President Barack Obama took his healthcare victory to the University of Iowa in Iowa City yesterday, where he had first proposed a plan as a candidate in May of 2007. (Photo by Charles Dharapak)
by Mark Silva
After a yearlong fight over healthcare, with a stunning political upset for the president's party in Massachusetts in January that appeared to spell doom for the White House's hopes of winning an historic legislative prize, the speed with which the bills have cleared Congress and the president's desk may have left some Republicans with what The Hill today is callng a certain "whiplash.''
Democrats are heading home for a two-week Easter and Passover recess with something momentous to show for the fight: A guarantee of more protection in the health insurance that most Americans have and a promise of coverage for most of those who lack it, a 2st Century advance on the order of the 20th Century safety nets of Social Security and Medicare. It is not "the government takeover'' that critics warned it would be, President Barack Obama said this week in Iowa, touting the law's signing.
With Republicans launching a "repeal and replace'' campaign theis week, the president said in Iowa City, where he first proposed healthcare reform in May of 2007: "They're actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. Well, I say go for it."
Yet The Hill points to some doubts within the ranks of Republicans suddenly realizing that they not only lost -- not a single Republican in the House or Senate voted for the final package of two bills, one signed Tuesday, another passed last night -- but they also have been carved out of any claim to the advantages that could emerge from this overhaul of health insurance. From the start, they fought it, but now they have nothing to show for the fight except a warning that Democrats are "socializing'' the nation.
"Our constituents expect us to stand up and fight the good fight, but there's always a reasonableness factor that needs to come into place," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), is quoted as saying in The Hill's report. "Sometimes there's a fine line between what is being an advocate for your cause and when you become obstreperous.
"We need to make sure that we're always cognizant of that and we push appropriately so but recognize where that line is."
The Hill notes that senators such as Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) "had initially planned to offer scores of amendments to stall the healthcare reform fixes and stop Democrats from putting the finishing touches on the legislation. By Wednesday, however, the political tone had changed.
""The leadership has asked us to focus on substantive amendments," said DeMint on Wednesday. "I had 50 amendments, I still have them in my back pocket, but I'll probably only offer two or three."
The Senate eventually voted on only one DeMint amendment.
That's not the only issue where the train has left the station without Republican support. Next comes the Democratic leadership's financial regulatory bill.
"I just think we should have been engaged since October in trying to seek a compromise bill," said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), a member of the Banking Committee. "Once something comes out of committee, you lose a little leverage. It's one more step along the way."
"For many,'' The Hill's Alexander Bolton writes, "the healthcare fight may come to symbolize the tipping point. House passage of broad healthcare reform, which Obama signed on Tuesday, has raised doubts within Republican circles over whether the GOP leadership made a mistake by trying to kill the bill instead of shaping it more to their liking.
David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, put it this way on Sunday: "Barack Obama badly wanted Republican votes for his plan. Could we have leveraged his desire to align the plan more closely with conservative views?"
"Too late now. They are all law."
Comments
Hey Mark Silva,
People like me post here constantly and never give you any credit for your coverage of all the political issues. We just like to rant and rave against each other and forget that your coverage is the starting point for all the back and forth. You are by far the most prolific writer at the Trib and your quantity is certainly matched by its quality. Conservatives sometimes criticize you for leaning left, but I think your take on things is almost always fair and insightful. Anyway, thanks for all the stories and keep them coming.
Regarding this story, the Republicans will do ok in November if the economy stays weak. If employment improves significantly by November - say to between 7 and 8 percent unemployment - the Republicans aren't going to have much to run on. Simply running on a promise to repeal health care reform is not enough to win them majorities in either House.
Posted by: Mike_from_Chicago | March 26, 2010 10:11 AM
The GOP placed their bet on the don't pass line. Now they are hoping their bet will ride until the election in November. A LONG ride it is going to be, but a great bet if it pays off.
