A conscious effort to deceive is unacceptable
Over at Andrew Breitbart’s site, the day’s featured video is a compilation of remarks by Barack Obama, Harry Reid and other Democratic senators back in 2005, in which they strongly condemn Republicans for considering what was called “the nuclear option.”
At the time, the Democratic minority in the Senate was filibustering to block confirmation of some of President Bush’s judicial nominees. Frustrated, Republicans threatened to retaliate by rewriting Senate rules to permanently strip minority senators of the right to filibuster such nominations.
That was hardly the only change being contemplated. Rewriting Senate rules requires a two-thirds majority, which the Republicans didn’t have. So the Republicans were threatening to strip the minority of its historic right to filibuster by ignoring the equally historic requirement of a two-thirds majority to change Senate rules. If carried out, such a revolution would permanently alter the core nature and tradition of the Senate.
Hence, the term “nuclear option.”
The change was so controversial that in the end, senators cut a deal, with Democrats allowing some of the nominations to go through and the Republicans agreeing to drop the nuclear option.
Here’s that video:
The video is clearly intended to depict the Democrats as hypocrites, since Reid and Obama are now threatening to use the Senate reconciliation process to pass health-insurance reform. Reading through the comments at Breitbart’s site, that’s exactly how his audience is taking it — as vile hypocrisy.
But they’re swallowing sucker bait.
The problem is, the “nuclear option” that Democrats railed against in 2005 is not reconciliation, any more than a hammer is an orange. They aren’t even close to the same thing, and the folks at Breitbart are probably smart enough to know it.
The reconciliation process is outlined in existing Senate rules as a legitimate means to avoid the filibuster. Its use requires no rule changes, permanent or temporary, and no abandonment of Senate tradition. Reconciliation is itself part of that tradition. As Reid pointed out yesterday, reconciliation has been used 21 times since 1981, most often by Republican majorities. It’s a standard parliamentary option.
And as NPR reports, its use has often involved health-care reform.
“In fact, the way in which virtually all of health reform, with very, very limited exceptions, has happened over the past 30 years has been the reconciliation process,” says Sara Rosenbaum, who chairs the Department of Health Policy at George Washington University.
For example, the law that lets people keep their employers’ health insurance after they leave their jobs is called COBRA, not because it has anything to do with snakes, but because it was included as one fairly minor provision in a huge reconciliation bill, she says.
“The correct name is continuation benefits. And the only reason it’s called COBRA is because it was contained in the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985; and that is how we came up with the name COBRA,” she says.
So what we have here are two issues:
One, reconciliation is not the “nuclear option.” If Breitbart wants to dig out video of Democrats complaining in such dire terms about previous GOP use of reconcilation, that would be fine and would certainly be evidence of Dem hypocrisy. But apparently he can’t.
And that gets us to the second, more important point. The Breitbart site is lying. He is playing his audience for fools, and the sad part is that they don’t mind, because in return they get the reassurance that their hatred of the other side is justified. Everybody wins, right?
Well, no. We all have honest differences of opinion. We all bring our own perspectives to the debate. We all think that we’re right and they’re wrong, whoever “we” and “they” may be.
But this isn’t spin, this is willful, gross deception. And such blatant disregard for the facts makes meaningful debate and communication impossible; in fact, in cases like this it is designed to do precisely that.
Surely, those on the right will be able to cite what they see as examples of similar behavior on the left, and of course are free to post them here. I make no claims that either side has a monopoly on the problem. But such deception by any party is truly the “nuclear option,” and if we’re not careful it will undermine both our country and democracy.
The effort to at least try to be honest in our discussion, even if our own bias means we come up short, ought to be the minimum required of responsible citizenship
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496 comments Add your comment
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:11 pm
But…but…but Breitbart is like the Bible!
Bud Wiser
February 24th, 2010
3:13 pm
So how does this “unconscionable deception” not apply to global warming? (debunked)
Fannie May / Freddy Mac loan practices? (overlooked)
Obama’s tax cheats he appointed? (too numerous to mention)
Vann Jones?
Charlie Rangel?
I could list hundreds, perhaps thousands, but I have made my point.
