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Before Reid Even Starts Speaking GOP Hits Him On 'Govt-Run' Health Care

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

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As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid prepared to announce the new health care bill with a public option included, Republicans fired off a statement targeting him for reelection that suggests they've chosen a new everything-old-is-new-again talking point.

"As Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) prepares to announce he's ignoring concerns from moderate Senate Democrats and the Obama White House, and moving forward with a government-run health care option at this afternoon's press conference, please consider the National Republican Senatorial Committee's statement regarding this latest example of heavy-handed partisanship," NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh told reporters.

Sue Lowden (R-NV), hoping to challenge Reid in 2010, sent out her own fundraising message with similar language.

"The American people are outraged with the Democrat's government take over of health care and the public option. Now there is news that Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid is again ignoring our voices and is pushing a public option health care bill through the Senate," Lowden wrote, accusing Reid of "discarding any attempts at working with Republicans."

Walsh's full statement:

"A primary reason Harry Reid is one of the most endangered incumbents facing re-election in either party next year is due to the fact that he is viewed by many of his constituents as a partisan bully. His decision to write a health care bill behind closed doors, bow to pressure from the far left, and ram this bill through the Senate will only further cement that negative image.

"It also reaffirms the importance of restoring checks-and-balances in Washington next year. As Democrats prepare to run up the national credit card even higher, it's clear they didn't learn a thing from the failed stimulus boondoggle. They are attempting to spend their way out of our nation's economic crisis with little thought or regard to the debt being passed on to future generations.

"One thing is clear though - Harry Reid and his Democrat colleagues who decide to bow to pressure from the left and continue to rubber-stamp this liberal, partisan agenda of Washington-run health care and reckless government spending will be held accountable by voters next November."

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) offered the same meme on the senate floor and also talked about the bill being crafted behind closed doors, a process President Obama campaigned against.

"I hope we'll all be able to see it soon," Cornyn said. "We don't know what's in it."

Late update: We clipped some video of Cornyn.

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18 comments

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October 26, 2009 5:43 PM   

I for one am shocked. Shocked! to see this as the GOP response.

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October 26, 2009 5:45 PM   

If you don't like it tell your state and its voters to opt-out. Go for the private insurer.

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October 26, 2009 5:48 PM   

"Far left" = 60% of Americans. So I guess she's acknowleding that we're no longer a center-right country.

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October 26, 2009 5:49 PM    in reply to Ann Arbor

that would be a welcome relief

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October 26, 2009 5:50 PM   

So nice of the NRSC to be worried about the "concerns from moderate Democrats and the Obama White House."

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October 26, 2009 5:56 PM   

I think the prospects of the Dems passing health care reform has the R's shaking in their boots. They know they're going to get clobbered on this issue next November.

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October 26, 2009 6:26 PM    in reply to mans_best_friend

There is some truth to this.

The Republicans know that if they can't kill health care reform they'll have suffered another huge legislative defeat this session. If they can't stop climate change legislation or new financial regulation next year, I suspect a lot of GOPs will be saying FML next November.

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October 26, 2009 6:01 PM   

Who cares what they say - they fought and they lost. What was it they used to tell us? Oh yeah, elections have consequences. Yahoo!

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October 26, 2009 6:03 PM   

Two points:

1. The U.S. Military is Government run.
2. News Corp is not an American company.

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October 26, 2009 6:28 PM    in reply to Bullsmith

But there are no privately-run mili... Wait. Nevermind.

For all its faults and occasional incompetence, our military tends to be considerably more benevolent and less overly evil than the private military companies.


I wonder if this makes a good allegory for what the public option will be relative to insurance companies.

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October 26, 2009 6:20 PM   

American people are not 'outraged' by the government's takeover of health care. It hasn't. We still make our own decisions as for who our doctors are, what health plan we choose to get, and how we care for ourselves. We are for a strong public option. For a plan that protects us against predatory insurance companies. It's Republican politicians that are complaining, and their supporters in the insurance industry.

As for targeting Harry Reid goes, let's not kid ourselves. Harry Reid was targeted long before this issue hit the Senate floor.

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October 26, 2009 6:32 PM    in reply to acf_ma

"We still make our own decisions as for who our doctors are [as long as our insurance contracts with our doctor or we pay out the ass for a PPO], what health plan we choose to get [as long as it's one of the options provided by our employer], and how we care for ourselves [as long as we're not pregnant or homosexual]."

Fixed. Your statement now applies to the way things are now.

I'd also like to add that I'm now on round 4 with my dental insurance company to pay for the removal of my wisdom teeth, but "pain" is not a covered condition.

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October 26, 2009 6:23 PM   

Sue Lowden (R-NV), hoping to challenge Reid in 2010, sent out her own fundraising message . . .

"Now there is news that Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid is again ignoring our voices and is pushing a public option health care bill through the Senate," Lowden wrote, accusing Reid of "discarding any attempts at working with Republicans."

That's as good a fundraising message as can be sent out . . . to convince people to contribute to Reid's re-election!

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October 26, 2009 7:04 PM    in reply to Mr.E.

Harry Reid = Partisan thug!!!!

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October 26, 2009 7:19 PM   

Somehow I think Reid's move might have the opposite outcome: it may actually take Nevada out of play and ensure his re-election.

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October 26, 2009 8:26 PM   

"And when we say 'the American People,' we are, of course, talking about angry, fat, middle aged and old white Americans who own a lot of guns and are disconnected from conventional reality. You know, Real Americans, not all those uppity unAmericans whose votes shouldn't count and wouldn't have counted if not for you meddlin' kids!"

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October 27, 2009 1:23 AM   

I am on Medicare. I "AM" for a national health program! The proposed opt-out program is undefined and has not been bottom-lined...Nor passed as law. I wouldn't get overly-exuberant. The chicken s**t Blue Dogs and the goose steppers have not given up. I suggest we don't stop fighting until the bell has rung. Money talks and the health care industry has purchased a harem of whores.

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October 27, 2009 6:20 AM   

A public option with a state opt-put provision. Now that's a circus I can't wait to see play out. Wonder which states would seriously attempt to opt out (aside from Texas, naturally).

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