E.J. Dionne Proposing GOP Win-Win Situation?
As best I can tell, E.J. Dionne’s column presents Republicans with a win-win situation. Here’s what I’m referring to:
The coming week will test the strength of President Obama and the Democrats: Will they lose their nerve, or will they face down a rapidly forming conventional wisdom that will allow them to claim “victory” only if their economic stimulus package passes with substantial Republican support?
Up to now, Obama has handled his own public image with the same dexterity he showed in the campaign. His outreach to Republicans is popular because a streak of anti-partisanship has run through the American soul since the founding of the republic. From the time he announced his candidacy, Obama has broadened his appeal by speaking to this mistrust of parties.
I pointed out here that the Democrat-written bill, as currently configured, is owned in toto by Capitol Hill Democrats. If they stick to their guns, which is what John Kerry is advocating, they’ll own this disastrous bill.
I’m betting that they’ll rewrite the bill. They’re getting clobbered by conservative talk radio and the Right Blogosphere for all the pork that’s heaped into this bill. That hasn’t stopped E.J. from arguing against making concessions to Capitol Hill Republicans:
For the most part, the Republicans escaped attack for rank partisanship. Instead, what should have been hailed as an administration victory was cast in large parts of the media as a kind of defeat: Obama had placed a heavy emphasis on bipartisanship and he failed to achieve it.
It’s difficult to accuse Republicans for “rank partisanship” when 11 Blue Dog Democrats joined with all 177 Republicans in voting against Ms. Pelosi’s lardfest of a bill. It isn’t just difficult to accuse Republicans for “rank partisanship” after Sen. Ben Nelson, (D-NE), said that he couldn’t support the bill as it’s currently written.
E.J. can rest assured that Rush will highlight the Blue Dogs’ opposition to the House bill. He can rest assured of the fact that Rush will highlight Ben Nelson’s opposition to the bill, too.
The Democrats can either turn tail and rewrite the bill or they can own a bill that won’t create jobs but will drive up inflation. Either way, though, this is a win-win situation for the GOP.
Technorati Tags: E.J. Dionne, Stimulus, John Kerry, Pork, Ben Nelson, Blue Dogs, Democrats, Rush, House GOP, Fiscal Restraint
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog