Obama Attacking on Health Care

Speaker Pelosi announced today her intention to bring a health care bill to the floor of the House by the end of July, before the summer recess. I think what's likely happening is the Obama administration is pressing for fast action, for two reasons: Obama's personal popularity is not going to get any higher, and he's able to use that tool to sell the bill. Secondly, the opposition is just getting its strategy together, and the sooner the issue is engaged, the less likely they can engineer another 1993-style campaign to stop reform. Right now, conservatives and Republicans have never been less credible or well-liked, and their messaging just sucks. Obama's at his strongest, the opposition is at their weakest, and although health care is a complex issue, Obama has decided the best outcome is to move forward immediately rather than wait for the perfect bill.

The question is what Obama considers to be nonnegotiable in the bill.