Dem Whip: We don't have the votes (right now)

Did someone forget to give Jim Clyburn (D-SC) his talking points? Rewind to Sunday morning:

MR. [TOM] BROKAW: Joining us now, let’s turn to two men whose job it is to count the votes in their respective chambers–the Democratic House Whip, Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina; the Democratic Senate Whip, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Welcome both. They’re back in their respective states. You just heard Mr. Axelrod say that he is confident, Congressman Clyburn, that the bill will be passed. As of this morning, do you have the votes that you need?

REP. CLYBURN: No, we don’t have them as of this morning. But we’ve been working this thing all weekend, we’ll be working it going into the week. I am also very confident that we’ll get this done.

Hello? Hello? We do not admit that we don’t have the votes! We must create a sense of inevitability!

I guess I should praise Clyburn for his unusual candor. But it has been surreal to hear so many advocates of the healthcare bill proclaim their forced optimism about its chances to pass. Sure, both sides play this game. It may even be necessary. But it sure makes audiences cynical.