Obama Stimulus Politics: Post-Partisan Doesn't Mean Bipartisan
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Bonnie and I weighed in last week on the differences between bipartisanship and post-partisanship, so I was interested in the Washington Post piece today detailing the Obama administration's reactions to recent party-line votes on the stimulus plan and expanding children's healthcare, and in E.J. Dionne's column today delineating the dangers of the measures of bipartisanship.
From the Post:
But the White House did not view the rejection of Obama's initial bid at fostering bipartisanship as a stinging disappointment. Even as Obama was unable to pick up their votes, he was left with many Republicans praising his outreach. And judging by Obama's record, it is this tone of mutual respect that—at least for now—he may be after as much as actual votes on bills he could pass without significant GOP backing.
Changing the tone of debate, even without changing the outcome, may be an ephemeral goal, but it is still important in terms of more easily finding common ground where it is possible down the line.
But as Dionne points out, there's a danger that a distinction is so ephemeral that its importance gets lost amid vote counts. There is, E.J. writes:
a rapidly forming conventional wisdom that would allow them to claim victory only if their economic stimulus package passes with substantial Republican support...
Changing the tone is important, he writes, but:
If achieving bipartisanship takes priority over the actual content of policy, Republicans are handed a powerful weapon. In theory, they can keep moving the bipartisan bar indefinitely. And each concession to their sensibilities threatens the solidarity in the president's own camp.
He's right—good legislation should not be held hostage to the desires of a party that, after all, just got drubbed in the November elections.
But we shouldn't conflate bipartisanship with tone-changing. The president is right in that we're not always going to agree, but we can disagree civilly.
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Tags: Barack Obama | economic stimulus | Obama administration
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Reader Comments
IS SHE TALKING ABOUT THE CLINTONS OR WHAT?
Maybe the JFK assassination, Oklahoma Federal Building, 911, Chappaquiddick or the untimely cancellation of "The Rockford Files"?
Disagreeing civilly
February 3, 2009
It is one thing to talk about disagreeing civilly, and altogether another to actually live by those words. Anybody can talk about the need to respect other people's views and that EVERYBODY has a right to be a part of the debate and help shape policy, and it is entirely another thing to purposely take part in or overlook muder or evil being conducted to silence others or discourage others from people wanting to help them get elected.
I sincerely believe one of the best things that could happen to acutally hold people accountable and reiterate to the International Community that the USA does have the credibility to speak about fair, healthy and democratic elections is stop trying to cover-up for murder and/or purposeful malicious acts. I sincerely believe if this nation wants to prove to the world that we truly are an honorable democracy then people must be held accountable for their actions. Cousin Mark Selden had a fork lift dropped on his head, it nearly killed him, and he has been through almost two years of intense therapy and is no where near his normal self before the malicious attempted murder? Scott Jett's widow is now left to raise five children alone. Landen Reimer's widow no longer has a husband and has an uncertain future. Pfc. Brian Bradbury will not be coming home to his family on this earth. His mother, wife, and children now have that hole in their lives. Jean Byers, John Teuber, Bertha Selden, and several other suspicious deaths have not been investigated fairly in my opinion. What is at stake here is not just about me. It is the credibility of the entire nation and political system before other nations of the world. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THE BEST THING FOR THIS NATION AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD IS TO NOT COVER UP THE TRUTH, BUT TO RESTORE THE INTEGRITY OF THE NATION BY INTERVIEWING THESE PEOPLE'S FAMILY MEMBERS ON NATIONAL TV, AND LET THE WORLD SEE THE REAL PEOPLE'S STORIES AND HOW THESE MURDERSOUS ACTS AFFECTED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. I believe this would do more to stop these kind of acts from continuing in this nation than anything else. Covering up murder only emboldens others to think they can get away with the same. Return credibility to the nation, uphold justice and interview the victim's families.
Deborah Solomon
Independence, MO
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