Photo credit: AP/Susan Walsh
By: Jill Lawrence
Source: politicsdaily.com
When President Obama and Congress return next month to confront tough choices on health reform, will Sen. Edward Kennedy’s death be the catalyst for finally achieving what he called the cause of his life, health care for all? It’s possible, but we don’t know yet exactly how.
The debate is about to enter a new phase, which will require much stronger leadership from Obama. He’ll have to define what he wants and keep Senate Democrats on course. He’ll have to choose between continued negotiations with Republicans or moving ahead with Democrats alone. And he’ll have to decide whether and how much to invoke Kennedy’s memory in his call to action.
A multitude of people and groups (from MoveOn.org to the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Business and Professional Women Foundation, to name just three) are urging that reform be passed quickly as a tribute to Kennedy. John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff who now heads the liberal Center for American Progress, said some senators will take from Kennedy’s death a resolve “to push forward and push through health reform.”
It’s unlikely, however, that Republicans will feel that way. “Obviously he had many friends on the other side of the aisle, but ultimately they’re judging this on the basis of their own politics,” Podesta said Wednesday on a conference call.
