Spring Break
Bipartisanship needed to end bickering, inefficiency in DC
Brandon Southward
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Forum
President Obama learned a lesson in the process of getting his first piece of legislation passed: bipartisanship will be easier said then done.
The debate over the stimulus package was filled with partisan bickering, gamesmanship and looked very similar to the last 16 years of the Bush and Clinton terms. At times, the process was messy, contentious and humorous. At one point, Republican senator Jeff Sessions compared his own party to the Taliban.
Although the first battle was rough, the president's team has shown incredible talent to never repeat a mistake twice. Obama will need more Republican support for future bills, and there are a few things he can do to make for a smoother course.
First, Obama needs to forget this belief that all Republicans are willing to work with him and are interested in seeing him succeed. There are many who are looking forward to 2010 and 2012 and are positioning themselves for the elections; therefore, are less interested in helping out President Obama.
This is especially true in the House. Redistricting has made it so that districts are now either very conservative or very liberal, allowing members not to worry about losing their seat. Most Republicans are actually more afraid of appearing too moderate and facing a primary battle against a more conservative opponent. These Republicans are lost causes, and Obama should worry more about the Republicans who are moderates or pragmatic conservatives.
In the Senate, he should have an easier time as there are more moderates who can help to bridge the differences between the more extreme sides. He should involve the Republican leadership early in the legislative process to allow them to have their ideas heard and take away the opportunity to complain about partisanship.
Second, Obama needs to rein in members of his own party and encourage them to include Republicans in the legislative process and allow for their ideas and concerns to be heard. One of his biggest mistakes in the stimulus debate was allowing for the bill to be written secretively by the Democratic house leaders. These members disregarded any Republican ideas and filled the original bill with pent-up projects that the Democrats have wanted for eight years. Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi wondered why people were so concerned with the "process" of bipartisanship, but her leadership style has angered many Republicans and even some members of her own party.
The debate over the stimulus package was filled with partisan bickering, gamesmanship and looked very similar to the last 16 years of the Bush and Clinton terms. At times, the process was messy, contentious and humorous. At one point, Republican senator Jeff Sessions compared his own party to the Taliban.
Although the first battle was rough, the president's team has shown incredible talent to never repeat a mistake twice. Obama will need more Republican support for future bills, and there are a few things he can do to make for a smoother course.
First, Obama needs to forget this belief that all Republicans are willing to work with him and are interested in seeing him succeed. There are many who are looking forward to 2010 and 2012 and are positioning themselves for the elections; therefore, are less interested in helping out President Obama.
This is especially true in the House. Redistricting has made it so that districts are now either very conservative or very liberal, allowing members not to worry about losing their seat. Most Republicans are actually more afraid of appearing too moderate and facing a primary battle against a more conservative opponent. These Republicans are lost causes, and Obama should worry more about the Republicans who are moderates or pragmatic conservatives.
In the Senate, he should have an easier time as there are more moderates who can help to bridge the differences between the more extreme sides. He should involve the Republican leadership early in the legislative process to allow them to have their ideas heard and take away the opportunity to complain about partisanship.
Second, Obama needs to rein in members of his own party and encourage them to include Republicans in the legislative process and allow for their ideas and concerns to be heard. One of his biggest mistakes in the stimulus debate was allowing for the bill to be written secretively by the Democratic house leaders. These members disregarded any Republican ideas and filled the original bill with pent-up projects that the Democrats have wanted for eight years. Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi wondered why people were so concerned with the "process" of bipartisanship, but her leadership style has angered many Republicans and even some members of her own party.
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