Posted on 12/22/2009 8:08:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Sen. Ben Nelson's, D-Neb., abandonment of his alleged "pro-life" commitment brought Harry Reid within reach of a Christmas Eve vote to approve a Senate version of Obamacare. When that happens, the political battles over the future of American medicine and especially the care of seniors will shift to the conference committee and then to the House.
Though many conservatives are demoralized, they should instead be gearing up to peel off enough votes from among the 220 who voted for Obamacare when it passed the lower chamber. If the 215 who voted "no" on the first round stay firm, only three Democrats need to be turned.
Those three are most likely going to be found among the 24 Democrats identified by the National Republican Congressional Committee's Reverse the Vote campaign. (See reversethevote.org/dems.html) These are the two dozen Democrats judged most vulnerable on Nov. 2, 2010, because the beliefs of the voters in their districts do not square with their representatives' support for the federal government's takeover of health care. Thousands of small contributions have already flowed into a special fund to be divided among the eventual GOP nominees against these 24 constituent-ignoring liberals.
Even more money is needed of course, but much more than money as well, and that is where the Tea Party movement comes in.
First, though, what do we mean by "Tea Party movement?" The media don't seem to recognize the fact that there are many groups that wear the Tea Party mantle. Some are completely legitimate grass-roots organizations, like Tea Party Patriots (teapartypatriots.org). Others are also completely legit. Still others are consultant-driven not-for-profits in name and tax status only, and they are actually just using the populist anger in the country to line their pockets.
What matters now is that the genuine grass-roots activists join in the effort to peel off at least three House Democrats from their original support for Obamacare. The Tea Party turnout has considerable overlap with the GOP, but they are very distinct efforts in many respects. Almost every member of both opposes the takeover of health care by the feds, and most are also opposed to the massive cuts in store for Medicare.
While the GOP busies itself raising money for the fall races, the Tea Party activists could be focusing on organizing efforts on a district-by-district basis. Imagine the impact over the next few weeks if the cash continued to flow into Reverse the Vote even as committees of Tea Party veterans presented themselves and their grievances in the local offices of these 24 Democrats.
Tea Party participants from districts with congressmen who have been opposing Obamacare and massive spending could become virtual members of one of the 24 efforts to turn a Democrat from a "yes" to a "no." The surge in opposition, if focused, could be very effective.
The GOP and the Tea Parties are not the same thing. But they want many of the same things, especially the defeat of Obamacare.
The time is now for the latter to target the same out-of-touch-with-their-district Democrats as the former. Such an alliance, even if only for a while, could save American medicine.
Some of the Tea Party participants will want to grouse about what the Republicans did -- or didn't do -- when they were in the majority before 2007. Some will worry about being co-opted or about losing their influence or position within the media spotlight as 2010 begins to shift to the elections, which inevitably highlight the two parties. Still others will be dreaming "third party" dreams and won't want anything to do with the Party of Lincoln.
A test of the movement is directly ahead. To defeat Obamacare, it is going to have to team up with the GOP. The next few weeks will tell us a lot about the motives, and staying power, of the new activists of 2009.
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Examiner Columnist Hugh Hewitt is a law professor at Chapman University Law School and a nationally syndicated radio talk show host who blogs daily at HughHewitt.com.
bump
If I pray, then I believe God can do it; if I believe God can do it, then I pray.
Yes, I do.
Stand with me. Anyone?
The Tea Party movement will have to merge with the Republican Party in the end, but it’s important that the Tea Partyers hold out for an improved Republican Party. In the end, the unifying, galvanizing force will be the candidates in 2010 and then, most importantly, the candidate in 2012—and that will have to be Sarah Palin if the Tea Party movement and Republicans are to each get the most out of their eventual alliance. Palin is the right answer to all the questions.
They have that backwards, The GOP will have to team up with the Tea Party, Big difference.
As I’ve said before, the GOP is going to have to accept and align themselves with the TEA Party Patriots in order to achieve any victory.
The columnist here is precisely right.
