Will the Health Care Summit Be More than Political Theater?

By: Evan Schwartz
Topics: Washington Unplugged

On "Washington Unplugged" Wednesday, CBS News' Bob Orr spoke with Politico's Nia-Malika Henderson and The Washington Post's Michael Shear about the battle over health care. On the eve of tomorrow's health care summit, the issue is still as divisive as ever. But while many see this summit as a crucial part of President Obama's domestic agenda, Henderson thinks Republicans see it as an opportunity for "political theater ."

"In large part it is political theatre," said Henderson, "but Republicans are hoping to go in there and essentially overcome the perception of them as 'The Party of No.'"

Henderson said both parties are looking to come up with a plan that will resonate with all Americans. Shear said many Republicans are fearful this latest meeting will provide the president with another opportunity to cast Republicans as uncooperative.

"Part of the concern here is that this is all just a ploy on the president's part to cast [Republicans] as 'The Party of No,'" said Shear, "Obama hopes they say 'no, no, no' to everything at the meeting tomorrow and he can go back to the Congress and say 'Look, I've tried everything I can try on a bipartisan basis, let's just do this thing with our own party."

Henderson said she expects Republicans to push some of their own party ideas, including more privatization of health care and a more piecemeal approach to reform rather than a wholesale reworking. She said a Republican plan would most likely be smaller in scope and cost less than the Democrat's alternative.

"Republicans hope obviously is that Americans will see this meeting," said Henderson, "And say the Republicans have had an honest effort here, and that maybe in the end that this should be slow walk, this idea of healthcare reform."

But Shear said everyone - Democrats, Republicans and the media - may be overestimating the American public's interest in a meeting he called "extraordinarily boring."

"Six hours of talk about health policy," said Shear, "Is not usually something network executives would put on primetime against 'Lost' or '24.'"

Watch Wednesday's "Washington Unplugged" above, which also features surprising footage of the newest senator, Scott Brown.

More Coverage of the Health Care Summit:

Advice for the Health Care Summit from Two Presidents Named George

GOP Prepares Strategy for Health Care Summit

A War of Words Before the Health Care Summit

Dems, GOP: Summit Will Not Break Logjam On Health

Obama's Health Care Plan Unveiled

Harry Reid Says GOP Should "Stop Crying" About Reconciliation

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.

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by wfw3536 February 24, 2010 3:42 PM EST: Tomorrow's meeting is a waste of time for the Republicans. Obama is already planning to ram it through the senate next week. These are the reason why most people are so turned off with the politics going on in Washington. Most people in our country do not want to spend another 2 to 3 trillion on health care when we could do many things to improve the health care system with little or no cost. I can't wait to vote in the next 2 elections to get rid of these tax and spend politicans. We are already projected to be in debt by 14 trillion and now we are adding on another 2 to 3 trillion. And if you believe this health care bill will actually save money and cut cost I have a bridge to sell you. It most likely will be like the stimilus bill where many created jobs cost anywhere from 100,000 to 1 million dollars apiece. Just another example of our government at work.; Reply to this comment

by fxr60 February 24, 2010 3:16 PM EST

Obama will ignore the Repubs. and the American people and try to push his socialist agenda through, even against his own party for the sake of trying to get SOMETHING done for a change. The healthcare bill will turn out to cost between 2 and 3 trillion over the next few years with reduced care. Here is what a well known finance and Investment gentleman wrote in the paper (Malcolm Berko) "According to the Assoc. of Amer. Med. Colleges, the HCB will demand 159,000 new docs.by 2025, which means 10,600 new docs. plus the normal 24,000 we now train. And there isn't a med. school that can process these numbers( my words now-for all the deadbeats that will get free healthcare they haven't worked for)Berko- As a result, we can expect this: Med. schools will lower standards, Class size will explode, Course content and tests will be dumbed down, future docs. will not be as well trained as current docs. lawyers will have a "field dacade" because declining medical skills from second-rate medical care translates to increased lawsuits, insurance rates will explode. If you don't beleive this talk to an economist and a health specialist !! Socialized medicene is not the way !!!!!

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by ribbie014 February 24, 2010 3:42 PM EST: Watch the Republican'ts at the Health Care Summit very carefully. If their lips are moving, they are lying. As for you, fxr60, the same holds true for you and your keyboard. Anthem Blue Cross on the west coast is already trying to raise rates 39% after making a $4.7 Billion profit in 2009. The Republican'ts offer NOTHING to help keep heath care costs down. Medicare is much more "socialistic" than the current health care proposal. You want to get rid of THAT? The Republican't Party does. Whenever a bill threatens to give the government the power to control costs in industries that are virtual monopolies, Republican'ts label it as "socialism". Well, so are public schools, Police and Fire departments, Social Security, etc. Do you want to get rid of those? Stop lying!