Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dave Reichert convened a telephone conference yesterday to discuss GOP strategy on the impending healthcare disaster (legislation) that the Democrats are cooking up. I tuned in and listened to their opening remarks which were light on substance, but heavy on pro-conservative rhetoric. You know the usual "we can't let government grow any bigger," "this costs too much," and the usual concerns about how the Democrats are planning this massive government takeover of the healthcare system.

All these statements are true and all Americans should be concerned about how this legislation threatens the long term stability of our economy and how it will most certainly undermine the quality of healthcare in our country.

I just had the feeling that both Representatives were putting on this show for reasons other their stated purpose….like there was some ulterior motive. It felt like they were throwing scraps of meat to their base, hoping to reassure us that they were doing everything possible to stave off this nightmare legislation. I listened, waiting for something of substance to be introduced.

Throughout the conference, Reichert's words fell flat. Why did I find myself rolling my eyes and brushing off his presence? I think it’s because overshadowing his right wing rhetoric was the ghost of just two weeks ago...his sell-out to the Democrats on Cap-and-Trade. I think everyone listening in on the conference was thinking it, but only one person actually dared to bring it up. I didn't catch his name, but when it came time for questions one brave blogger posed a two part question.

To both representatives he asked the rhetorical question:

"How is it that at a time when our government programs are going bankrupt, such as Social Security and Medicare, Congress can even CONSIDER expanding the scope and size of government?”  

OK—that was merely stating the obvious. He paused, and then the bomb that blew apart the veneer and fake posturing was dropped. He pressed on with a second part of the question;

“Congressman Reichert, I wonder if you would like to take this opportunity to explain your vote on Cap-and-Trade. I know it’s off topic, but I also know that there are a lot of people who would like to know your reasons. I live in your district and I am actually still very angry about it.”

NOW we’re getting somewhere, I thought.

Before I finished that thought, however, in what seemed like an overly eager-to-save-her-buddy moment, Representative McMorris-Rodgers piped in with “I would like to answer that first part,” and what followed was a long winded lamentation of our over-extended government, the sins of a bloated federal bureaucracy and some vague references to healthcare costs as a percentage of GDP. I thought she would never stop….”is she covering for him?”  I couldn’t help but wonder.

Reichert then chimed in with a repeat chorus, agreeing with McMorris-Rodgers and then finally, as if preparing for an oh-so-light-airplane landing, he did say, “but I do not want to dodge that second question about my vote on cap-and-trade.”

Pen ready….I’m listening….waiting for substance, maybe even an apology, perhaps? I don’t know what I expected, but he basically gave the party line (yes, I mean the other party, certainly not the Grand Ole Party line) on how the United States needs to be a leader in pursuing alternative energy sources, that oil dependence is a national security issue and that there were some things that he didn’t like about the bill, but overall, in is words, “it’s an energy bill and that’s what I voted for….better energy policy” or some such nonsense. I was slowly buying into it (he is handsome after all) until he made this statement;

"We are going to make sure that the American public will not bear the burdens of the costs of this legislation."

It's official. I am now certain he thinks we're all rubes. Who the hell is going to pay for it if not the American public?

What did I expect? It's the politically saavy thing to play the “of course I knew what I was doing!” card. I’d rather he just ‘fessed up to listening to some ill informed staffers, having too much loyalty to some of his liberal insiders and then apologized for his naiveté.  Instead I get the distinct impression he has colluded with a reliable and smart conservative, Representative McMorris-Rodgers, hoping to recover the good graces of his base.

It's kind of like dressing up body odor with cologne....the stink is still there.