There was a West Wing rerun on Bravo this morning that in some ways fits current events. In that episode, entitled "Game On", fictional President Bartlett was preparing for, then participating in, a debate with his Republican challenger. A great deal of time and energy was devoted to picking out the right tie and trying to find 10-word sound bites for complicated issues. The idea was to cultivate broad superficial support and offend as few as possible. Senior staff, however, feared that this "Uncle Fluffy" approach would be a mistake. To his staff's delight, the president went after his opponent hammer and tong, and ultimately showed why he was the better candidate. President Bartlett pointed out that instances of absolute right and absolute wrong are rare and almost always include body counts. There are few un-nuanced moments in leading a country that's way too big for 10-word answers. We later learn that polls showed no matter what he did, President Bartlett would be seen as arrogant. With nothing to lose, he was free to be himself without fear or consequence.
That should be a lesson for both President Obama and his opponents. If Republicans choose to favor misinformation and demagoguery over acting in good faith, then the president will have no incentive to participate in the charade that the other side of the aisle, as a whole, is interested in serving the interest of the American people on this issue, as they will have chosen instead to deliberately mislead and frighten an already unsettled populace for their own Machiavellian gain. Those who tacitly endorse the lies in the hope of reaping some benefit are every bit as guilty as those who spread them. Still, the most important word above is "if". Unless the president can be certain that all hope of reasonable cooperation is lost, something as big as health care reform shouldn't be done on a purely partisan basis.
For what it's worth, I still can't believe what I'm seeing. I feel as though I'm watching the chess club kid with the taped up glasses and the pocket protector adorning his 30 inch chest somehow managing to bully the biggest guy on the football team. Democrats hold the White House and significant margins in both the House and Senate, yet, perhaps out of force of habit, they are cowering in the corner begging not to be stuffed in a locker. However, should they elect to fight back and fight to win, they can make the Republicans painfully regret the day they thought the "death panel" gambit was a good idea. It entails some risk, but again, not if there is nothing to lose.
