Republican strategists say the more dramatic moments in the hearings, where Burwell will face a litany of tough questions from Republican lawmakers, could yield rich material for television ads and social media campaigns.
"Ultimately, it may be Republicans' only opportunity, certainly before the end of the summer and maybe before the election, to have a senior administration official available to answer these questions," said Lanhee Chen, who advised Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on domestic policy during the 2012 campaign.
One Republican aim is to trip up the 48-year-old White House budget director and force embarrassing slip under the glare of the televised proceedings.They're talking about upcoming confirmation hearings for our president's nominee to run HHS. Not interested, are they, in the job at hand. Or in providing useful alternatives or improvements to the Affordable Care Act. Only lying, they are, and attempting to score political points, caring not at all about the health of the nation. Which, of course, describes in full the entirely of Republican legislative efforts at the national level. (Local level: something else altogether, where they're deadly serious about destroying democracy by voter suppression, public education destruction, health care denial, and theocratization.) Yeah, sure, just business as usual. What's new? Nothing. And it never will be.
"One gaffe and they lose the news cycle," a Republican Party strategist said.
News cycle. Of such concerns is great work born.
Yes, yes, I can hear you, when I use the word "hate." You're asking, "What took you so long?"
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