# The obstructionist-GOP narrative... can we test/prove it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obstructionist-gop-narrative-can-we-test-prove-it/697071>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 31, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obstructionist-gop-narrative-can-we-test-prove-it/697071 "2014-08-31T20:15:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 14

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obstructionist-gop-narrative-can-we-test-prove-it/697071/261 "2014-09-18T06:52:23Z")

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It occurs to me there is a very simple way to explore whether GOP is obstructionist.

> [@GOP still trending to win Senate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/509):
>
> Many of us conservatives actually like the idea of an insurer of last resort, …
> 
> Since Republican opposition was monolithic, the bill that could pass would be whatever Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson would support.

IIRC, some other SDMB conservatives like Sam Stone and John Mace(\*) are also on record as preferring a public option or even single-payer to the present Obamacare. \*\*\*Assuming these conservatives are sincere and reflect the thoughts of some GOP Congresspeople, it should have been possible to enact a better health-care system. \*\*\* As I pointed out in the thread from which the above quote is taken, a public option (with market or even above-market pricing) would have reduced the need for regulations on private insurers.

So: Was there any sincere effort by Congressional GOP to say “Work with us, design a public option both sides can support; let’s design a great system!” ?

My impression was that GOP instead took the path “Our only priority is for you to fail. With zero GOP votes, you’ll need votes from the stupidest Democrats to get a bill passed. Ha ha ha! Let’s see how _bad_ a bill you can make.”

What does the record show?

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**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obstructionist-gop-narrative-can-we-test-prove-it/697071/262 "2014-09-18T18:10:21Z")

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Wait, isn’t Sam Stone the liberal one and The Second Stone the conservative one? I forgot…

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