I watched the special on Charles Krauthammer this morning, (with Bret Baier)
The interview with Dr. Krauthammer was a great/inspiring life story about overcoming a tragic freak accident, and not really missing a beat in charging ahead with life’s challenges. His story only solidifies my admiration for the man, (and his transition from a staunch liberal to a fairly right-wing Conservative). And, it would be ungenerous to not mention his latest book being released:
Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics
However..............,
I still have one argument with Dr. Krauthammer’s assessment/supposition of the ObamaCare debate. Krauthammer asserts that the “maneuver” by the Conservative right, (specifically Ted Cruz, and mostly Tea Party Republicans)---to completely defund ObamaCare---was a flawed strategy. But his argument is based on the fact that the program had no chance of being defunded with only one legislative branch controlled by Republicans. All true. But here’s my rebuttal to Mr. Krauthammer:
#1): Where would the over-all awareness to the general public, and, more importantly, the voters, on the state of ObamaCare---which was officially starting its enrollment process, be without Ted Cruz’s 21-hour “filibuster”/information clinic? What would have happened if Cruz or the Tea Party wing of the House NEVER ATTEMPTED to both repeal, and then defund this government take-over of the health insurance industry? Would the liberal media, (even in their editorials), have written ANYTHING, but positive glorifying attributes about the unfolding nightmare? Would the national coverage have been the same without Ted Cruz’s “campaign spectacle” exploiting this federal government grab? Would the media ever have dared
to report that millions are losing their current health care plans? The answer is a resounding NO.
#2): (and this is admittedly awesome hindsight). Given how the events unfolded, (the disastrous roll-out, and website debacles), didn’t it become prudent that Democrats were put ON THE RECORD*, (as always by Harry Reid’s Do Nothing Senate), that they rejected every appropriation sent to the Senate during the partial “shutdown”, and debt ceiling “crisis”? With several Senate Democrats
now coming on board to delay the individual mandate, the bill sent to the Senate
originally last July, and most recently
just before the shutdown, that would have kept the government OPEN and RUNNING---Democrats are now
on record for not compromising on one simple provision that is now becoming inevitable. The liberal media will NEVER ADMIT to these facts, that President Obama, (who proclaimed from the start---”I will not negotiate with hostage-takers”) and Harry’s Senate were steadfast on denying any compromise offered by Republicans---INCLUDING DELAYING THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.
* In the political world, putting an opponent “on the record”, (actual votes on legislation), carries far more weight than what ever rhetoric comes from the opponent, (or the liberal media’s echo-chamber/biased reporting). When this next election cycle approaches, (2014 mid-terms), all the rhetorical ads and “proclamations”, made by the liberal Democrats, can be defeated by one Republican ad stating how the opponent VOTED ON THE RECORD.
I would submit that had Senator Cruz, (with no help from his RINO-BELTWAY Republican “colleagues”) and the House Republicans NOT PROVIDED the forum for national media attention, or the consistent House legislation sent to the Senate and summarily rejected, the table would never have been set, (to put Democrats on the record), and worse, ObamaCare would have limped in with little fanfare, far less scrutiny, and the American Public would have been subjected to an endless display of glorification by this impending disaster. IT, (THE CRUZ-MISSLE) WAS NEVER ABOUT SERIOUSLY/LEGISLATIVELY REPEALING OBAMACARE. Both Ted Cruz and House Republicans always knew it could never happen with Obama’s veto power. However, it was about raising the goal post---read awareness---so more Americans would see the travesty that is ObamaCare. In this premise, Mr. Krauthammer, it was a MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
(editor's note: the author reserves the right to revise and extend/edit this post at any time---it's MY BLOG. However, if any changes are significant or changes factual context, I will note the changes at the bottom of the post)