Republicans not willing to compromise

I am among those upset that President Barack Obama has signaled a willingness to give up the public option in health care reform, but I keep telling myself he is doing his best. Remember that we live in a democracy, and any health care reform must pass Congress.

The Democrats' desire to be bipartisan and change politics in Washington only could work if they have someone to compromise with, and they don't. The Republicans have only one objective, to destroy Obama, and they are succeeding.

The Republicans are doing the same thing with health care reform that they did on the stimulus package. First, they object to part of the bill. The Democrats abandon that part to win Republican votes. Then, the Republicans object to something else. The Democrats give in again, and so on.

The real payoff comes when those gutted bills don't do the jobs promised and Republicans say, “See, told you so.”

Russ McCarthy

Tiffin