The Tea Party movement should be strongly supported, but political hacks who have siphoned off millions of dollars, like Sal Russo (of the "Tea Party Express"), should be sidelined in favor of the true grass roots.
Ping!!
This is where things need to focus today. These blue dogs.
Writing letters or sitting in Senators offices won’t work. (I tried some of that). The Senate is in the bag. Those 60 are all bought off and many insulated from elections for 3 to 5 years.
But the House. Different story. All those Dems could ensure their future by either switching parties or going against Obama on healthcare. They will all lose re-election next year unless they stop Obamacare. People need to put the focus and marches on those reps. It is the last chance, but a good one we have in my opinion.
This is where things need to focus today. These blue dogs.
Writing letters or sitting in Senators offices won’t work. (I tried some of that). The Senate is in the bag. Those 60 are all bought off and many insulated from elections for 3 to 5 years.
But the House. Different story. All those Dems could ensure their future by either switching parties or going against Obama on healthcare. They will all lose re-election next year unless they stop Obamacare. People need to put the focus and marches on those reps. It is the last chance, but a good one we have in my opinion.
Run a really controversial ad against one of the most susceptible RATS in the house. If it’s mean enough the State Run Media will give you all kinds of free time in denouncing it!
“If the 215 who voted “no” on the first round stay firm, only three Democrats need to be turned.”
The problem with that analysis is that undoubtedly a significant number of those 215 were donkeys who were “released” by Pelosi from voting for the bill in order to maintain their electoral viabllty in 2010.
Of those who initially voted for the bill, if a handful get peeled from the herd for the final vote, rest assured that Pelosi will be leaning on those who dissented initially to get on board to pass the final bill.
I expect it can be stopped in the house (and I hope Stupak will be the one to do it), but given the groupthink that thrives among Dems, I think it will be a longshot.
To save our country and to preserve our freedom, we have to climb in the RAT gutter and fight them using every sleazy tactic the Socialists have used on us for years. DeathCare means exactly that— rationed care and DEATH. We must win this battle regardless of who we team up with. DeMint, Bachmann, and Coburn need help. Take off the gloves and save our nation from these Fascists.
Romney is an older version of Obama...says one thing but believes once in power he can change the minds of us “simple folk.”
I see no leader in the Republican Party. However, they have done what they could. Maybe these constitutional questions that are being researched in every state will save WE THE PEOPLE!
Until then, I will pray that God will have mercy on us and save us from those who want to hurt us most as a country. God gave us freedom and we now have to fight to keep it. It should not be! It should not be! God is the only one who can save us now!
“The Tea Party movement will have to merge with the Republican Party in the end, but it’s important that the Tea Partyers hold out for an improved Republican Party. In the end, the unifying, galvanizing force will be the candidates in 2010 and then, most importantly, the candidate in 2012—and that will have to be Sarah Palin if the Tea Party movement and Republicans are to each get the most out of their eventual alliance. Palin is the right answer to all the questions.”
I would suggest that the Tea Party movement will need to take over the Republican party...and I agree about Sarah Palin.
Hewitt was a major supporter of Romney.
“and that will have to be Sarah Palin if the Tea Party movement and Republicans are to each get the most out of their eventual alliance. Palin is the right answer to all the questions.”
Uhmmm, Palin ran with McCain, and her record in Alaska although is definately not to the left, has a lot of “middle of the road” and “reach across the aisle”-edness to it...Not really a true conservative....
Whichever way you want to put it, that had better happen or you’ll have conservative votes split between the TP and the GOP - and we’ll get another Democrat as a result.
I’m afraid the Tea Party will become a third party, like the Reform Party, and it’ll peel off enough votes from the Republicans next major election, to put all these bastards back in office, like Perot did with Clinton.
Romney is certainly flawed, but he is no Obama. OZero never held a real job, never had to meet a payroll, and has a very small minority of advisors who have ever had experience in the private sector. Romney pulled the SLC Olympics out of the toilet and made them a success; and he does know something about business. He made the mistake of throwing all this knowledge and experience away, going along to get along with the MA Democrats. So I might not vote for him - but he’s a far cry from our sorry excuse for a president.
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