Democrat Defeatism
January 20, 2010 4 Comments
I’m sorry to be hammering this subject today, but Brown’s victory in MA last night is rally fascinating for the way it sets up the midterms this year. Ezra Klein has an excellent analysis Democrats should take note of:
But the reaction congressional Democrats have had to Coakley’s loss has been much more shattering. It has been a betrayal.
The fundamental pact between a political party and its supporters is that the two groups believe the same thing and pledge to work on it together. And the Democratic base feels that it has held to its side of the bargain. It elected a Democratic majority and a Democratic president. It swallowed tough compromises on the issues it cared about most. It swallowed concessions to politicians it didn’t like and industry groups it loathed. But it persisted. Because these things are important. That’s why those voters believe in them. That’s why they’re Democrats.
But the party looks ready to abandon them because Brown won a special election in Massachusetts — even though Democrats can pass the bill after Brown is seated. What that says is crucial: Whereas the base thought it was making these hard compromises and getting up early to knock on doors because these issues are important, the party thought all that was happening because, well, it’s hard to say. It was electorally convenient? People need something to do? Ted Kennedy wanted it done?
If Democrats let go of health care, there is no doubt that a demoralized Democratic base will stay home in November. And that’s as it should be. If the Democratic Party won’t uphold its end of the bargain, there’s no reason its base should pretend the deal is still on.
I have to agree with Ezra’s assessment – Nationally, Democrats aren’t showing a lot of leadership, and they are too often and too quickly trading away key planks o ftheir electoral victory in the name of false and unsuccessful bipartisanship.
That and there was a nose-in-the-air assumption that no Republican could win Kennedy’s seat. That campaign manager needs a long sabatical in the wilderness to think that one over.
My question is … will this send both parties to the table to draw up a workable, economically feasible medical coverage plan which will maximize coverage and keep costs (and taxes) reasonable?
One can only hope so, but with the current warm bodies (and they’re really nothing else) sitting in DC I will not hold out much hope of that happening.
Thomas, Friend, the short answer is No. Republicans see absolutely no need to play here, much less compromise, and Democrats are so afraid of leading they will continue to dither until it dies. Even at 60 votes (which I question given the Blue Dog phenominon) Democrats were never willing to lead and suffer the consequences.
Philip, I imagine you are right. It’s certainly going to be an opportunity lost. One can only hope that, if this fails (like it did in Clinton’s time) that we can see a shift in the Obama administrations policies (like we did with Clinton) that will see us get a balanced budget and tackle other pressing concerns. An effort to revitalize the economy, and tackle environmental issues for example.
I think Health Care is an important objective, and needs to be met sooner rather than later. The problem, as I see it, is that EVERYONE in DC is beholden to special interest groups, be they unions, the insurance companies, big business, various lobbies, which means this thing will be a mess until they decide to just get together, shut the doors to all outsiders and give us a bill that freakin works.