It lives. Yes, Obama is still pushing health care reform, promising this afternoon to do “everything in his power to make the case for reform.” Of course, he’s given 35 major speeches on reform, so that case has been made-and rejected-by the American people. But, he knows it’s right, so to hell with what the lowly peons think. It’s full speed ahead to reconciliation, which by golly actually polls worse than ObamaCare.
Voting for such politically toxic legislation, and using reconciliation to ram it through, is tantamount to a kamikaze mission, but that is exactly what the President-who himself won’t be on the ballot this Nov-is asking congressional Democrats to do. Will they go for it? The real question mark is the House, and as of now it doesn’t look like it:
The least promising recruiting pool of all are the conservative Democrats who voted against the bill. Arguably last week’s bipartisan meeting at Blair House (morning session, afternoon session) was held entirely for their benefit. But are they grateful? Don’t count on it. After the November House vote, the New York Times assembled a very revealing chart that showed no fewer than 31 of the 39 House Democrats who voted nay represented districts that went for John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. Subtract Gordon, Tanner, and Baird, and you’re left with five potential targets: Scott Murphy, D-N.Y.; Glenn Nye, D-Va.; Larry Kissell, D-N.C.; John Barrow, D-Ga.; and Artur Davis, D-Ala.
Let’s assume Pelosi picks up all five. She’s still short by about eight votes. Let’s suppose she picks up all five, plus the three retiring members, plus the two dissenting liberals. (That isn’t going to happen.) That’s 10 votes, which still probably isn’t enough.
Of course, Obama has proven he’ll do anything to twist their arms, but Pelosi faces an uphill climb to get the necessary votes. House progressives don’t like the lack of a public option, nor the cosmetic GOP additions to the bill. Blue dogs, on the other hand, are feeling the heat at home and would prefer a piecemeal approach, if anything, not to mention the abortion issue. Here’s Bart Stupak (D-MI), whose amendment barring public funding for abortions was stripped from the Senate bill, declaring the Senate bill DOA in the House. Of course, we’ve heard similar pronouncements countless times over the past several months, so all bets are off:
