President Trump is suffering from freedom shock. That is doubtless the analysis from the quarters of the House of Representatives occupied by the utterly secure members of the GOP Freedom Caucus. These are Tea Party sorts who can thumb their nose at Donald trump because they won more votes than he did in November.
The caucus includes David Brat who dispatched former Majority Leader Eric Cantor in what should have been the first indication of a seismic change in the political universe. Should Brat change his well-publicized no to the Trump health care legislation, it would be equally seismic and spell a huge Trump victory.
A gambler would have little problem refusing that bet.
Callous freedom
There are many who would term the Freedom Caucus callous in its presentation of a laundry list of what these GOP legislators don't like about the Trump health bill that is under consideration. Regular checkups are among the proscribed elements of Obamacare that Brat and company do not like.
Mental health coverage is also frowned upon. Maternity care is also on the Freedom Caucus chopping block. These are all provisions that Trump was willing to go with. Some at the other end of the GOP spectrum are alarmed at such apparent callousness. This means that they would probably vote no should the bill make concessions to accommodate the far right representatives.
Analysis: Trump the Dealmaker Struggles to Seal the Deal https://t.co/hhb9M9yDbJ
— Stephen C. Rose (@stephencrose) March 24, 2017
Unexpected consequences
If the Trump legislation gets through the house, Trump will have a temporary victory. If the bill fails, the consequences could be immense. They could also be unexpected. The immensity would be the virtual collapse of all Trump dreams of having further legislative victories.
He would become the GOP Obama, exactly what he does not want to be. That prospect might be enough to thrust Trump into what is totally unexpected.
He could assume the mantle of liberal contrarianism. The president could say, "OK, if this is the way it is, I will pass everything you refused to pass for Obama." We would then have an essentially middle of the road program. Liberal contrarianism is not likely. But neither is the passage through the House and Senate of what has been ominously dubbed Trumpcare.
