Better be there

It turned out to be a smart thing to do, particularly since GOP leaders went straight to the microphones in the White House driveway to, predictably, criticize not only the Democrats’ healthcare reform bill but the bipartisan, televised healthcare reform summit President Obama has invited them to on Feb. 25.

I don’t take issue with Republicans asking the president to “tear up” the unpopular plans the Democrats in Congress passed by the skin of their teeth but can no longer muster the unity to get signed into law. I don’t take issue with doubts Republicans may have about the televised session, but House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) walked out of the White House and actually said the House Republicans would only “consider” attending the healthcare summit.

What is the whining for? Republicans are in the minority — what could they possibly be afraid of? What could they have to lose? If they want to highlight the numerous divisions Democrats have on healthcare, enough disagreements to derail their own bill, then Republicans have to go to the meeting. If they want to show that Democrats won’t budge on tort reform because the trials lawyers who support their campaigns won’t let them, then they must show up at the meeting. If they want the midterm elections this fall to be referendum on Democratic control or President Obama’s agenda, then they have to go to the meeting. If they want to prove that an overwhelming majority of the electorate is wrong in thinking that Republicans are contemptuous of governing, then they have to go to the meeting.

A new Washington Post/ABC News poll out this week finds six in 10 respondents say Republicans haven’t done enough to forge compromises with President Obama, and nearly two-thirds of respondents say they want the two parties to keep working on healthcare reform together.

House GOP Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (Va.) was interviewed earlier in the day on Fox News and insisted Republicans “stand ready and willing to work with this president,” but after newspaper headlines had indicated the GOP was on the fence about attending, Cantor admitted: “We’re not interested in a dog-and-pony show to trumped failed bills that, in fact, the Democrats can’t even pass right now, without any Republican support.”

Republicans — this is an opportunity. Take it. The cameras will show if the summit is a dog-and-pony show, the cameras will show it is partisan if that is how it turns out to be, the cameras will show if it is a setup, but the cameras will also show that the minority party showed up ready to lead. If you choose not to show up, you will fall into the Democrats’ trap and thrill them to no end.

Republicans don’t have to vote for anything. But they better stop moaning and show up at that meeting.

WILL ANY REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THE HOUSE OR SENATE JOBS BILLS? Ask A.B. got snowed in this week, along with the rest of Washington. We plan a return on Tuesday, Jan. 16 and look forward to seeing you then. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com. Thank you.