Posted by
Laura L. Hollis, JD on Thursday, September 03, 2009 7:51:17 AM
This tactic is a mistake. It isn't congressional Republicans who are stopping Obamacare in its tracks; it's
the American public. If anything, Americans are frustrated with the elected representatives who are not listening to them. Republicans are chastised nearly as much as Democrats, because people look to them, saying, "You're supposed to be the party of fiscal responsibility. And you're either just as profligate as the Democrats, or too weak to stand up to them." Some Republicans are supporting the public's concerns, and opposing the bills floating in Congress. But that is in
response to the public's outcry, it certainly isn't driving it. This is obvious to everyone except the most partisan regressives drunk on the Obama Kool-aid.
And now Democrats are going to go on the attack, accusing Republicans of stalling medical care reform? The public - which is to say, the same public that is showing up en masse at town halls - will see right through that, and will be even angrier that they are not being listened to. Americans are tired of being demonized for airing their views, and demanding fiscal responsibility in their government.
And what about the rest of the American public - the ones who want single-payer, government-run health care? It wouldn't matter what the Democrats said to them; they are already on board. But they are not the majority.
My prediction: even lower approval ratings for the President and Congress if they try this trick. The sleeping giant has awakened.