Cantor: Only Route To Bipartisan Cooperation Is If Dems Fully Embrace GOP Plan

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/cantor-only-route-to-bipartisan-cooperation-is-if-dems-fully-embrace-gop-plan/

Cantor: Only Route To Bipartisan Cooperation Is If Dems Fully Embrace GOP Plan

Eric Cantor’s office responds to Obama’s announcement of a bipartisan summit on health care with the most explicit and direct assertion I’ve seen yet that the only way Dems can win bipartisan cooperation is to fully embrace the GOP health care plan and nothing more:

After going it alone on health care reform for nearly a year, President Obama has decided he wants to bring Republicans into the conversation. Here’s the problem: unless the President and Speaker Pelosi are willing to scrap their government take over and hit the reset button, there’s not much to talk about.

Republicans believe the status quo is unacceptable, but so is any health reform package that spends money we don’t have or raises taxes on small businesses and working families in a recession. To that point, House Republicans have offered the only plan, that will lower health care costs, which is what the President said was the goal at the start of this debate.

I’m not sure if it could be made any more explicit than that.

Obviously the political goal of this summit is to draw more public attention to the fact on display here: The Republican definition of compromise on health care is that Dems embrace their plan, and nothing more. But here’s the thing: The public already knows this.

Multiple polls have shown that majorities think the GOP is more interested in obstructing than in engaging constructively with the majority. And yet, paradoxically, multiple polls also show that majorities want Dems to keep trying to find common ground with Republicans rather than pass their own plan.

As I’ve noted here before, this is largely because Dems haven’t convinced the public that compromising with the GOP would have actual policy consequences that people might not like — that compromise will of necessity produce a bill that the public wants less than the one Dems would produce alone. The question is whether the summit can shift this dynamic.

[Larkspur]

1. Yep, the GOP plan is "Our way is the only way"

They've never cared about real bipartisanship. It's just another wedge issue they browbeat Dems with.

[TwilightGardener]

2. They're going to keep saying that: "Let's just start over". It's a way to stonewall, to avoid

explaining their specific health care "ideas", or lack of them.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Sheer Arrogance...BULLY TACTIC.....he is a POS...Cantor is ignorant

[still_one]

6. No, we are. After the events of last year, it is obvious to most people that the republicans

DO NOT WANT BIPARTISANSHIP. That is most people except the leadership

[niyad]

4. hey, eric, suggest you become acquainted with the dictionary. THIS is the definition of

bipartisanship


bi·par·ti·san (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən)
adj. Of, consisting of, or supported by members of two parties, especially two major political parties: a bipartisan resolution.
bi·par'ti·san·ism n., bi·par'ti·san·ship' n.


please note, it does NOT say, "you have to do it our way"

[still_one]

5. and this is Obama's problem because he still pushes bipartisanship, and we will pay the consequences

of it.

People want a public option, and a committed person, even if they disagree with him

bush was an effective president because he DIDN'T compromise his ideology

The same cannot be said for the current administration

If this same pattern of seeking bipartisanship is pursued, thinking that it will open peoples eyes to the party of no, then nothing will get done

Why is Tim Kaine still head of the DNC?

[Raine1967]

7. I just read this.

They are amazing, truly amazing. This is the EXACT opposite of bipartisanship.

They are acting like they were never in any of those committee meetings -- such a bunch of asshats.


They hold government hostage and then claim it doesn't work. They stall on HCR negotiatins and blame the dems for the slow process.

ENOUGH!

[pleah]

8. I am very disappointed that Obama invited them back to the table on health care.

I wish he would grow a pair and tell them to fuck off!

[Arkana]

9. Then screw them.