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Key Obama Ally: We're Going to Have To Do Health Care Reform Without GOP
Brian Beutler | August 25, 2009, 9:34AM
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Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said yesterday what seems to be on a lot of Democratic minds. "I think that at some point everyone's going to see that the Republicans simply are not going to agree to any kind of health-care reform that the insurance industry isn't supporting and that, reluctantly, we're going to have to do it without them," she told The Hill.
Schakowsky's words are interesting for a couple reasons. She's the Democrats' chief deputy whip and the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus's healthcare task force. But she's also a confidant of President Obama. Her vote, over the objections of many progressives, was instrumental in moving House health care legislation out of the Energy and Commerce committee, and Obama reportedly reached out to her directly to urge her to support the bill.
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Chris
August 25, 2009 10:49 AM
Honestly, yes!!
Let’s get a little honest here. This is the opposition in America. These aren’t the crazies in the basement. They are actual Bush administration officials, members of Congress and mainstream media spreading this stuff. Not only does Obama want to kill old people and undesirables, lock Christians and conservatives up in concentration camps, he now wants to kill off our veterans!! They are a sick lot. It’s the exact same thing we went through in the 90s. Why not slap this stuff right in the face?? Quit the tea bagging circle jerks and face reality. I’m sick of the whole damn thing.
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George C
August 25, 2009 2:18 PM
It's worth remembering that in '93, Clinton enacted his budget without a single Repub vote. That budget created the Clinton legacy of unprecedented growth in the '90s, even though it cost the Dems control of the Congress.
In retrospect, would the Dems be willing to do that again? Would they be willing to vote for something because it's in the national interest even it's politically costly?
The answer to that question says a lot.
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jweb271
August 25, 2009 2:26 PM in reply to George C
The answer to that question says everything.
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jd
August 25, 2009 2:40 PM
Healthcare change is TOO BIG to go it alone. If there is no support from blue dogs or moderate republicans no bill should be passed.
This whole topic of healthcare reform has been horribly mis-managed (ala Katrina) from both the WH and Congress.
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George C
August 25, 2009 2:58 PM in reply to jd
jd --
I'm not sure of the rationale for not going it alone, if the Dems believe firmly that the system will work. If Health care is too big to go it alone, and if the Repubs won't vote for anything that will work, waiting for enough support is another way of walking away.
I guess it's a question of courage of convictions. I think a party that doesn't have that courage doesn't deserve to be in power.
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Indie Tarheel
August 25, 2009 4:11 PM in reply to jd
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing without sucking up to those know-nothing, nay-saying, tinfoil hat wearing, morally bankrupt, mentally bankrupt, race-baiting sociopaths that currently make up the GOP. THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING AND ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ANY BILL. How many times, how many ways does this have to be stated before people wake the hell up? Enough already!
(Not directed toward you personally, just the "we can't do it without them" meme - it's well past its expiration date, and decidedly not true.
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leoklein
August 25, 2009 2:53 PM
Yahoo! Go Jan!
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Kuyleh
August 25, 2009 3:14 PM
Thank the Goddess! Now, PLEASE...Do it!
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3star2nr
August 25, 2009 6:31 PM
Whats taking so long. RAM IT THROUGH public option + single payer amendment.
Thats a good bill stop wasting time
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mld678
August 25, 2009 6:51 PM
This is an emotional issue and we all should support covering individuals through private health insurance. To conquer these serious changes, doesn’t it seem right to advocate for greater transparency in both quality and price information, for it overlaps with many other issues? http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/issues/index.cfm?ID=300
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des
August 25, 2009 8:24 PM
re mld678 @ 6:51 PM:
The only emotions that have been aroused have been carefully fostered through lies and smears by the Republicans and their supporters (ie, insurance companies). Rates for health insurance have increased by over 400% in the past decade, while income for the majority of citizens has either stood still or only gone up at most 20-30%. Plainly and simply, the Health Insurance companies have been weighed and found to be wanting.
And, frankly, why the US Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to work in the interests of all businesses, large and small, isn't supporting these reforms shows just how far the tentacles of the insurance lobby reach. The unregulated and monopolistic activities of the healh care industry are dragging the economy of this country further and further behind and must be reined in - if not completely superceded.
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