Democrats Have Republicans in "No-Win" Position on Healthcare: Will They Pounce?

As suggested in my earlier piece, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-abrams/presidents-fox-interview_b_504033.html, House Democrats are now going to have two separate votes on health care reform, voting on the "fixes" to the Senate bill separately from the Senate bill itself.

This places the Republicans in a no-win political position.

If Republicans vote "no" on the fixes, they will have endorsed the deals in the Senate bill they have raised holy-hell about.

If they vote "yes" on those fixes, then the Democrats will have a bipartisan vote in the Senate plus the supermajority on the initial bill.

If Democrats pounce on this -- fanning out on the airwaves, describing the Republican vote whichever way it pans out - -they can change the political dynamic in the country instantaneously.

Either way, the air will have gone out of the Republicans' plans for 2010.

It would be nice, for once, to make political hay out of doing the right thing -- and for the Republicans to get their just desserts for their lying.

Will the Democrats pounce?

Don't count on it.

But, if they did, it just might make Republicans think twice before monolithically opposing the rest of the President's program.

 

Comments

[Harvee Wallbanger]

07:51 AM on 03/22/2010

The Republicans are going to simply oppose whatever the Democrats do. They want President Obama and the US to fail.

[dsws]

07:02 AM on 03/22/2010

I don't see it working that way. Voting against the whole package fits on a bumper sticker. Voting against volume I and for volume II doesn't. To sell "If Republicans vote "no" on the fixes, they will have endorsed the deals in the Senate bill they have raised holy-hell about.", there would have to be a delay, a period of time when the Senate bill is already law and the fixes are being debated. The only way that can happen is if the Senate Republicans try to stop the reconciliation bill with amendments and other dilatory tactics.

[Lechuguilla]

06:10 AM on 03/22/2010

I don't think it really matters whether the Democrats "pounce". The mainstream press will twist the debate to favor republican lies.

[sushi27]

05:05 AM on 03/22/2010

Obama won't do this, but am hopeful the news agencies will finally call out the republican hypocrisy.

[Soundofthunder]

01:51 AM on 03/22/2010

Pounce, no. Toy with, bat about like a cornered mouse then sink their fangs into the flesh of, I desperately hope so.

S

[Paolo7219]

01:14 AM on 03/22/2010

It's cliche, but it's true: politics aint beanbag baby! I think the Democrats should take full advantage of the Republicans plight. Taking adsvantage of your opponents weak spots is how a Party wins elections. And, really, there is NO negative politically to doing this because the current batch of Republicans in Congress have CLEARLY shown they will NOT under ANY circunstances compromise/negotiate with Obama. And so to borrow a phrase coined by Sarah Palin, I ask Republicans: "How's that 'we want a Waterloo for Obama' thingy workin' out for ya?"

[armyman72]

08:34 AM on 03/22/2010

Funny. fanned.

[Daphydd]

12:01 AM on 03/22/2010

Job Wanted: Experienced Republican strategist who authored Mitch McConnel's "oppose everything Obama says" strategy is looking for a position with a prominent Democrat. The core of my new strategy will be "oppose anything a Republican says":

[copestir]

10:55 PM on 03/21/2010

I have been disappointed by their lack of fortitude. Hopefully, they can act like progressives and pass the thing. Come on guys act like democrats and fight for the people for a change.

[Chauncey1186]

09:47 PM on 03/21/2010

Never underestimate the Democrats' ability to yank defeat out of the jaws of victory!

[mollybeejay]

07:41 AM on 03/22/2010

So Chauncey, how are you feeling now? Disregard the fanned. Hit that by mistake.

[Chauncey1186]

12:51 PM on 03/22/2010

Feeling pretty good now, mollybj! Seems quite a few Dems just grew spines overnight. Good thing too since there are more than a few Blue Dogs who will find themselves primaried come November.

[mch321]

08:28 PM on 03/21/2010

This really is smart politics. I hope some Dems are reading this.

[ancatdubh]

07:13 PM on 03/21/2010

CHECK MATE!!

[jonjon358]

12:24 PM on 03/21/2010

Pouncing is not in the Democratic DNA.

[Chauncey1186]

09:49 PM on 03/21/2010

But it just may be in the Progressives' DNA. :)

[Freesia2]

10:44 AM on 03/21/2010

I long to buy them a haybaler. So they harvest the political hay and bale it up and store it and use it. They just leave it to rot and waste and it drives me bonkers.

I'm an Independent and until the day I kick I will never understand why the Democrats don't take advantage of the foibles of the Republicans. It's not about "fightin' dirty". It's about reminding them of every lie (that they choose to tell) and hoisting them on it. It's about not letting the sun set on every opportunity to use the awful tactics of the Republicans against them. Think of it like martial arts - using the opponents momentum against him. You don't have to do a thing except let him do something and turn it back on him. If he didn't want to get tossed, he shouldn't have lunged.

Oh make some hay out of this Democratic leadership. Grab a pitchfork and get to pitchin'.

[thewho77]

10:12 AM on 03/21/2010

I love it when the GOP form a circular firing squad. The Dems may increase their majority in the House and Senate

[thewho77]

10:09 AM on 03/21/2010

Last-minute Dem bait-and-switch. I love it when a plan comes together LOL