McClatchey: Skillful McConnell leads GOP opposition to health bill

Here's what George Will wrote about Mitch McConnell shortly thirteen months ago:

McConnell is Kentucky's most important politician since Henry Clay, "the Great Compromiser." Clay's attempts to defuse the sectional crisis rooted in slavery failed, but they bought time for Northern strength -- in population and industrial muscle -- to become sufficient to save the nation. McConnell, too, has the patience that politics repays and that the Republican recuperation might require.

And yesterday McClatchey Newspapers picked up the ball:

For weeks, Democratic leaders gritted their teeth whenever Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell airily dismissed suggestions that Republicans would work to slow the health care debate.

The Democrats thought they knew better. Under McConnell's leadership during the 111th Congress, Republicans have attempted to filibuster — block legislation by defeating efforts to cut off debate — more than 30 times.

To Democrats, out-strategizing Kentucky's senior senator is serious business. McConnell ostensibly could derail President Barack Obama's top domestic policy priority.

After all, McConnell, a lawmaker whose skill as a parliamentary tactician has long earned him begrudging nods of respect from across the aisle, has a lot riding on the health care debate. As the titular head of a dwindled caucus, he has the difficult task of navigating his party through the Obama administration's historic health care overhaul while ensuring that the GOP isn't steamrolled in the process.

For those of you who want to label McConnell an obstructionist, poll after poll shows that more Americans oppose ObamaCare than favor it.

Technorati tags: politics Congress health universal health care obamacare McConnell