President Obama has invited the GOP to a half-day televised conference on health care later this month.
The president announced his offer in an interview with CBS news anchor Katie Couric prior to the Superbowl. He "challenged Republicans to come to the discussion armed with their best ideas for how to cover more Americans and fix the health insurance system."
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I want to consult closely with our Republican colleagues," Obama told Couric. "What I want to do is to ask them to put their ideas on the table... I want to come back and have a large meeting, Republicans and Democrats to go through, systematically, all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward."
Three factors may be behind the call for such a conference. The first is the pounding he has taken from Democrats over the year-long effort to to revamp the health care system and for not conducting the debate in the open. Secondly, the election to the Senate of Republican Scott Brown, who campaigned against the government takeover of health care, cost the Democrats their 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority in the House. Thirdly, the recognition that he must have at least some support from Republicans to get the bill passed.
House Republican leader John Boehner said he's looking forward to the meeting. He's "pleased that the White House finally (emphasis mine) seems interested in a real, bipartisan conversation on health care."
"Finally?" Let's examine, if you will, the history of the Republicans over this past year. No, No, No, No, No.
I read this today, It should be just as good if not better then the last meeting. Can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteShould be interesting. Obama is calling their bluff. Step up or get out of the way. MY guess? After all is said and done, when it comes to a vote, the republicans will Just Say No!
ReplyDeleteAgree with Mr. Critter, just rhetoric, no matter what, it's a no vote.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree.. but with it all televised.. probably on CSpan, there can be no way, the Rethugs can say they were locked out of negotiations and their ideas were ignored. As you said he is calling their bluff and calling them out.
ReplyDeleteThey think he is going to scrap everything and start from scratch but he said NO, that's not what was going to happen..
I think it's a smooth move. I believe it was TomCat who said after the meeting with the GOP, Obama's crazy, crazy like a fox. If the GOP continues this program of "nay," I really think it will hurt a lot of them. They don't all live in Tea Bugger nations.
ReplyDeleteI think this a great idea - especially on TV. Hopefully it will give the voting public a chance to see real ideas and why they might or might not work. As a conservative, I'm not the least bit worried about the party of NO - everybody wants some change. Personally, I think this move from Obama is a result of recent elections. He couldn't get this done when he didn't need one single Republican vote, rendering the party of NO irrelevant. He has no choice but to start listening to broader ideas as his base is getting smaller and smaller.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is this turns more political than truely constructive. I hope BOTH sides will really listen and not just blame and defend and use sound bites for political campaigns. Having said I hope it's not political, I also hope the independent and "don't care" voters will tune in. Let's face it, whatever happens, most of you will see it through liberal glasses and I will see it through conservative ones - that's just how it goes.
SK: Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI've been around for more years than I care to admit. I've never seen such ugly animosity or politicians that are to such a degree that they so seriously hurt the fabric of our society.
I believe you know my stance, so I won't go into it here. But I am in total agreement with you in hoping something positive gets done.
The party of 'NO' will have a harder time complaining that they have been ignored. So far the meager ideas they have put forth are obviously unworkable and will do nothing to solve the problem of the rising cost of health care. I hope the public can see this after the TV event.
ReplyDeleteDarlene: I think you're right. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. All the "independent/non-partisan polls indicate that the majority of the American people want HC reform, especially including the public option. These polls also indicate that the vote for Brown wasn't so much for "him" as it was an angry response to the fact that Congress hadn't delivered on the bill. Of course his opponent probably ran the worst campaign I've ever seen - Dem or Repub.
ReplyDeleteBecause things like this take time and can't be accomplished, I thought it was stupid and they shot themselves in the feet.
Meant to say "accomplished overnight."
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tnlib. You quoted me correctly. Although Boner claims to be looking forward to it, I don't think it will actually happen. Other GOP leaders, still in need of Vaseline from their last meeting with Obama, have the following opinion:
ReplyDeleteBwaaaack-buk-buk-buk!
TC: Proof is in the pudding. Note my next-to-the-latest blog. I wonder if Obama ever wakes up in the morning and wonders why he went after this job anyway.
ReplyDelete