Democrats in Congress are holding White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel accountable for his part in the collapse of healthcare reform.If that's not enough he's also got Sarah Palin calling for his scalp.
The emerging consensus among critics in both chambers is that Emanuel’s lack of Senate experience slowed President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.
The share of the blame comes as cracks are beginning to show in Emanuel’s once-impregnable political armor. Last week he had to apologize after a report surfaced that he called liberal groups “retarded” in a private meeting.
While Emanuel has quelled that controversy by meeting with advocates for people with disabilities, on Capitol Hill he’s under fire for poor execution of the president’s healthcare agenda in the Senate.
"I think Rahm ran the play his boss called; once Obama called the play, Rahm did everything he could to pass it, scorched-earth and all that,” said a senior lawmaker, who added that Emanuel didn’t seek a broader base of Senate Republicans. “I think he did miscalculate the Senate. He did what he thought he had to do to win."
While it might be correct to blame some of Emanuel's problems on his lack of Senate experience, let's not forget that his boss, President Obama, is a former Senator and should have been able to fill in any inexperience Emanuel might have. Of course, Obama didn't spend much time in the Senate but I assume he was there long enough to learn the basic rules.
Rahm may be a handy scapegoat, but it's his boss that deserves the blame for the failure of his agenda.
2 comments:
I think I recall hearing Obama saying the buck stops with Him. If this is so I would suggest he is the one responsible for the failure of his Healthcare Program, and you can also add to his failures the names of Reid and Pelosi. The three of these leaders are not in step with the majority of citizens in the country when it pertains to healthcare.
"Of course, Obama didn't spend much time in the Senate but I assume he was there long enough to learn the basic rules."
I'd agree he was there long enough "to have learned" the rules--but why should he when rules don't apply to The Won.
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