What, when, how: Democrats make strides in policy and process

March 23, 2010: But it is not only what has been substantively accomplished by Obama and the Congressional Democrats, very much led by Nancy Pelosi.  It is also how it has been accomplished that most impresses me.   Clichés abound: the making of this major piece of legislation is as ugly as making sausages.  Obama’s mistake was to let his opponents and the tea party movement to define the debate in August.  He over learned the lessons of the Clintons in the 90s. They were too secretive and dogmatic concerning their plans.  He was too open and let the Congressional leadership.  He was either to meek in his approach (the view of the democratic left) or he was arrogantly authoritarian in enforcing his vision of a policy that Americans clearly did not want (the view of the republican right).   Yet I see something else.  I see a political leader who in principle respects the separation of powers, recognizing the legislative role of the legislature, while he does not turn away from his responsibilities as the leader of his Party, Chief Executive and the Head of State.  He let the legislature do its work for pragmatic reasons, assuring the support of Congress by giving it responsibilities to form the program, seeking support of the opposition Party and clarifying their negative role when the support was not forthcoming, but also for principled reasons.  Obama is trying to do politics in a different way.  Just as in his campaign for office, in his campaign for healthcare reform, key advances were connected to intelligent argument, to his political eloquence.