The politics of it all

This, from Politico's emailed "Breaking News," is just pathetic:

The House will vote on a full repeal of Barack Obama's health care law during the week of July 9, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Thursday morning. The scheduling of another repeal vote came less than an hour after the Supreme Court upheld the health care mandate.

Atta boy.

The other politics of this decision are going to be fascinating to track--more from the Democratic than Republican side. Congressional GOPers will naturally exploit at every opportunity the sinister, galloping fascism of President Obama's validated constitutional concern for millions of the uninsured. And Obama is expected to issue a strong reaffirmation of both his concern and his legislative cures. But what of Democrats, congressional district by congressional district and state by state?

Some are already heading for the hills--and not those of North Carolina. This is precisely the wrong strategy. They should be taking names, kicking ass, and letting God sort out the casualties. They should, in short, be wholly endorsing Obama and 'ObamaCare'; they should be selling the latter as they should have sold it years ago.

There are months to go before Election Day. And the electorate stands persuadable, just as they were persuaded--within only a couple of weeks--to Obama's side during the debt-limit debacle. Right now, the electorate very much likes the ACA's constituent parts but dislikes the legislation itself, which is like supporting free speech and religious liberty and trials by jury but opposing the Bill of Rights.

The Dems can do this. They can turn this thing around, and in the process put Eric Cantor's strategy to the torch. But first they must seek the unity of Eric Cantor's party.

Comments

[Bruce Adams]

This reaffirms to me that progressives and Blue Dogs alike were foolish when they declined to crow in triumph when ACA passed. There's no avoiding being tied to the bill if you're a Democrat.

[Chris Andersen]

Republicans excel at falling into the holes they dig for others.

Democrats excel at throwing them a rope to help them get back out.

[AnneJ]

Sure, democrats can but will they? They remind me too much of Michae J. Fox's character in "Back to the Future". His central weakness is that he doesn't like to be called chicken and gets himself into tough situations because of it. The republicans always call the democrats "chicken" and the democrats prove them right by going along with whatever the republicans want instead of really standing up for what they believe.

[Robert Lipscomb]

Obama's ongoing political strategy is evident.

Obama: "Let's just pull together, do what's best for the people and move on."

GOP: "Bullshit! This is terrible (insert ad hominem attacks here), and I demand an argument!"

Obama: "Well, OK, if you insist, here is why it is good (insert details here). Now please, let's just move on."

Repeat as needed.

[Rich Jones]

Perhaps if Republicans inform those 17 weak-kneed Democrats who voted along with them on the Holder Contempt Vote that the NRA will be monitoring how they vote on the ACA Repeal July 9th, they’ll be able to swing it.