Pragmatic compromise or selling out?
Now that Democratic leaders have been forced to accept a ban on abortion coverage to win House passage of health reform, proponents of other single-issue causes will be emboldened to achieve similar concessions during Senate deliberation.
How much should leaders sacrifice other goals to achieve a top priority? When does pragmatic compromise begin to undermine authority and long-term effectiveness?
What profit can't solve
Making social problems a business focus is great, but what happens when addressing social issues is no longer seen as profitable? We still need corporate philanthropy.
Stop the bleeding
To those who salute congressional leadership for cutting this health-care deal, I'd like to ask: Do you still call a compromise a compromise when you're the one who's bleeding?
The ugly end-game
Critics on both sides will make Senate passage of the bill ugly, but those in the center have the main task: Getting the votes to enact health-care reform.
A poor salesman
President Obama has not taken a strong leadership role on health care; he didn't use his bully pulpit to spell out clearly why the nation needs this reform.
Declining 'credibility capital'
Despite winning large majorities in Congress, Obama has found it extremely difficult to implement his vision, including a reform of health care.
Game time in the Senate
Our Senators can no longer hide, threaten, or negotiate their own individual bill; no one gets a free pass for denying the American public a fair up-or-down vote on this bill.
One step ahead
Much like the real "two-step," leadership is a dance that takes you forward and backward.
The barest compromise
A 220-215 win on the House bill shows that Democratic leaders gave no more than they absolutely had to.
A realist's achievement
Leaders must always weigh and rank priorities because they can seldom get everything they want.
No genuine leadership
Having chosen to put politics ahead of policy, the Democrats are left to compromise their values to force the bill through.
Villified leaders
Vilifying leaders for prioritizing goals inhibits their ability to do exactly what they were entrusted to do: make decisions.
Save & Share:
mayoungkin: The question facing House leadership was simple: did they want a bill with a ban on abortion mandates, or did they want no bill at all? The ...
roxroe: yes they gave up too much - namely their credibility with women -
it isn't about abortion it is about human rights > without reproductive ...
dummypants: isnt is funny that liberals never get called on for calling conservatives "the american taliban"? and its not as if its confined to crazies...
