:18 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
