Shelby's Hold Exposed Obama's Failure
My latest column for The Week examines why the Democrats were able to break Senator Shelby’s hold on appointees within days, but seem unwilling to break the GOP’s filibuster on healthcare legislation.
[T]he Democrats’ problem with healthcare reform is not with the culture of the Senate. It is with the country – and with members of their own party.
The filibuster gives reluctant Democrats a perfect excuse for moving away from the president. “We’d love to be with you sir … but the GOP now has 41 seats, and we just can’t begin to figure out a way around that fact. So let’s drop the whole thing OK? Or postpone it until after our elections? Please??” They sound like lazy Boy Scouts inventing reasons to avoid the nature hike. “It’s cloudy – it might rain! No wait, the sun’s coming out and I forgot my sunscreen!”
If Senate Democrats really wished to adopt healthcare reform, no way would they surrender so easily.
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