Obama calls the next play for health-care reform

[babylonsister]

Obama calls the next play for health-care reform
Ezra Klein




Super Bowl Sunday isn't generally a hot day for health-care news. But if the Saints can be in the Super Bowl, then anything can happen. And so it did, with Barack Obama sitting down for an interview with Katie Couric to announce that he'll be inviting the Republican and Democratic leadership to a summit to sit down and work out the differences between their health-care plans. Oh, and C-SPAN is invited.

snip//


This is, first and foremost, about defusing the lines of attack that have scared the hell out of Democratic legislators. If you talk to people on the Hill, there's relatively little concern about the substance of the likely compromise, but there's enormous anxiety over the public's belief that the bill is thick with noxious deals, which is fed by the idea that the process has been hidden from the American people. After all, people reason, if the bill was so good, why wouldn't they let C-SPAN into the negotiations? The White House hopes this summit will be a clean break with that narrative.

Second, and more importantly, this creates a next step for health-care reform. The House and the Senate have not been able to agree on a path forward. The president, of course, cannot hold a vote for them. But by setting this summit, he's bought them a few weeks to figure out how to hold a vote themselves. That won't be easy, but it'll be easier with the White House summit giving some structure and narrative to an effort that had collapsed into murky chaos.

For weeks, congressional Democrats have been calling for more leadership from the White House. Now they've got it. The president will set the agenda, as only he can. But that doesn't take the ultimate burden off House and Senate Democrats So much as Obama can call the next play, he can't run this into the end zone for them.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Boener and his crew are at DU unrec'ing this op!

I thought they'd be watching Football! :rofl:

Recommended, and Happy Super Bowl Sunday! :hi:

[babylonsister]

3. Same to you, Frenchie!

:fistbump: Geaux, New Orleans!

[BlueIdaho]

4. Ditto...

[secondwind]

2. Happy to K&R!

[jaxx]

5. and c-span too!

Good news for all...except the repugs who lie about the reform. ;-)

edit> rec

[babylonsister]

6. That was a brilliant move; will the rethugs deny, deny, deny on teevee?

Should be interesting.

[malletgirl02]

15. I agree

There are a lot of people on DU saying that this is merely PR, but like you I think it is brilliant. Despite the hearings being on Cspan, Republicans and the media are complaining about the lack of transparency. This move gives the transparency Republicans claim they want. It also gives Obama and Democrats a chance to state their case more clearly.

[rpannier]

7. K&R

Thanks for sharing

[countingbluecars]

8. Good move! n/t

[Cha]

9. Love the Superbowl Sunday Health Care news!

"Second, and more importantly, this creates a next step for health-care reform. The House and the Senate have not been able to agree on a path forward. The president, of course, cannot hold a vote for them. But by setting this summit, he's bought them a few weeks to figure out how to hold a vote themselves. That won't be easy, but it'll be easier with the White House summit giving some structure and narrative to an effort that had collapsed into murky chaos."

[bvar22]

10. This is bound to be productive.

Maybe if we move ever further to the right and appease more Republicans they might support the "reform".

We need to be more inclusive of the Republicans and Giant Health Insurance Corporations.
Reaching Out has been working good so far.
Why Not? :shrug:

[asdjrocky]

11. +1

[lunatica]

12. This is what I've been saying he needs to do

He's got the bully pulpit and he should use it all the time. Bringing it to the people and shedding light on partisan behavior is what transparency is all about. And he showed by example what it takes to do it. Take on your critics on their terms and still beat the hell out of them.

I hope he continues doing this. He can get more people energized with his speeches than Palin could ever dream of doing with her pathetic 600 member Tempest in a Teacup Party.

[Vinca]

13. I suppose we can hope something comes of this.

Personally, I say fuck bipartisanship and ram Medicare for all through reconciliation. While Washington practices the sport of politics, people are suffering and dying every day. Enough already.

[roody]

14. Did you notice he called it

"health insurance reform" last week?

[freddie mertz]

16. Health Care Reform died before it ever got started, replaced by "Insurance" reform..

We coulda been a contenda.

[harun]

17. Yep, Health Care Reform can't get a vote. Health Insurance Reform

is near dying as it is.

[freddie mertz]

19. It's pitiful, really. "Government of the people, by the people, for the people.."

Has perished from the land.

RIP, 2010.

[jgraz]

18. He can just re-use his play calling from the Georgetown/Duke game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaBn3cVmQo0

"This was a terrific spin move and he didn't get any help comin back."