Obama Still Trying to ‘Do a Chicago’ in Push for Health-Care Bill (UPDATED)

Posted on | March 3, 2010 | 24 Comments

Threatening “reconcilliation” to muscle Senate Republicans:

White House officials tell ABC News that in his remarks [today] President Obama will indicate a willingness to work with Republicans on some issue to get a health care reform bill passed but will suggest that if it is necessary, Democrats will use the controversial “reconciliation” rules requiring only 51 Senate votes to pass the “fix” to the Senate bill, as opposed to the 60 votes to stop a filibuster and proceed to a vote on a bill.

It won’t work. ObamaCare is, shall we say, “pining for the fjords.”

UPDATE 3:37 p.m. ET: Perhaps you saw Obama’s big speech on TV, repeating the doctors-in-lab-coats motif of last summer. Notice how he emphasized that this is urgent and must be done now:

So now is the time to make a decision about how to finally reform health care so that it works, not just for the insurance companies, but for America’s families and America’s businesses. . . .
Democrats and Republicans agree that this is a serious problem for America. And we agree that if we do nothing — if we throw up our hands and walk away — it’s a problem that will only grow worse . . .
I don’t see how another year of negotiations would help. . . .
I, therefore, ask leaders in both houses of Congress to finish their work and schedule a vote in the next few weeks. . . .
The American people . . . are waiting for us to act. They are waiting for us to lead. . . .
Let’s get it done.

Why the haste? It’s the old high-pressure sales pitch — “Act Now! Don’t Delay!” — and as any experienced consumer knows, that’s usually a sign that somebody’s offering a bad deal.

The reasons for Obama’s hurry-up trick is simply because he knows that every time lawmakers go back to their districts, they hear more from their constituents — who, as polls clearly show, are opposed to ObamaCare. And the closer we get to Election Day, the more members of Congress are likely to listen to their own voters instead of listening to Obama (and the army of lobbyists pushing for his plan).

All Republicans have to do is hold the fort a few more weeks, and ObamaCare will collapse of its own weight — another “Epic Fail.”

Michelle Malkin has more. Also see commentary from Ruby Slippers, So It Goes in Shreveport and Dan Riehl.

Category: Barack Obama, Health Care, Republicans, Senate

Comments

24 Responses to “Obama Still Trying to ‘Do a Chicago’ in Push for Health-Care Bill (UPDATED)”

Kentucky Colonel
March 3rd, 2010 @ 4:07 pm

I guess with Obama, there is no such thing as Separation of Powers. I find it interesting that he “will suggest that if it is necessary, Democrats will use the controversial “reconciliation” rules requiring only 51 Senate votes to pass the “fix” to the Senate bill, as opposed to the 60 votes to stop a filibuster and proceed to a vote on a bill”. Isn’t it improper for him to say that the Senate “will” use a particular strategy to pass a bill?
Kentucky Colonel
March 3rd, 2010 @ 11:07 am

I guess with Obama, there is no such thing as Separation of Powers. I find it interesting that he “will suggest that if it is necessary, Democrats will use the controversial “reconciliation” rules requiring only 51 Senate votes to pass the “fix” to the Senate bill, as opposed to the 60 votes to stop a filibuster and proceed to a vote on a bill”. Isn’t it improper for him to say that the Senate “will” use a particular strategy to pass a bill?
Victor
March 3rd, 2010 @ 6:12 pm

” Beautiful plumage, the Norwegian Blue…”
Victor
March 3rd, 2010 @ 1:12 pm

” Beautiful plumage, the Norwegian Blue…”
Lonely Conservative
March 3rd, 2010 @ 7:02 pm

He’s on TV now – spewing his lies. So much has changed, you know, since the time he was against reconciliation and said something as big as healthcare needed to pass with a 60 vote majority.
Lonely Conservative
March 3rd, 2010 @ 2:02 pm

He’s on TV now – spewing his lies. So much has changed, you know, since the time he was against reconciliation and said something as big as healthcare needed to pass with a 60 vote majority.
Clavius
March 3rd, 2010 @ 8:08 pm

I don’t share your estimation that Obamacare is dead.

They are intent on pushing this through and if enough Democrats switch to “yes” from “no” based on pressure from Pelosi and the White House — enabled by the gloss-over veneer of “compromise” — We are toast.
Clavius
March 3rd, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

I don’t share your estimation that Obamacare is dead.

