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But does anyone think the substance of Obama’s health-care plan or the proposals of Republicans will change significantly at the summit? If they don’t, will the mere spectacle of the gathering and the dueling rhetoric be enough cause fundamental changes in the current political pecking order?. The gathering of President Obama and congressional leaders at Blair House has prompted the media to flood the zone, with wall-to-wall cable coverage and nonstop analysis befitting a history-making event.

The Los Angeles Times says yes: “The healthcare summit that convenes Thursday in Washington has emerged as a high-stakes gambit for President Obama and opposing Republican lawmakers, carrying risks for both sides that could not only alter the outcome of the healthcare debate but also November’s midterm elections.” The voters say probably not. “Public expectations are low for today’s high-profile White House summit on health care: Three of four Americans in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll predict President Obama and congressional leaders won’t reach agreement on a bill,” USA Today reports. Congressional Democrats seem to agree; the Washington Post says they “are already looking beyond the White House health-care summit, reckoning that Thursday’s session will amount to little more than political theater and focusing instead on a final round of intraparty negotiations that are likely to determine the fate of President Obama’s top domestic priority.”.

Brace yourself, because it’s all a “big bipartisan lie,” Politico says: “If President Barack Obama really wanted to show he’s serious about winning over Republicans on health care reform, he could offer up some key concessions at Thursday’s summit, like caps on malpractice awards or allowing insurers to sell across state lines. Do you remember mournful editorials and somber seminars about ‘dysfunctional’ government when liberals defeated George W. But that would assume either side is willing to do this.” George Will says the summit “comes at a moment when, as happens with metronomic regularity, Washington is reverberating with lamentations about government being ‘broken.’ Such talk occurs only when the left’s agenda is stalled. Bush’s Social Security reforms?”. And if Republicans wanted to reciprocate, they could at least acknowledge the congressional scorekeepers are right – the Democratic plans cut the deficit in the long term and rein in health care costs.

Republicans say their plan is aimed at reducing health costs, but unlike the Democrats’ proposals it wouldn’t seek to provide near-universal coverage to the uninsured. Instead, it would rely on curbing malpractice lawsuits, encouraging states to experiment with their own health-system fixes and modest rule changes to prevent insurers from denying coverage to the sick.” Karl Rove writes that Republicans “naturally want to prevent the president from turning it into a PR stunt. Across the aisle (or in this case, across the table), the Wall Street Journal reports, “The six-point plan that will be presented by Republicans . What will the participants actually say? “White House officials said Mr. draws from a House bill introduced last fall. They’ll not only have to point out problems with his plan and offer their own ideas, but correct the president when he makes statements that are not true. Obama would use his opening remarks to make the case that Democrats and Republicans are not as far apart as they think on health care, because both parties are concerned about the deficit and rising health premiums — issues, the president will argue, that can be addressed only by controlling health care costs,” the New York Times writes. The GOP participants appear ready for the first two tasks.”. This is no easy task.

The Hill checks in with swing Democrats and finds “centrists said they are feeling less pressure now that Obama has used the Senate bill as the foundation for his proposal and are happy with the president’s decision to hold Thursday’s bipartisan healthcare summit.” The Wall Street Journal says “Obama’s decision to unveil his own health-care plan Monday signals a sharp tactical shift. But the recent shift toward more assertiveness has irked Republicans and Democrats alike, failed to bridge political differences and even threatens initiatives ranging from the 9/11 terror trials to financial regulation.”. Obama faced criticism in the past for espousing broad policy goals and leaving Congress to work out the details. Many Democrats openly called on him to provide more leadership. After a year marked by extensive congressional consultation–and little progress–the White House is rolling out policy decisions fully formed after closely held internal deliberations. Mr.

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