The Obama Method And the Health Care Summit

[babylonsister]

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/the-obama-method-and-the-health-care-summit


The Obama Method And the Health Care Summit
Jonathan Chait


I still find it strange how little understood President Obama's political method is. The first person I know who identified it is Mark Schmitt, over two years ago. At the time, many liberals viewed Obama's inclusive rhetoric as a sign that he intended to capitulate the liberal agenda for the sake of winning Republican agreement. Schmitt disagreed. Obama's language is highly conciliatory, he wrote, but the method isn't:

One way to deal with that kind of bad-faith opposition is to draw the person in, treat them as if they were operating in good faith, and draw them into a conversation about how they actually would solve the problem. If they have nothing, it shows. And that's not a tactic of bipartisan Washington idealists -- it's a hard-nosed tactic of community organizers, who are acutely aware of power and conflict. It's how you deal with people with intractable demands -- put ‘em on a committee.

snip//

Skeptics around Washington are already warning that the summit will be nothing more than Kabuki theater, allowing each side to grandstand on television while providing little in the way of substantive debate or additional understanding for the folks watching back home.

That's not the point. Obama knows perfectly well that the Republicans have no serious proposals to address the main problems of the health care system and have no interest (or political room, given their crazy base) in handing him a victory of any substance. Obama is bringing them in to discuss health care so he can expose this reality.

I'm not saying this is some kind of genius maneuver. I'm not even saying it will work. (I wouldn't bet against it, though.) I'm just saying that this -- not starting over, and not pleading for bipartisan cover -- is what Obama is trying to accomplish.

[Cha]

1. I find it a little strange that so many on DU don't understand this..

"I still find it strange how little understood President Obama's political method is. The first person I know who identified it is Mark Schmitt, over two years ago. At the time, many liberals viewed Obama's inclusive rhetoric as a sign that he intended to capitulate the liberal agenda for the sake of winning Republican agreement. Schmitt disagreed. Obama's language is highly conciliatory, he wrote, but the method isn't:.."

Thanks, babylonsister~

"That's not the point. Obama knows perfectly well that the Republicans have no serious proposals to address the main problems of the health care system and have no interest (or political room, given their crazy base) in handing him a victory of any substance. Obama is bringing them in to discuss health care so he can expose this reality."

And, he knows this about everything regarding the gops..including that they want him to fail but that's not in his vision.

[vaberella]

24. I think it's blatantly ignored b/c of some deep-seated resentment of some kind. n/t

[dave29]

29. +100

n/t

[cliffordu]

45. Yep, Yep, Yep. Exactly

As soon as what they are is obvious to the stupidest of the voters out there, as soon as it cannot be denied, he'll hand them their asses.

[Kdillard]

2. k and r.

[polpilot]

3. Obama is child-like in his suppositions. The Repubs go home and 'earnestly listen' to their

constituents and report to Obama the general outrage of Obamacare. Then they 'earnestly' reveal their 'sincere' plan for healthcare reformation. As Americans we embrace 'market placed competitve solutions' to healthcare reform such as 'competition' across state lines to reduce the costs for 'average Americans', making healthcare available for pre-exiting conditions (for a BIG price), and last but most importantly immediately implementing 'tort reform', i.e. protection of incompetents, all of these reforms will keep big government from geting between Americans and their doctors and keep American healthcare as #1 in the world!!! (Flags flyinbg, patriotic music, etc..) Obama's response: 'Well, there you have it.' (Background, healthcare lobbyists laughing at Obama)...Stay tuned.

[mzmolly]

6. "Obama's defining political trait is the belief that conciliatory rhetoric is a ruthless strategy."

I'm not sure you've pegged him right? ;) Have you read the entire article? It's good stuff.

[polpilot]

7. Conciliatory rhetoric is..ruthless, good stuff. 'Bending over' is his 'aggressive stance.'

[mzmolly]

9. Bending over to

pick up "Republic" teeth is fine by me. ;)

[polpilot]

10. Won't happen. 'We tried to work with President Obama but he's unwilling to listen

to the people. It's either 'socialist government takeover of healthcare' for him or nothing. Then the Fall elections.

[mzmolly]

11. Why are you suggesting that Republicans represent "the people"?

"The people" voted en masse for health care reform. For the President's plan, not McCain's. Our problem has been messaging. This strategy will give us a spring board for educating the public and calling the Republicans bluff. That is, if they're not to scared to show up. If they are, we'll use that too.

[polpilot]

25. I'm giving you their talking points, after recess, after multi-millions have been poured into this

by healthcare corps. If my post appears to be that I believe 'repubs represent the people' then I can see where this healthcare summit seems like a great idea.

