President Barack Obama is getting ready for his big healthcare extravaganza, and not a moment too soon. The President today put all his healthcare cards on the table, unveiling a $1T overhaul proposal ahead of the summit slated for Thursday. White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer dubbed the proposal the “opening bid” for the healthcare confab. Obama did not exactly receive a thumbs-up by his GOP tormentors. Ever-true-to-form Minority Leader John Boehner ridiculed the President’s program as “the same massive government takeover of healthcare.” It’s the same old tired story.Who is kidding who? Nothing of substance is going to emerge from the Great Healthcare Show. It’s a PR sideshow. Republicans demand a do-over. They want the Democrats toss their plan out the window and enter into “good faith” negotiations. Negotiations were tried and failed. Remember the squirreled away Gang of Six. Obama and supporters can’t waste the past year of work on healthcare overhaul. The Democrats got to wrap up healthcare and move on to the more pressing issue of job creation.
Stiffening of the Presidential spine is the best outcome of Thursday’s meeting. Look across the Atlantic at Gordon Brown, Britain’s embattled Labour Prime Minister, for a shot of inspiration. Gordo reportedly is a “bully,” or at the very least he faces “bullying charges” lodged by “scared” members of his staff. “The Prime Monster” (screams a headline of The Sun) apparently has aides spending a lot of time talking to counselors at the National Bullying Helpline.” Wouldn’t it be refreshing if the New York Post used such a tough headline to describe the U.S. President? A headline, such as “Brass Knuckles Barack” would surely boost morale among Democrats disillusioned by Too Cool Hand Obama.
This blogger neither wants nor expects Obama to bully opponents like Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell or House Minority Whip Eric Cantor. The trio is not going to budge a single inch on the Democratic healthcare package. Obama does have to stop the charade of bipartisanship and support the “reconciliation” petition that has been signed so far by 20 Democratic Senators. That process short circuits the filibuster threat by the 41 Republicans in the Senate. Reconciliation requires 51 votes to approve sections of the healthcare reform bill. That would require a little bit of bullying by Obama of Democrats facing tough re-election fights. Rather than bullying, let’s call it tough love. Barry should give Gordo a call.