Democrats decide to cram down unwanted health care 'reform'

NY Times:

Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.

Top Democrats said Tuesday that their go-it-alone view was being shaped by what they saw as Republicans’ purposely strident tone against health care legislation during this month’s Congressional recess, as well as remarks by leading Republicans that current proposals were flawed beyond repair.

Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said the heated opposition was evidence that Republicans had made a political calculation to draw a line against any health care changes, the latest in a string of major administration proposals that Republicans have opposed.

...

I am sure Emanuel is aware of the polling that shows a majority of voters oppose the Democrat health care plans. It is not just Republicans who oppose, but also a majority of independents. Even among Democrats it is not that popular. What the White House has decided to do is expose those Democrats to the defeat that will follow being forced to vote on this issue. They will try to use a device in the Senate that will require only 51 votes in order to get around their own moderates.

They are certainly giving the GOP a gift. Pushing all those independents into the Republican camp for 2010 will be a memorable event.