[quote=briansd1]
Republicans who oppose health care reform really ought to self-examine to see why they are so viscerally opposed to anything Obama comes up with, even when he embraces Republican ideas.[/quote]
Because the conservative base rejected it, that’s why. And because many Americans rose up at those town hall meetings and were obviously very against it.
Republicans were voted out of office during Bush’s tenure because many conservatives and independents were not happy with the spending. Many Republicans at the time were becoming “Democrats-lite”. This was not welcomed.
Even if the health care reform plan contained many republican ideas, consider that many Americans, especially conservatives and independents, never believed the two promises made in the plan:
1. Plan would lower costs
2. Plan would let you keep your current plan.
Because of the Tea Party, the Republicans are now being held responsible to their primary principles: smaller government, less debt/spending, and lower taxes. If the Republicans go back on these principles, the Tea Party and many independents will start creating a third party that would mean the destruction of the Republican party.
Brian, it might help if you don’t fall so much into the “Republican/Democrat” labeling trap.
