The Obama administration has announced that its response to a Coakley loss in the Massachussetts senate race, which would end the Democrats' fillibuster-proof majority, would be to forge ahead with pushing healthcare reform on the American people.
This sort of response speaks of an arrogance unbecoming the office of the President. Poll after poll has shown that a majority of Americans do not support the administration's goals in healthcare. The attitude is one that smacks of, "we know better than you what you need. Don't concern yourself; adults are talking."
The problem with this approach is that someday the Democrats are going to be the minority in Congress and a Republican will be back in the White House. The tactics being employed now are going to be used by the opposition. Of course when that happens, the Democrats will decry the secrecy and the pushing of unpopular legislation and the lack of a "mandate". The Republicans will plug their ears and get their payback.
Congresspeople are elected to do the will of their constituents, not the will of the party leaders. That goes for both sides. Unfortunately, the in-your-face end run on healthcare reform is likely to be the blueprint for future administrations, and that's not good for anybody.
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