Obama’s ‘nuclear option’ is self inflicted (political) suicide he wants his minions to make, in an effort to prop up his lowering approval numbers.
Talk about deception…………
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
Willful, gross deception – sounds like a lot of republicants I’ve come in contact with.
stands for decibels
February 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
that’s exactly how his audience is taking it
what’s that? Breitbart’s audience believes stupid, made-up stuff?
Bud Wiser
February 24th, 2010
3:15 pm
I heard today that Congress’ approval ratings have sunk to a shocking 10%.
Obowo will have no conscious whatsoever about feeding that kind of garbage to the wolves; problem is getting the wolves to bite.
Kamchak
February 24th, 2010
3:15 pm
Why did the Republicans threaten the nuclear option back in 2005? If the reconciliation process doesn’t involve a two-thirds majority rule change, why didn’t they use that instead?
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:16 pm
Kamchak, reconciliation is limited to spending-related matters, and is not available on votes such as confirmations.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:16 pm
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:11 pm
So the video, and the speakers in the video, are to be discredited? LOL!!!
NowReally
February 24th, 2010
3:17 pm
And I thought the rabid comments by our conservative friends on this site were HARSH. The people who commented on that site are down right mean spirited and ugly. They make the regulars on this blog look like Sunday School teachers.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:19 pm
Jay said “But this isn’t spin, this is willful, gross deception. And such blatant disregard for the facts makes meaningful debate and communication impossible; in fact, in cases like this it is designed to do precisely that.”
I guess it’s sort of like, “I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinski,….. “
Disgusted
February 24th, 2010
3:21 pm
So how is it that Senate Republicans could use reconciliation to pass the Bush tax cuts, with only 50 votes in favor and Dick Cheney breaking the tie, but now it’s an abuse if the Democrats use it to pass a health care bill? Is reconciliation acceptable only if it’s initiated by Republicans?
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:22 pm
The people who read Breitbart or watch SaudiFaux News don’t care that they are being lied to over and over again. They like the lies so they continue to visit.
They have a desire for the world to be a particular way and when they are provided a fantasy medium that delivers on their desires, they are happy.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:22 pm
These are the 2005 quotes about using a 51 person Senate majority. There is no distinction about what is being proposed, it’s merely statements against the use of the “nuclear option”. Hilarious
“…will change the character of the Senate forever”….Barack Obama
“…that’s just not what the founders intended”….Barack Obama
W said “change the rules, do it the way I want it done”……Hilary Clinton
“…you have to restrain yourself Mr. President.”……Hilary Clinton
“We are on the precipice of a crisis, a Constitutional crisis”……Chuck Shumer
“the checks and balances which have been at the core of this Republic are about to be evaporated by the nuclear option”…….Chuck Shumer
“the nuclear option, if successful, will turn the Senate into a body that could have its rules broken at any time by a majority of Senators…”….Diane Feinstein
“This nuclear option is an ultimate example of the arrogance of power. It is a fundamental power grab…”….Joe Biden
“..arrogance of power of this republican administration…”….Harry Reid
“I pray God when the Democrats take back control we don’t make the kind of naked power grab you are doing.”….Joe Biden
“…what were the framers thinking about 218 years ago. They understood. Mr. President, there is a tyranny of the majority”….Chris Dodd
Go ahead, libs, deny, spin, twist, warp, etc.
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:22 pm
Yes it is, Jimmy.
And as I’ve mentioned here before, I urged Clinton’s resignation over that.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:24 pm
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:22 pm
Strong words from someone who regularly cuts and pasted the Huffington Post, NY Times, Daily Kos, etc.
So Breitbart has doctored this video? Perhaps they did voice overs. Yeah, that’s it. Dick Cheney got some sound alikes and had Breitbart do voice overs. Yeah!!
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:24 pm
Have you no shame, Jimmy?
Reconciliation is not the nuclear option. Period.
Yet to make yourself feel better about your political choices, you’re willing to ignore reality and embrace deception.
stands for decibels
February 24th, 2010
3:25 pm
Not-fit-to-carry-Jimmy-Carter’s jockstrap @ 3.22, those guys weren’t talking about the use of reconciliation to pass a bill.
