First of all, yesterday’s health bill victory in the Senate goes to the 9\/11 responders.\u00a0 They earned this with their blood, their sacrificed health, and their courage in those days after the attack.<\/p>\n
But leadership in Washington also matters.<\/p>\n
This is the first time that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — who just a couple of years ago represented the 20th House district which includes Lake Placid and Saranac Lake — can lay claim a major victory in Washington.<\/p>\n
The 9\/11 health bill had been stymied by Republican opposition.<\/p>\n
But in recent days, Sen Gillibrand carried a simple clear message, laying out a moral argument for passage of the bill and promising a “Christmas miracle” in appearances on Fox News, in press conferences, and on the Senate floor.<\/p>\n
She was also willing to compromise, offering the GOP an opportunity to retreat with dignity.<\/p>\n
Other lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, played huge roles here, co-equal to Gillibrand’s.<\/p>\n
But Sen. Schumer ha been a national figure for years.\u00a0 He was one of the architects of the big Democratic victories in 2006 and 2008.<\/p>\n
For Sen. Gillibrand, this was a sort of coming-out.\u00a0 It was likely the first moment that she registered in the minds of many New Yorkers and the vast majority of Americans.<\/p>\n
She had already proved that she could champion a liberal cause, pushing hard over the last year for gay rights.\u00a0 But this week, she championed a centrist cause that transcended partisanship.<\/p>\n
She also transcended her sometimes wonky, policy-heavy style, speaking plainly, simply and convincingly on a national stage.<\/p>\n
It would be easy, given the magnitude of this victory, to forget the doubts about Sen. Gillibrand when Gov. David Paterson appointed her to fill Hillary Rodham Clinton’s term.<\/p>\n
Downstate and New York City Democrats thought she was too conservative, a push-over from Upstate.\u00a0 They scolded her for her political views and promised primary challenges.<\/p>\n
Sen. Gillibrand carefully shored up her base, won re-election handily in November, and a month later helped to muster overwhelming bipartisan support (the bill was approved by the Senate on a unanimous voice vote) for an important piece of legislation.<\/p>\n
Given the speed of Sen. Gillibrand’s political evolution, it will be interesting in the months and years ahead to see where her path leads.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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