Approximately one in ten Americans will change their support of the Affordable Care Act to disapproval if you call it “ObamaCare,” indicating that there is a significant amount of partisan opposition to the bill that doesn’t reach the merits. It’s significant because calling it ObamaCare lowers support from 46% to 37%, which makes all the difference in the world. Meanwhile, in this part of the country, Republican lawmakers are running scared. Michael Grimm, who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, has this to say:
“The circus created the past few days isn’t reflective of mainstream Republicans — it projects an image of not being reasonable. The vast majority of Republicans are pretty level-headed and are here to govern,” said Representative Michael Grimm, a New York Republican.
“This is a moment in history for our party to, once and for all, put everything on the table. But at some point we’re going to come together and unify,” Grimm said, adding that the “far-right faction” of the party “represents 15 percent of the country, but they’re trying to control the entire debate.”
And Rep. Charlie Dent, who represents Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, says that he is ready to support a clean continuing resolution (CR) because he doesn’t intend “to support a fool’s errand.” The House Republicans have tried to put on a show of unity, but it’s not real.
Likewise in the Upper Chamber, where Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming (about whom, gay rights advocate Mike Rogers has recently had something to say), was overheard complaining about “those crazy people in the House” to Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says that she opposes a strategy that “cannot possibly work.”
This is the condition of the Republican Party as Speaker Boehner launches a campaign he transparently does not believe in.
By embracing the Tea Party’s strategy aimed at thwarting ObamaCare, Boehner (R-Ohio) is betting he can win the public relations battle against President Obama’s bully pulpit.
It is a huge gamble; the political fallout from it could be felt for years to come.
This is the equivalent of a poorly-regarded boxer taking on the heavyweight champion of the world, when he doesn’t believe in himself and has his arms tied behind his back, and hoping to win on the judges’ scorecards because he knows he lacks the power to score a knockout. As Sen. Collins said, this cannot possibly work.
