Ronald Brownstein at National Journal writes about the interview with Rahm Emmanuel over the HCR struggle and Obama's willingness "to pay the political price to get it done".
Brownstein writes
At various points in health care reform's long slog through Congress, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has offered President Obama options to settle for more-incremental change. But at each juncture, Obama has persisted in pursuing a comprehensive, big-bang bill.
In an interview with National Journal, Emanuel said he has intermittently provided Obama his assessment of "the equities" in more- and less-ambitious approaches, especially "given everything [else] we're trying to do." He continued, "This is what I'm supposed to do as chief of staff. But he has... always said, 'This is what needs to be done,' and he has said he is willing to pay the political price to get it done."
So, for those who are complaining that Obama was not actively pushing HCR, cite me any other president who was willing to commit political harakiri over his policy stand. The man has done over 50 stump meetings (at the rate of about one per week) in the last year amidst other sticky issues like economy meltdown, legacy wars, an uncooperative and annoying opposition and a 24-hour cable and right wing radio noise vilifying his agenda.
More Brownstein
The fight has opened a second window into Obama. The key here is his 2008 campaign assertion that "Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America" more than Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton did. The health care struggle suggests that Obama views changing that trajectory as the ultimate measure of a presidency's success. His aim is to establish a long-term political direction -- one centered on a more activist government that shapes and polices the market to strengthen the foundation for sustainable, broadly shared growth. Everything else -- the legislative tactics, even most individual policies -- is negotiable.
Yes, this is what it is all about - a fundamental change of political direction, which has in the so far only hurt more and more americans, just for enabling and enriching a few individuals and corporations.
Obama's core health care goals have been to establish the principle that Americans are entitled to insurance and to build a framework for controlling costs by incentivizing providers to work more efficiently. He has been unwavering about that destination but flexible and eclectic in his route. He has cut deals with traditional adversaries, such as the drug industry, and confronted allies to demand an independent Medicare reform commission.
His methods and apparent lack of "passion" (which is rightly debunked in this piece) may be infuriating to those on the left (he infuriates the right wing too but for altogether different reasons) but his vision is not questionable.
So, in these final moments of gittingitdone, I am with the President, Madam Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to bring home the bacon.