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Democrats clear decks By Ian Swanson Posted: 06/01/09 08:01 PM
Democrats and the Obama administration are shoving aside issues that divide their party to clear the deck for healthcare reform, which is likely to dominate the rest of the legislative year.
In doing so, the administration appears to be learning from the experiences of the Clinton administration, which engaged in divisive intra-party battles over trade and gays in the military as it fought unsuccessfully for healthcare reform. It also reflects a pivot from earlier this year, when the White House brushed off concerns that its agenda was too ambitious.
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“The sense we’re getting is, the reasons they pulled back is the fear of stirring things up when they need everyone to come together,” one Democratic aide said. The fact that the administration backed off on Panama indicates “they realize the deep concern about stirring up a fight on something that’s nonessential,” the aide said.
The administration also has not pushed Congress to end the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays serving in the armed forces. Democratic consultant Paul Begala, who worked in the Clinton White House, said the rationale for that decision can be seen through a healthcare lens.
A failure to finish healthcare reform would drown out other achievements and mean “very serious risks to congressional Democrats,” Begala said, while success will “amplify” other achievements.
While Congress will certainly be working on issues other than healthcare reform, Obama has made it clear that getting a health bill done in 2009 is his top domestic agenda priority.
Obama last week said, “If we don’t get done this year, we’re not going to get it done.”
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Don’t ask, don’t tell and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were polarizing issues in 1993 for Democrats, the last time the party held the White House and Congress. Obama’s government is filled with veterans from those wars, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the face of healthcare reform as first lady in 1993.
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Democratic fortunes in 2010 will be tied to the success of healthcare reform, according to Begala, who regularly talks to Emanuel on politics and strategy.
“I believe the biggest single reason we lost Congress in 1994 wasn’t taxes, gay rights or the assault-rifle ban,” Begala told The Hill. “I believe what killed us was healthcare.”
Republicans see an opportunity if the $787 billion stimulus bill ends up serving as the 111th Congress’s pinnacle accomplishment.
“If the stimulus bill become the focus for Democratic candidates in 2010, that creates more problems for swing districts and moderate Democrats,” Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said in an interview.
If voters weary of bailouts are worried about deficits, the stimulus cost could come back to haunt Democrats, though so far polls indicate Americans are hopeful about the economy and pleased with President Obama’s leadership on it.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-clear-decks-2009-06-01.html
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