[mzmolly]

31. The thing is we can spend time worrying about what they'll say or what we'll

say. I prefer the later. I'm sure the President is prepared for their b.s. :hi:

[polpilot]

33. Hey we're on the same side here. I wish we could replace demos in Congress with some DU crazies.

I'd work to be the 'craziest'. I'd probably win, too!!

[27inCali]

18. if you want to suggest the Republicans do speak for the people

you probably should be posting over in Freeperville.

[cliffordu]

46. And you obviously have no clue

how he got elected anywhere or what he's done till now.

And all the "bending over" insults from you count for exactly nothing. I wonder if the rest of your posts are as reality free as that one.

[27inCali]

19. Obama is "childlike"? "Obama-care?"

are you in the right place?

[polpilot]

27. In your world does Obama seem committed to and focused on healthcare for all. Jesus Christ!!

Even the demos are SCREAMING for some leadership.I worked for Obama's campaign, was there when he accepted the nom in Denver, but am unlikely to support or enable a clear lack of principle on healthcare rights for all, nor shall I support or keep quiet about 100,000 troops 10K miles away while this democracy, its schools, highways, and citizens sink out of sight. If you believe this is principled, strong, leadership at work...well O.K....guess we have different definitions of what that involves.

[ProSense]

28. You are screaming to justify your claim that Republicans speak for Americans?

Don't be absurd.

[polpilot]

30. Where in the hell is this coming from. In my post where is 'this claim'?

Believe me, I'd have no problem 'claiming' the Repubs 'speak for whatever'.

[ProSense]

35. Maybe you should rethink speaking for Republicans

Obama is child-like in his suppositions...The Repubs go home and 'earnestly listen' to their constituents and report to Obama the general outrage of Obamacare. Then they 'earnestly' reveal their 'sincere' plan for healthcare reformation. As Americans we embrace 'market placed competitve solutions' to healthcare reform such as 'competition' across state lines to reduce the costs for 'average Americans', making healthcare available for pre-exiting conditions (for a BIG price), and last but most importantly immediately implementing 'tort reform', i.e. protection of incompetents, all of these reforms will keep big government from geting between Americans and their doctors and keep American healthcare as #1 in the world!!! (Flags flyinbg, patriotic music, etc..) Obama's response: 'Well, there you have it.' (Background, healthcare lobbyists laughing at Obama)...Stay tuned.

You respond to a post clearly stating the benefits of Obama's call for a summit (and it's actually achieving its purpose) with "Obama is child-like in his suppositions." You then launch into a ridiculous scenario to show the Republicans benefitting from the "general outrage of Obamacare." You end with "(Background, healthcare lobbyists laughing at Obama)."

Absurd.

[polpilot]

41. .

.

[Number23]

43. Git'em, Pro!

:thumbsup:

[polpilot]

44. This is just retarded.

[mzmolly]

4. "Obama is bringing them in to discuss health care so he can expose this reality."

Exactly! Though, unlike Chait, I do think it will work. ;) So do Republicans which is why they're finding ways to back out.

[jenmito]

5. I understood his strategy all along. He's treating Iran the same way. He knew all along

that the Iranian leaders were doing things "behind our backs" even as Obama said he was willing to talk to them. He knew they had no desire to cooperate with him, but he is the bigger guy for "reaching out." He also knows the Repubs. have no desire to cooperate with him and the Dems. But now the rest of the country will get to see this for a fact and he'll be the bigger guy for "trying" again. Then, after the Repubs. refuse AGAIN, he'll have to move on without them. :thumbsup:

[polpilot]

8. He'll be surrounded by those 'flying pigs' when he 'moves on w/o them.'

[jenmito]

15. Then get your video cam ready. n/t

[Beetwasher]

14. I'm Impatient, As Are Most Of Us, But I'm Willing To Trust His Judgement On When

it's the right time to pull the bipartisan plug.

[jenmito]

17. Yes, we ARE impatient. But, in the end, he will get the bill passed...

and the fact that it will be without the "help" of Repubs. will be seen as OK with the majority of Americans because we'll all get to see, on TV, that Repubs. had no intention of helping. Perception is reality, and the perception was that Obama did not listen enough to Repubs. The meetings in the next couple weeks will change that perception.

[Jennicut]

16. There is poll after poll that show more people want him to try with the Rethugs then not.

We are the most partisan people in these polls, us and the RWers. However, to hold onto those indies and show the Rethugs (and some blue dogs) for the idiots they are, it is time to force their hand and get it all out on national television. They have no real answers and don't want real reform anyway.

