Dems 'Going it Alone' on ObamaCare

The Democrats don't get it. They're out of touch with the American people. They aren't listening.

According to the New York Times, it appears that Dems don't care what their constituents are saying.

Damn the people, full speed ahead!

Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.

Top Democrats said Tuesday that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s Congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair.

Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said the heated opposition was evidence that Republicans had made a political calculation to draw a line against any health care changes, the latest in a string of major administration proposals that Republicans have opposed.

“The Republican leadership,” Mr. Emanuel said, “has made a strategic decision that defeating President Obama’s health care proposal is more important for their political goals than solving the health insurance problems that Americans face every day.”

That is crap.

First, the Republicans can't stop the Democrats. The Dems have all the power. Republican opposition is irrelevant. If the Dems are unified, they have the votes to impose their will on the American people, unchecked.

Do the math, Carl Hulse and Jeff Zeleny of the NYT. You can't claim obstruction when there's no ability to obstruct.

Second, contrary to Rahm Emanuel's claims, Republicans have made proposals to reform health care.

The Democratic shift may not make producing a final bill much easier. The party must still reconcile the views of moderate and conservative Democrats worried about the cost and scope of the legislation with those of more liberal lawmakers determined to win a government-run insurance option to compete with private insurers.

On the other hand, such a change could alter the dynamic of talks surrounding health care legislation, and even change the substance of a final bill. With no need to negotiate with Republicans, Democrats might be better able to move more quickly, relying on their large majorities in both houses.

Democratic senators might feel more empowered, for example, to define the authority of the nonprofit insurance cooperatives that are emerging as an alternative to a public insurance plan.

So the New York Times is echoing the talking points from the White House and arguing that Dems should go it alone on health care.

As it stands now, opposition to the bill is bipartisan. Support is purely partisan.

That's OK with the NYT. Who needs bipartisan support? Who cares?

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CARE.

...Administration officials, who maintain that Republicans are badly mischaracterizing the legislation that has emerged from three House committees and the Senate health committee, said they had hoped to achieve some level of bipartisan support. But they are becoming increasingly convinced that they will instead have to navigate the complicated politics among varying Democratic factions.

The officials said the White House hoped to make the case to the American people that it was Republicans who had abandoned the effort at bipartisanship. Republicans countered by saying that they simply opposed the legislation and that the public outcry had validated their view and solidified their opposition.

I don't look at this like some political game, a political war over power.

It's not about Democrats or Republicans.

It's about the nightmare of government-run health care.

I oppose it. I don't want decisions about my family's health care to be determined by the government.

I'm against this bill. I'm not against supporting Dem legislation per se, and I'm certainly not against reform.

If the Democrats think ObamaCare is so great, then they should jump at the chance of being covered by the public option.

Of course, they aren't. They've exempted themselves from being subjected to a plan that rations services and medications and is paralyzed by bureaucracy.

I am so sick of the term "public option."

This alleged "option" is meant to kill private insurance, thereby eliminating choice and forcing people to give up their current plans and doctors. It's not an "option" at all. The goal of public option is to be anti-option.

Bottom line: Americans don't want ObamaCare.

Obama and the Democrats don't care.