How Olympia Snowe is making herself appear relevant
Olympia Snowe is the one Republican who so far has voted in favor of any health reform bill. People are starting to wonder why we’re paying her so much attention.
There is an old (and, some say, possibly dirty) trick to getting attention in Washington. If everyone is voting for something, you can generate attention for yourself if you’re the only person to vote against it.
Everyone wants to know why you’re against it. You’re in the papers, they’re talking about you on the radio and you end up on TV to explain yourself. The media never fails to fall for this, even though they realize they’re being had.
On the other side of the coin, if everyone around you (like, say, the entire Republican Party) is voting against something, just imagine how much attention you’ll get if you vote for it.
Actually, you don’t have to imagine. Just google “Olympia Snowe”.
I’m not saying that this is why she voted to move the reform bill out of her committee. For all I know, she might be the one Republican who wants to serve her constituents. Surely there must be at least one of those left in D.C.
Right?
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The Out Campaign