February 2010 Archives

Barry,

It was almost too much to watch.  Not that it was compelling television - it wasn't.  Just the sheer amount of time (nearly eight hours) devoted to what amounted to nothing more than a photo-op for President Obama and the Congressional Democrats to tout their health care plan. 

There wasn't much bipartisanship exhibited here, but what did become apparent is that the real goal of the summit was to clear the way for the Democrats to go-it-alone and force their health care plan on the American people using 'reconciliation.'

That's really too bad.  The fact is that 'reconciliation' should not be used to pass health care reform.  It's a partisan, legislative maneuver and is usually reserved for minor budgetary issues - not massive policy reform.  Sure, Republicans have used reconciliation in the past - but never to revamp one-fifth of our economy.

Barry,

Time to revisit health care reform and I am hopeful you will agree with me that this week's Presidential Health Care Summit is shaping up to be nothing more than a photo opportunity for President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress.

Sure, the President has invited a handful of Republicans to sit down to discuss health care reform. 

But, Barry, I ask you what is there to discuss?  President Obama has unveiled his own health care plan - in advance of the so-called 'summit.'  The White House says 'we view this as the opening bid for the health meeting.'  Does that mean President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress is willing to wipe the slate clean and start over?  I doubt it.

Barry,

I'm surprised you are not applauding the first year record of President Obama's White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  The White House touts its first year accomplishments and says it has "brought people together across religious lines" and was successful in getting the federal government to partner with faith-based and other nonprofit organizations to "better serve all Americans."  Isn't that what you want, Barry?

I find it interesting that even with President Obama at the helm, a recent poll indicates that most Americans - 69% - still support government-funding for faith-based initiatives started under the Bush Administration and say they favor allowing churches and other houses of worship, along with other organizations, to apply for government funding to provide social services such as job training or drug treatment counseling.