If you were a political Rip Van Winkle who had stopped paying attention to hot air emanating from Washington during winter break, it is time to wake up and smell the chaos.
People are acting like the improbable victory of Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy handed the Republicans an insurmountable majority in the Senate — 41 of its 100 seats. Like despite braving a blizzard to pass health care reform before Christmas, the bill would need an act of God to now reach President Barack Obama’s desk. Like cap-and-trade will never see the light of day, and financial sector reform would have to be acceptable to Wall Street before being passed. Like Obama should have begun his State of the Union by saying “American people, I hear you” and promptly turn over the presidency to Sen. John McCain.
The problem with Obama and congressional Democrats has been their failure to listen to the public. But the message from the nation hasn’t been the anti-government hatred spewed by “tea-party” activists or the paralyzing caution advocated by self-styled centrists.
No, the American people demand a government that is responsive, effective and empathetic — they demand to see some of the change that was promised to them.
In the 2008 election, voters rebuked a Republican party that had shepherded nearly a decade of disaster filled with economic inequality, gross mismanagement and needless bloodshed.
But winning the election wasn’t the ultimate goal. The goal was to accomplish something. In that regard, Democrats have failed, aided by an obstructing conservative minority. When government is so desperately needed to stabilize the economy, incentivize job creation, mend a broken health care system and create more opportunity for the middle class, Democrats have been complicit in a Republican plot to make government fail. The response to the president’s bipartisan overtures at the beginning of his term where virulent protests filled with rabid accusations of Hilter-esque fascism. Draping themselves in conservative robes won Democrats little or no Republican support on any legislative initiative of note.
The string of setbacks now presents an opportunity to Obama and his Democratic allies: an occasion to be bold and dramatically rewrite the negative political narrative.
Obama and Congress must show a capacity to lead and to govern, and that requires fulfilling promises. There will be no electoral reward for delay, inaction or retreat from the values and principles that got Obama elected. Results are what can save Democrats. This entails health care being passed even if it requires the use of parliamentary maneuvers such as reconciliation. Populism cannot be surrendered to the Republicans who will simply use it for political gain. Efforts to increase job creation and continue to stimulate economic activity should be watered down, and calls for spending freezes and more tax cuts should be acquiesced without something in return.
One defeat does not end a movement or stall a presidency. Change always faces large hurdles, but it’s about time to jump over a few of them. Listen to the American people: The time to act is now.
Matt Verghese is a graduate student in public policy. He can be reached at mverghese at umdbk dot com.