But, nice try.
Kamchak
February 24th, 2010
3:26 pm
Jay
Thanks.
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 24th, 2010
3:26 pm
It’s all a matter of whose ox is getting gored. They’re all politicians and in many cases, hypocrisy comes with the territory. The in crowd will always try to walk all over the out crowd and the out crowd will always holler like a stuck hog.
Scooter
February 24th, 2010
3:28 pm
They have a desire for the world to be a particular way and when they are provided a fantasy medium that delivers on their desires, they are happy.
Pot meet kettle!
md
February 24th, 2010
3:28 pm
Oh heavens, not slanted news from a media source. Tell me its not so.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:24 pm
You’re the authority on all things evil with conservatives, Jay. Shoot, you don’t even need the nuclear option. As a member of the “Freedom of the Press” corp. you singlehandedly have the ability to suppress anything I, or others, post. You can ban us temporarily or permanently, without filibuster or through exercising the nuclear option.
Sam
February 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
jay, save you’re breath. they like being lied to, as long as it fits into their narrow world view its cool….
Doggone/GA
February 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
“Tell me its not so”
It isn’t so. “slanting
Outhouse GoKart
February 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
Hammers, Oranges…we making orange juice here?
Regardless I say “Barry and Dems…GO FOR BROKE!!” and setup the next 12 years or Republican reign.
Doggone/GA
February 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
oops!
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 24th, 2010
3:26 pm
Harumph, harumph!!
Sam
February 24th, 2010
3:30 pm
right on Hillbilly….
jewcowboy
February 24th, 2010
3:30 pm
“The effort to at least try to be honest in our discussion, even if our own bias means we come up short, ought to be the minimum required of responsible citizenship”
In my mind that applies those on here who use words such as dummycrats, and republicants, obozo etc…
Whacks Eloquent
February 24th, 2010
3:30 pm
Jay, have you heard whether or not the House voted to remove anti-trust exemption to the health insurance industry? That arcane provision needs to be done away with – I can’t think of an industry that the American people benefit from having anti-trust exemption.
And I agree, the reconciliation plan being touted by Democrats is not the same as what Republicans wanted in 2005. They were trying to clear a logjam of judicial nominees…but I did not like their plan either. Democrats can try reconciliation, but it may wind up being a kamikaze mission…ask whether it is worth it. Would liberals really say health care is that much more important that it is worth risking the elections on? It would seriously limit President Obama’s goals for the remainder of his first term if the GOP sweeps back into Congressional majority.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:33 pm
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:24 pm
“Embrace deception”? I would have been doing so had I believed your previous article where you stated you did not blame W for the current economic mess we find ourselves in.
scrappy
February 24th, 2010
3:33 pm
Thanks for pointing out the difference between these two options. I am meeting some friends for drinks later tonight and that always brings out the liberal/Obama bashing, I love being able to throw a fact back to them and prove them wrong. One comment, one friend at a time, I will show them that the right-radio-talking heads are making things up!
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:33 pm
I would agree, jewcowboy.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:33 pm
jewcowboy
February 24th, 2010
3:30 pm
Looks like we’re agreeing on yet something else.
Whacks Eloquent
February 24th, 2010
3:35 pm
That said, I think it is a bit sneaky that reconciliation is used by either side to do anything other than just get a budget through so that the government can keep functioning. I use that last word lightly…
Sneaky? What the heck am I thinking? We are talking about politicians…who have similar personality traits to serial killers! (from FBI BAU – yeah like the show Criminal Minds!) Awesome show BTW!
Whacks Eloquent
February 24th, 2010
3:38 pm
off-topic…
What, GEORGIA hosted a high-speed rail consortium for the Southeast states?
Well that is the surprise of the day!
http://www.dot.ga.gov/localgovernment/intermodalprograms/Documents/1-26-10.pdf
stands for decibels
February 24th, 2010
3:38 pm
Would liberals really say health care is that much more important that it is worth risking the elections on?
That question presupposes that there is no risk in allowing HCR to die on the vine.
