Here's why Dems keep pushing 'dead' Obamacare despite growing public opposition
By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
02/27/10 10:07 PM EST
For months, President Obama and his congressional Democratic allies led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have pushed forward with their radical plans to socialize American health care despite repeated public opinion surveys showing mounting public opposition.
Now, following the White House health care summit, Obama and company are pushing forward with their plan to ram Obamacare through Congress with bare minimum majorities made up entirely of Democrats.
Why? Don't they know doing so quite possibly could result in voters throwing out the Democratic majorities in both the Senate and House? Don't they care that the American constitutional republic is purposely structured to force compromise, thus requiring moderation of radical demands such as that behind Obamcare?
The answers to both questions are yes, they know, and no, they don't care, according to former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy. Writing on NRO, McCarthy points out the fundamental reality of contemporary American politics - Democrats care about building Leviathan, changing the relationship of the individual from master of the state to its servant, and centralizing all power in Washington.
And the Republicans? Democrats don't care that the GOP may regain congressional majorities because they know the Republicans lack the political guts to repeal Obamacare once it becomes law, no matter how that happens.
As McCarthy puts it:
<<< "Today's Democrats are controlled by the radical Left, and it is more important to them to execute the permanent transformation of American society than it is to win the upcoming election cycles. They have already factored in losing in November — even losing big. For them, winning big now outweighs that. I think they're right." >>>
Note that at the conclusion of the summit, Obama suggested a six-week window for the end-game on passage. McCarthy doesn't see much to be encouraged by in the sustained public opposition because it just adds to the urgency felt by Democrats to get as much of their proposal approved as possible:
<<< "Consequently, the next six weeks, like the next ten months, are going to be worse than we think. We're wired to think that everyone plays by the ususal rules of politics — i.e., if the tide starts to change, the side against whom it has turned modifies its positions in order to stay viable in the next election. But what will happen here will be the opposite.
"You have a party with the numbers to do anything it puts its mind to, led by movement Leftitsts who see their window of opportunity is closing. We seem to expect them to moderate because that's what everybody in their position does. But they won't. They will put their heads down and go for as much transformation as they can get, figuring that once they get it, it will never be rolled back." >>>
I believe McCarthy is exactly right. The nation's Democratic leaders literally couldn't care less about the Tea Party movement or the fact majorities clearly don't approve of Obamacare. They have the numbers and they are going to use the power of those numbers without regard for near-term consequences. What they care about is winning now because they know Republicans lack the backbone to repeal it if they ever get an opportunity to do so.
And how do they know that? Well, have you heard either Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell or House Minority Leader John Boehner promising voters their first of order of business if they regain the majority in November will be to repeal Obamacare, if it is approved?
Read more at the Washington Examiner: washingtonexaminer.com |
