If a casual observer were to watch President Barack Obamas speech today to House Republicans, they might walk away thinking that the minority party hasnt offered up any ideas to fix the problems that plague America.
But if that casual observer stuck around for the questions and answers, they would have seen an entirely different picture a conservative party standing up to the President and making it clear that they do, indeed, have ideas but that their message has fallen on the Presidents (and liberals) deaf ears. The problem for the President is that the conservative message is resonating with America, as evidence by Scott Browns stunning electoral victory in Massachusetts Senate race.
On the subject of health care, the President said that he didnt get a lot of nibbles when he attempted to work with Republicans on the issue. But bipartisanship is a two-way street, and as Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) made clear to the President, her party has offered a slew of ideas. The trouble is, liberal leadership isnt listening.
As Rep. Blackburn said:
We have over 50 bills weve got plans to lower cost, to change purchasing models, address medical liability, insurance accountability, chronic and preexisting conditions, and access to affordable care for those with those conditions, insurance portability, expanded access, but not doing it with creating more government, more bureaucracy and more cost for the American taxpayer
And if those good ideas arent making it to you, maybe its the House Democrat leadership that is an impediment instead of a conduit.
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), too, confronted the President on bipartisanship when he recalled the Presidents service with Rep. Roskam in the Illinois legislature. Roskam told the President (as seen in the video above):
You took on ethics reform. You took on some big things.
One of the keys was you rolled your sleeves up, you worked with the other party, and ultimately you were able to make the deal.
Now, here’s an observation.
Over the past year, in my view, that attribute hasn’t been in full bloom. And by that I mean, you’ve gotten the subtext of House Republicans that sincerely want to come and be a part of this national conversation toward solutions, but they’ve really been stiff-armed by Speaker Pelosi.
Now, I know you’re not in charge of that chamber, but there really is this dynamic of, frankly, being shut out.
And shut out, too, are the American people, who have been taking to Tea Parties, townhall meetings, and the Massachusetts ballot box in protest of a runaway liberal Congress that is steering the country in the wrong direction.
As much as the President would like to paint Republicans and conservatives as the party of no, his spin sounds quite hollow to an American public that sees the reality of their government through quite a different lens.