OPINION

Blame everybody else first

President Donald Trump, or associates claiming to reflect his views, have fingered a range of villains to blame for the legislative collapse last week of the Republican health-care plan. These include conservative think tanks, Democrats, House Speaker Paul Ryan, the Freedom Caucus of right-wing congressmen, Trump's son-in-law, his chief of staff Reince Priebus, and the deeply flawed bill to replace Obamacare.

Naturally it didn't occur to the chief executive that the chief culprit was himself. He failed at public persuasion--only 17 percent of voters supported the measure--and private pressure, with idle threats to campaign against opponents. Then he falsely claimed that he never said he'd repeal and replace Obamacare quickly, and distanced himself from the bill that only days earlier he had enthusiastically embraced.

Trump can talk about changing priorities, switching strategies and crafting new coalitions, but his disdain for truth won't change.

This is compounded by what emerged in the health-care fiasco: his lack of interest in substance. It was clear to some members who met with him that he had little sense of what was in the bill that Paul Ryan crafted.

A few weeks ago, the president exclaimed, "Nobody knew health care could be so complicated!" That wasn't exactly news to anyone who has thought about the subject in recent decades.

He may have a little more knowledge when it comes to the tax system, at least as it affects his own interests.

On infrastructure, the White House is now suggesting that Trump may work with Democrats. That could be good public policy, but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.

Cross-aisle coalition-building requires trust; how many Democrats trust Trump?

Editorial on 03/28/2017

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