Weiner's the Only Dem in Health Brawl

Republicans keep attacking health care reform, and with one loud exception, Democrats have been "passive to the point of wimpy" in defending it, writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post. That exception? "Brooklyn-born streetfighter" Anthony Weiner. "I don't represent the hide-under-the-desk wing of the Democratic Party," the New York congressman said yesterday, complaining that even Nancy Pelosi and President Obama hadn't done enough. "I believe we've got to lean into this fight."

"In general, neither Democrats nor Republicans lack for hotheads," observes Milbank, but right now, Weiner's fire is badly needed. Public support for the legislation is stuck at 42% as Republicans get aggressive and "Democrats play under Marquess of Queensberry rules. ... In wishing away the fight, they are losing it." They need to heed Weiner's advice to "stop cowering," because this debate isn't going away. "It doesn’t happen often, but this is one time when Democrats should follow Weiner," Milbank concludes. (More Anthony Weiner stories.)