They are intent on pushing this through and if enough Democrats switch to “yes” from “no” based on pressure from Pelosi and the White House — enabled by the gloss-over veneer of “compromise” — We are toast.
That's Right
March 3rd, 2010 @ 3:27 pm

The Filthy Lying Hypocrite-in-Chief Makes it Official…

We’re doing this and we couldn’t care less what the unwashed rabble thinks: “Now is the time ……
Russ
March 3rd, 2010 @ 8:28 pm

Man I hope you’re right, but I’m just not so sure anymore.
smitty
March 3rd, 2010 @ 8:28 pm

After the demolition of the Congress, we can get on with effecting all legislation through signing statements.
Russ
March 3rd, 2010 @ 3:28 pm

Man I hope you’re right, but I’m just not so sure anymore.
smitty
March 3rd, 2010 @ 3:28 pm

After the demolition of the Congress, we can get on with effecting all legislation through signing statements.
Right-Wing Links (March 3, 2010)
March 3rd, 2010 @ 4:29 pm

[…] Obama Still Trying to ‘Do a Chicago’ in Push for Health-Care Bill (UPDATED) […]
nicholas
March 3rd, 2010 @ 11:17 pm

“It won’t work. ObamaCare is, shall we say, “pining for the fjords.””

What makes you so sure, Stace. Senate rules forbid the reconcilation process to be used for anything other than budget reconcilation, but these are DEMOCRATS we’re talking about here.

“Senate rules? We don’t need no stinkin Senate rules.”

Besides, you were pretty confident in the Cleavage War too. Then Belvedere pulled out the big guns, and it was all over.
nicholas
March 3rd, 2010 @ 6:17 pm

“It won’t work. ObamaCare is, shall we say, “pining for the fjords.””

What makes you so sure, Stace. Senate rules forbid the reconcilation process to be used for anything other than budget reconcilation, but these are DEMOCRATS we’re talking about here.

“Senate rules? We don’t need no stinkin Senate rules.”

Besides, you were pretty confident in the Cleavage War too. Then Belvedere pulled out the big guns, and it was all over.
nicholas
March 3rd, 2010 @ 11:24 pm

Cynthia Myers.

And I don’t think you’ll be needing to look that one up.

I’m just saying…
nicholas
March 3rd, 2010 @ 6:24 pm

Cynthia Myers.

And I don’t think you’ll be needing to look that one up.

I’m just saying…
Video: Stupak Says Health Care Bill Won't Pass House Due to Funding of Abortion | The Lonely Conservative
March 3rd, 2010 @ 9:28 pm

[…] wonder Obama has to resort to the selling of judgeships to jam this through. I guess he figured pulling a Chicago wasn’t working. AKPC_IDS += "17210,";Popularity: unranked [?]Possibly Related PostsMarch 3, […]
Reaganite Republican
March 4th, 2010 @ 5:03 pm

Obama’s high-pressure sales pitch reminds me of the lot lizard that stuffed my high school girlfriend into a brown ’74 Matador sedan in about 20 minutes… when she had walked on the lot looking for a Mustang, ha- same fake smile too.

And like a good salesman, he acts as though passing some kind of HC bill he likes is inevitable (“what do you mean, you’re not buying a car today?)- while it’s surely not.

Linked at Reaganite Republican-

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/passing-obamacare-chicago-way-will-not.html
Reaganite Republican
March 4th, 2010 @ 12:03 pm

Obama’s high-pressure sales pitch reminds me of the lot lizard that stuffed my high school girlfriend into a brown ’74 Matador sedan in about 20 minutes… when she had walked on the lot looking for a Mustang, ha- same fake smile too.

And like a good salesman, he acts as though passing some kind of HC bill he likes is inevitable (“what do you mean, you’re not buying a car today?)- while it’s surely not.

Linked at Reaganite Republican-

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/passing-obamacare-chicago-way-will-not.html
Bob Belvedere
March 4th, 2010 @ 9:46 pm

Nicholas: Colonel Cynthia Myers has been part of my army since December. I may be deploying her again soon.
Bob Belvedere
March 4th, 2010 @ 4:46 pm

Nicholas: Colonel Cynthia Myers has been part of my army since December. I may be deploying her again soon.
People Get Ready For The Judgement Day « The Camp Of The Saints [New Main Site]
March 5th, 2010 @ 10:16 am

[…] McCain thinks we can win this battle of the long war: Why the haste? It’s the old high-pressure sales pitch – “Act Now! Don’t […]