Wagging the Dog?

First Read: “Some Republicans were arguing that the entire deal was a ruse to distract the country from the woes associated with HealthCare.gov. Our friend Chris Cillizza calls it Republicans embracing ‘Wag-the-Dog-ism.’ If you are a Republican using this as a talking point because you’re facing a primary challenge and want to sound like you’re talking tough about the Obama administration, then fine. We get it, politics is politics.”

“But if you really believe this, then we have some oceanfront property in Lincoln, Nebraska that we’d like to sell you. Folks, the politics surrounding the health-care law isn’t going away — regardless of what happens in Iran or the Middle East. And if you thought something could “step” on this issue, you are incredibly naïve. The folks promoting this talking point endlessly as somehow a serious strategy ought to know better.”