Proving once again that liberals just can’t seem to get over the demise of the Enlightenment (I mean rational thought is so over), Steve Benen at the Washington Monthly makes the obvious point that, contrary to Beltway wisdom, it is not Obama who has failed to meet the Republicans half way:
It’s tempting to think that the “Republican Ideas” section would be the area in which the White House blasts GOP critics of reform and mocks them for not even trying to create a comprehensive reform package. Of course, the opposite is true. The headline on this page reads, “Republican Ideas Included in the President’s Proposal.”
It’s clear that the American people want health insurance reform. They aren’t interested in Democratic ideas or Republican ideas. They’re interested in the best ideas to reduce costs, guarantee choices and ensure the highest quality care. They’re interested in ideas that will put them back in control of their own health care.
Throughout the debate on health insurance reform, Republican concepts and proposals have been included in legislation. In fact, hundreds of Republican amendments were adopted during the committee mark-up process. As a result, both the Senate and the House passed key Republican proposals that are incorporated into the President’s Proposal. […]
Benen draws the obvious conclusion that Republicans aren’t interested in constructive engagement.
But, in fact, the Republican’s intransigence is perfectly logical. They ask only that Obama adopt their ideas. The problem is that it is impossible for Obama to do so. What Obama, and Benen fail to realize is that once Obama accepts a Republican idea, it is transformed into an Obama idea and is no longer a Republican idea. As a result it is absolutely impossible for Obama to accept a Republican idea. Republicans understand this transformative process very well, as is demonstrated by the facility with which they turn against any idea that once was, but no longer is, of the Republican variety. The true mystery here is why Obama or the Democrats keep trying. Maybe they should talk to a kid named Charlie Brown about a girl named Lucy and her football.
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