So House Republicans defeated a bill that would have provided health care for the workers that rushed to New York City after 9/11 to help with the recovery and cleanup work. You know, the people George W Bush used as a prop for his famous bullhorn at Ground Zero speech.
Why? Well, according to Texas Representative Joe Barton, it's up to New Yorkers to take care of their own mess.
Hey! Ho!
This is the appropriate response:
Naturally, this kind of anger isn't expressed by the Democratic policy-makers. Instead, we're seeing a lot of folks cave on key issues that represent the will of a majority of American voters. Here's Paul Krugman, on Obama's tendency to "alienate {his} friends" and "woo...people who will never waver in their hatred..."
What explains Mr. Obama's consistent snubbing of those who made him what he is? Does he fear that his enemies would use any support for progressive people or ideas as an excuse to denounce him as a left-wing extremist? Well, as you may have noticed, they don't need such excuses: He's been portrayed as a socialist because he enacted Mitt Romney's health-care plan, as a virulent foe of business because he's been known to mention that corporations sometimes behave badly.
The point is that Mr. Obama's attempts to avoid confrontation have been counterproductive. His opponents remain filled with a passionate intensity, while his supporters, having received no respect, lack all conviction. And in a midterm election, where turnout is crucial, the "enthusiasm gap" between Republicans and Democrats could spell catastrophe for the Obama agenda.
The same could be said of politicians closer to home. Here's some advice: you won't win any elections by demoralizing your base, and pandering to those that won't vote for you anyway.
Update -- Worth noting -- Congressman Rehberg is among those who voted against this bill.
