| | In today's news we learn that in the last three and one half years President Obama has met with the Secretary of Health and Human Services ZERO times. Zero.
In that time (March 23, 2010 signing to November 30, 2013) he met with other Cabinet members 277 times. We know that this is his signature piece of legislation. We know from his own lips that he will not allow any changes (other than those he makes by edict) and will veto any attempts to change it or repeal it. We know that he has uttered more rhetoric on behalf of this policy than any other (and that's a lot of words). Obamacare is thousands of pages of law, tens of thousands of pages of regulations, and the transformation of 1/6th of the national economy. (Even Joe Biden recognizes that this is "a big fucking deal.")
So why would Obama not have a single meeting with his direct report - Kathleen Sebelius? She reports directly to the President - she has no one else above her. (And many other critical issues fall under this department.) Why would the person in charge his single biggest and most important project, his personal legacy, his namesake, NEVER be in the Oval office? I can only think of a few reasons.
1.) Maybe his cabinet secretary was just a figure head and he knows that she is of no substance at all and his meetings and contacts regarding his most important legislative baby were taken with others. But she was a two term Governor of Kansas - so she isn't just fluff. And she was a fierce advocate of government health care from way before her appointment.
2.) Sometime after he selected her, they had a intense falling out and he couldn't stand to be in the same room with her. I could see this being the case.
3.) Maybe all contact was purposely not with her because they knew the time would come when they had to throw someone under the bus. Maybe they had meetings more than three and a half years ago, back when they considered the risks involved in promising lower costs, better access, and "You can keep you health plan" and "You can keep your doctor."
Maybe someone says, "If we don't make those promises, it won't pass." And someone else replies, "Well then we will have to have someone ready to toss under the bus, because Barrack will look like a liar if this goes South." And the decision is made to establish deniability. He trusted her. She screwed up. He had no idea (sound familiar?).
Maybe I'm getting too cynical.... or paranoid?
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