Questions from Readers

Why don’t we have more willing bipartisanship in the Congress?

I think it goes back to redistricting. State legislatures have done such a "good" job of carving out districts that support one party or the other that those elected are not allowed – or cannot afford, politically – to be bipartisan in their thinking or their voting.

Voters of their "solid" districts won't give them the freedom to look at the other side, to consider the merits of another point of view. That is a sad development for America, and truly undermines our representative form of government. Both parties are guilty of carving out districts where there is little chance of successfully contesting the status quo. By the way, our founders wanted nothing to do with the status quo if you recall history. I don't know why today's "leaders" are afraid of addressing it.

Why is President Obama in such a rush to pass health care reform?

In my view, nothing is being rushed. All the issues have been simmering on the stove for years. Most legislative leaders on Capitol Hill are thoroughly familiar with them…BUT no one has had the courage to take them off the hot stove. All have been content to wait for a real cook to come along brave enough to pick up the pot, hot to the touch with all the sensitive issues brewing inside, and serve it up to everyone at the table. Obama, it turns out, is that cook and he is not afraid of the heat.

Sen. Demint (R-SC) speaks for a large number of Republicans who see health care as "Obama's Waterloo.” As Demint said, “We can use it to break him." They have no intention of serving the public interest. None at all. Their only goal is to defeat Obama. The public interest be damned. Regrettably, that is the essence of the Republican Party these days. Why not be seen coming to the table to say, "We like this, we don't like that, we can compromise on these two." Everyone in America knows the health care system is broken. Costs are out of control. So, let's do something about it. No, the Republicans don't want to do anything if it means Obama might actually succeed. They just can't stomach that possibility.

Why can’t the vote wait until later this year or even next year?

Look, every member of Congress understands very well why the vote must take place soon. If we don't get a bill out of committee before the August recess, two things will happen: (1) the crush of the legislative calendar will cut short the days when the bill may be considered in both chambers, and (2) opposition to any reform of health care will use the time to distort the bill in the hope of preventing any change. Time and the inclination to say "no" to anything new will be working against meaningful change this year. The largest lobbying operation the world has ever known is working against it. If Obama succeeds, his middle name ought to be changed to Hercules.

As the schedule slips and votes are put off, passage of meaningful legislation becomes less assured. Only one thing is 99% certain: if health care reform doesn’t pass this year, it is probably dead for the foreseeable future. Rush Limbaugh and New Gingrich will have won again and 225 million Americans will have lost…again. Won't that be special?!

What about this “birther movement,” (challenging the validity of Obama’s birth as a natural born American)?

Every American ought to be disgusted with this development and denounce it at every opportunity. The "birther movement," make no mistake about it, is blatant racism by those who cannot stand to see a black man succeed....and particularly not this one. We have come a long way as a nation but ... we have not traveled far.