Posted by: Todd M | March 26, 2010 10:20 AM
You know what republicans, heck the media, are failing to acknowledge about the heath bill, is the education part. If all these doctors are going to leave they need to make sure there will be replacements. Check the scope on the education legislation in the health bill
http://bit.ly/cwpFI8
Posted by: republicanblack | March 26, 2010 10:24 AM
Obama=victory
Posted by: Gus | March 26, 2010 1:35 PM
David Frum does bring up some good points. It would have been nice if this had been a bi-partisan bill. But would Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have been willing to compromise? The high ended tactics of especially Pelosi and Reid show that this was a Democratic Power Play and they really had no desire to compromise. They used all back room and under the table actions to ram this bill through. But the Senate did water down this bill from the original that was original. There is no Public Option that many on the Democratic side had wanted.
The Republicans are in dream land if they think they are going to be able to repeal this legislation. As bad as this bill is there are some good parts that a majority of the country wants such as ending pre-existing conditions for insurance and extending insurance to those that cannot afford it. But this bill does not do anything to control the ever rising costs of Health Care that is passed on to the average citizen through higher insurance premiums. This new Health Program is very costly and the Democrats are in dream land if they think they are going to be able to pay for this program without major tax increases. The American worker is going to be hit with increasing insurance premiums and higher taxes. Unfortunately as much as the President and supporters deny it, there will be major tax increases to pay for this huge new government program.
The Republicans need to move on and not make the Health Bill the major election issue in November. The majority of the country is more concerned with a bad economy and high unemployment. Americans have always voted their wallets and this year will be no different. Plus this is an off-year election and the out party (GOP) historically makes gains in congress. If the Republicans stay focused on issues that Americans are most concerned with, and they got a lot to run on, they will win numerous seats in the House and the Senate. This will probably occur and Obama and the Democratic Leadership will be forced to be more bi-partisan and will have to compromise with them on pressing issues facing the country. The GOP is also in need of new leadership in
congress. The current leaders remind me of Republican versions of Pelosi and Reid. The Republican Party has a lot of talent and could do much better than the leaders they have now.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | March 26, 2010 3:35 PM
From the beginning of the Health Care debate, the Republicans offered nothing in their right hand, so they walked away with nothing in their left one. Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky’s history, proved to be one of the most incompetent leaders in the Senate's history. His strategy from the beginning was to block and block everything that came from the Democrats, never realizing that when you are trying to block your opponent you should always leave an opening for the ball to come to the side of your field so you can control it ...he never got the chance to even kick the ball. The sad story is that he, McConnell will be remembered on the same page with the great ones, Reid, Pelosi and the unflappable Obama.
Posted by: jai miller | March 26, 2010 5:12 PM
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is reported to be resting comfortably in stable condition......
Yes, Replicans, that is a good talking point:
repeal health care.
Brilliant!
That's your key to victory in November, Replicans.
Hire out the Goodyear Blimp and some of those little planes with banners to overfly the teabag picnics....
Posted by: ornery | March 28, 2010 10:42 AM
He is a convicted fellon and can,t hold a liquor license and besides where is he going to get 1 million dollars scam it from old people like what he did to get put in the Dedham House of Correction
Posted by: m3i zero | March 30, 2010 5:39 AM
Even though this bill does not include a single-payer design, it does have enough to keep the people happy...when they realize the benefits. The short-term buz that the pugs had leading up to their healthcare loss, will long since wear off before the next election. In political rational, it is a decade away and the american voter has a very short memory.
I think their Waterloo gamble went bust and they should've chosen to participate.
I also saw David Frum on Larry King a few nights ago, and I would've never imagined that I would be agreeing with a schrub writer, but I did. It is a shame what the pug party has (and is) doing to this guy, who, as far as I see it, represents the pugs only chance from keeping the party from imploding. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/david-frum-makes-no-apologies-to-republicans/article1516731/
Maybe this is also why most European countries have 4 or 6 parties.
Posted by: Xcellentform | March 31, 2010 9:23 PM