Exactly who is being stubborn?

The Herald’s front page article on the U.S. government shutdown blames Republicans for being stubborn. Why aren’t you calling Harry Reid stubborn? The Republicans had two very reasonable proposals: 1) offer to individuals the same one-year extension on the mandate given to employers; and 2) disallow congressional staff from getting a special subsidy on the exchanges.

However, Sen. Harry Reid and President Obama refused to negotiate. They will not budge one inch and instead call the Republicans anarchists and terrorists. You use the term “adamantly refused” for Reid and Obama, implying that they are being brave and noble while the Republicans are simply “stubborn.” Reid and Obama could accept two simple changes to the ACA but they prefer to shut down the government because they hope to make people blame the “stubborn” Republicans.

So, who is being stubborn and unreasonable? Based on the two proposals above, I would say Reid and Obama.

Shannon West

Edmonds