The Cost of "No" at the Health Summit
Two poll numbers will shock congressional Republicans into realizing the dangers of obstructionism in the lead-up to tomorrow’s healthcare summit:
1. Rasmussen reports 70% of likely voters say that this Congress has not passed any legislation that would “significantly improve life in America”.
2. A CNN poll shows that only 31% of people think that Republicans are doing enough to work with President Obama (compared to 67% who think they’re not).
This is in addition to a previous Rasmussen poll which says that only 35% of Americans think the GOP have a plan for where it wants to take the country. Republican strategists will protest that they have ideas, but I imagine that most voters would be hard-pressed to name one major Republican initiative.
As Newt Gingrich said this past weekend at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the issues facing the United States are too great for the GOP to go on recess for the next three years.
Yet the conservative base hasn’t gotten the memo – Scott Brown’s vote last night in favor of a small jobs bill was met with a massive outcry among tea partiers who support his candidacy. It’s open season on the treasonous – treason being defined as any cooperation with the enemy.
Of course, without cooperation, no progress can be made – the status quo of healthcare is untenable in ways that appeal to both liberal and conservative sensibilities - on coverage, and on cost. In agreeing to appear at tomorrow’s bipartisan healthcare summit, Republicans have chosen to confront their obstructionism problem. But will it be a stage show or a productive conference?
If they wish to regain the trust of Americans, Republicans need to show that they’re working with Obama. To get Congress moving again, conservatives need to demonstrate that, despite disparate interests, they can come to compromise.
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