[jenmito]

20. I agree.

For some reason, the majority of people want him to try to work with Repubs. They either don't pay enough attention to what has been going on during the past year or they buy the Repub. spin that Obama was keeping them out of any negotiations. Now they'll get to see the truth about Repub. obstructionism and Obama will have more people behind him when he has to act without them.

[zipplewrath]

12. You've been sucked in

You've bought his and Rahm's line that the problem was the republicans. The problem was that there were too many Blue Dog Democrats who were willing to leverage the republican opposition to their own advantage. The Kabuki theater is presenting the idea that the problem is the GOP and that this is where he must work. It would be "f*cking retarded" to actually expose those democrats who were stopping this. So instead we keep up this show with the GOP whilst Rahm figures out more ways to buy the blue dogs. His problem now is that he can buy them all, and he's still not sure he can get what he needs.

[Mz Pip]

23. Certainly some of the problem is the Republicans

but not them alone.I do agree. The Democrats certainly had a chance to pass meaningful HCR but diddled around appeasing Senators from small states, giving them way to much power and influence. The way it stands now, those Senators like Ben Nelson will end up with diddly squat.

Nelson, Lincoln and Conrad will get absolutely nothing for all their wheeling and dealing. Nada, Zip, Zilch. Their "my way or the highway" attitude seems to have sunk the possibility of anything worthwhile happening. Perhaps they have forgotten what it was to be like out there in the wilderness of the Bush years. The Blue Dogs will have nothing. And neither will anyone else.

Unless they change their tune and damn soon, we will out in the wilderness again. I really hope it is not too late. The Democrats need to act like Republicans for a change, at least in terms of being united. Right now they are about as united as a swarm of grasshoppers.

Mz Pip

[Beetwasher]

13. Yup, It's Been Crystal Clear To Me This Is What's Going On

Drawing out the debate HELPS get HCR done. The other side is running out of energy, but Obama is NOT giving up and WON'T give up. Meanwhile, the money men fighting reform are moving on to other things, but Obama keeps on pushing HCR. He will wear them down and expose them and he WILL accomplish reform.

[DrToast]

21. Let's not sugar coat things. We're only doing this because we don't have the votes.

[ProSense]

26. I don't think that's the case.

Once Democrats decide they have to pass reform, the worst case scenario is that they work on getting the House to pass the Senate bill. They can also work on getting the Senate to pass a reconciliation fix, with or without a public option. There are many ways to proceed that require no GOP support (never had any to begin with).

[DrToast]

34. Of course you don't

I'm sure this was all part of the plan. The House and Senate are just chomping at the bit to pass HCR, but Obama wants them to hold on and wait until after this summit.
I'm sure that's the case.

[ProSense]

36. "Of course you don't"?

Nothing in your response indicates why Democrats would need GOP votes to pass the bill. No one said Democrats "chomping at the bit," but that doesn't mean they need the GOP to proceed.

[DrToast]

37. Nothing in my response indicates that because I never said that nor suggested that

I said Obama is holding this summit because the votes aren't there for HCR. You don't think this is all show to get Dems back on board?

If the votes were there, this would have passed already. Nobody would risk things going wrong in this bullshit little pony show if the votes were already in hand.

59 votes in the Senate and we can't even dig up 50 to pass a reconciliation fix. The Dems are pathetic.

[ProSense]

38. "You don't think this is all show to get Dems back on board?"

Nope, has nothing to do with Dems.

[DrToast]

39. So you actually think they have votes to pass HCR, but they're not going to right now

Ooookay....maybe another Senator will die while they're waiting.

[ProSense]

40. Where are you getting that?

They're still negotiating, but that has nothing to do with inviting the GOP to a summit.

[HopeOverFear]

22. kr

[grantcart]

32. yep his persistence is like a good rushing offense in the NFL

By the second half all of their defenses will be exhausted.

[Beetwasher]

42. 'zactly

The money opposing HCR is already disappearing and being targeted elsewhere. Meanwhile, Obama's STILL taking it up the middle. He's grinding them down.

[cliffordu]

47. K&R. Exactly.

He ain't playin' chess. He's playing steel cage politics.

As witnessed by his little visit to the R's house retreat.

[Hekate]

48. KnR. Some here are too totally invested in the Obama=Failure meme ...

... to even entertain this notion.

Thanks Babylonsister for this latest.

Hekate

[bvar22]

49. How is that working out so far?

The speeches and rhetoric are cool, but don't deliver POLICY.

The "Obama Method" so far:
1)Start in The Center

2)Move steadily to The RIGHT with policy concessions to Republicans.

Maybe I've missed it, but at any point during the Great Health Care Reform Fiasco has Obama ever moved the debate to the Left?