Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyD
I have issues with the appointment, but this is what happens when one party acts like obstructionists.
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Republicans were not stalling Berwick's nomination. They WANTED the hearing to "expose" his views. Sen. Grassley (R) requested a hearing on Berwick be held two weeks ago. Obama didn't make the recess appointment because we had to hurry up and fill the CMS vacancy. It took him a year to select a nominee. And there is no way the Repubs could have blocked his appointment. He made the recess appointment to avoid a damaging fight over what those on the right consider Berwick's controversial views on rationing, his favorable view of the British health care system, and his redistributive views--especially to avoid this fight just before a critical election.
Also, beware of loosely using terms like "obstructionists" in a pejorative way. It is the duty of the opposition party not to acquiesce, but to "obstruct" what they deem action that leads to what it considers bad governance.