Mid-terms are won by getting your base fired up. And there ain’t no base that’s gonna go the extra mile this November, to support weak-kneed Dems who couldn’t deliver on their single most significant 2008 domestic-policy pledge. Na gone duit.
Dave R.
February 24th, 2010
3:40 pm
So, under Jay’s rules, anytime a Democrat comes out and says the GOP doesn’t have a proposed plan regarding health care reform, that is now considered a “conscious effort to deceive”?
And it is now unacceptable to say as much?
Works for me.
Can’t wait for Jay’s next editorial denouncing Robert Gibbs, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid for their “unacceptable” efforts to deceive.
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:40 pm
Would liberals really say health care is that much more important that it is worth risking the elections on?
If the purpose of politics is to get re-elected, then no.
If the purpose of politics is to help the country, then yes.
Whacks Eloquent
February 24th, 2010
3:41 pm
db, good point. Glad I am not employed as a Democrat strategist! They must be keeping Rolaids in business right now! It is definitely a calculated risk – whatever course of action they take.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:43 pm
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:40 pm
Gee, count me in with the majority of Americans who don’t believe the proposed healthcare plan will actually “help the country”.
jewcowboy
February 24th, 2010
3:43 pm
Jimmy Carter @ 3.33,
That is 3, the Mayan calendar must right, the world is coming to an end
Just kidding. I’ve never understood why it is necessary for some to use words such as that. For those who use them, It undermines their argument and is simply a way for them to disparage an opposing perspective while showing everyone that they are closed minded. If one’s argument cannot stand without denigrating another with silly name calling, then perhaps one needs rethink their premise.
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
Max Blumenthal: Feeling The Hate At CPAC 2010 With Andrew Breitbart, Hannah Giles And The Crazy Mob
Thank you, Mr Blumenthal, for revealing the underlying bigotry of these hardcore conservatives masquerading as constitutional advocates who are continually quoting many of our misguided slave-holding founding fathers and their vision of how and what America should be.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/feeling-the-hate-at-cpac_b_474077.html
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
jewcowboy
February 24th, 2010
3:43 pm
You know, you and I probably have a lot more in common than most would think. But if we went somewhere together you’d have to drive. That way you could be on the left and I could be on the right.
md
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
“In my mind that applies those on here who use words such as dummycrats, and republicants, obozo etc…”
Hear, hear…….
Dusty
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
Too bad Bookman; did not notice all this vile behavior when it started the day Bush became president of the USA. The vilification of Bush never stopped. It continued for eight years and destroyed all confidence in anything Democrats suggest now..
Bookman wants us to be ” good citizens.”.Republicans must understand and appreciate anything Obama wants Congress to pass. Fortunately, Congress hears the voice of citizens renouncing Obama’s health plan even as he tries with “nuclear option” or any other twist or turn he can bring forward. Good citizens or not, Americans do not want his health plan
As to Breitbart deceiving us, I have never read him. Don’t plan to either. But I do know that I do not want Obama’s health plan. But he’s not listening. Neither is Bookman . He’s reading Breitbart
Yep, one source, and everybody is lying. Way to go, Bookman, but nothing new.
Before someone pipes up saying “I want Obama’s health plan.”, I only give my impression of what I’ve seen, read, heard and my own opinion.. I will not be led like a sheep to the slaughter just to prove that “I’m a GOOD CITIZEN”, I hope the rest of you are not ready to be led where you don’t want to go.; to government being your doctor. NO WAY!
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:47 pm
Jenifer
February 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
You see, I knew you’d link to a Huffington Post article.
md
February 24th, 2010
3:49 pm
“Mid-terms are won by getting your base fired up.”
I’d have to disagree – like all elections in recent times, its convincing the swing vote, and from what I’m seeing, they done swung.
Jay
February 24th, 2010
3:49 pm
Gee, count me in with the majority of Americans who don’t believe the proposed healthcare plan will actually “help the country”.
No problem, Jimmy, that’s just an honest political disagreement.
Jimmy Carter
February 24th, 2010
3:49 pm
You know, all this talk about whether or not the healthcare plan will be good for America overlooks the fact that we have to convince CHINA it’s good for them, else we can’t fund it.