Legal Commentary

How Much Longer For The Post Partisan Unity Schtick?

By Big Tent Democrat

Paul Krugman:

“I am in this race because I don’t want to see us spend the next year re-fighting the Washington battles of the 1990s. I don’t want to pit Blue America against Red America; I want to lead a United States of America.” So declared Barack Obama in November 2007, making the case that Democrats should nominate him, rather than one of his rivals, because he could free the nation from the bitter partisanship of the past.

This was a schtick, not a serious statement. The defenders of the schtick, like Mark Schmitt, argued that it would help Obama achieve policy goals. I never believed that. I believed it would help Obama get elected by keeping the Media on his side. I think it did that. But now is the time for governing. The PPUS is a clear failure on that front. So when is it jettisoned? Sam Stein reports:

Undaunted by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's declaration that the Democratic health care agenda might empower the government to "pull the plug on grandma," President Obama still hopes to achieve a bipartisan reform bill, his spokesman said Thursday.

I can understand mouthing those words. But when do you mouth the other words - "obstructionist," "divisive," "tools of special interests." Because within a month, the Obama team will have to turn on the GOP and be "partisan" to get meaningful health care reform. How much longer until this happens? They have to wait for Baucus to fail. Right after that is my prediction.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 14, 2009 (boomark / email).