They call it "deal-making" in our nation's capital, but it's really a contract. Contracts require offer, acceptance, and consideration.
When the Democratic Senate leadership makes an offer to give special consideration to a state in return for its senator's vote (selling out) in favor of a health care bill, a contract is made when he or she accepts that offer. The fourth element of a contract is also necessary; it must be legal.
Deal-making has caused the Democrats a bundle of trouble. It's been a root cause of the "second American Revolution" which emerged in New Jersey and Virginia elections and exploded in Massachusetts with the election of Scott Brown to fill the "People's Seat," formerly the Ted Kennedy seat. Brown, the underdog of underdogs in that state, was successful running as a Republican but owes his success to independent voters.
The first American Revolution for Independence, which began in Massachusetts, has become the independents' Second American Revolution.
The "deals" being made in Washington to pass health care reform impacted the believability factor of Congress and the Administration. Our congresspersons can give dozens of reasons why deal-making is legal, but it's like legalizing prostitution. It's still immoral and the American people know it. A clear message was sent by the election of Brown.
There are signs in Washington that Democrats recognize that their version of health care reform is dead and some are even acting conciliatory, an attribute they've not displayed for the last 13 months. As recent as last week, Democratic leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid and President Obama were confident they would be able to force the bill through Congress. Early in the Obama administration it was all about condemning everything Bush and making their imprint on the country.
Those were heady times with everyone from the president on down displaying a confidence, even arrogance, that they had a mandate from the voters to "change" everything. Most people have now had enough of the liberal left's brand of change and are really wondering why our elected representatives can't work together to solve the myriad of problems facing us.
After the loss of the "Kennedy Seat," the president made a long and rambling speech in a sort of town hall setting. The president was animated, passionate and at times spoke like a regular person and not like a college law professor. This excited his base but didn't do much to explain how his party had so badly misread the mood of the country relative to health care reform. Democratic leaders in Congress have failed to do his will by passing a comprehensive health care reform bill.
Americans can be an ornery bunch when they want to be. Democrats may soon learn that there are two major stumbling blocks to bipartisanship, namely Reid and Pelosi. Reid will be out when he loses re-election in November, and Pelosi may be forced to turn over the gavel because of a shift of balance in the House either in numbers of Democrats or in support for her leadership. Republicans don't feel very conciliatory at this time having been ignored the past year.
Brown's election has also highlighted the distrust the electorate have regarding the president's other issues, such as the war on terrorism, treatment of enemy combatants, taxes and energy policies. The administration and the majority in Congress have been trying to lead from the left while most of the country is center right in their political views.
The president and many of his advisers skated into power on anti-Bush sentiment and little in the way of experience and judgment. If the administration hopes to survive and regain any degree of credibility, there must be a change within the leadership of the party.
Reynolds lives in Pleasant View.
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