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Gibbs On Filibuster Possibility: Dems And GOP Alike 'Will Be Held Accountable By Their Constituents'

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Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

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On Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs wasn't sweating the news that Democrats and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) may not be coming through on the Senate health care bill.

Gibbs said he hadn't seen the reports about Lieberman saying he'd support a filibuster, but added, "I think Democrats and Republicans alike will be held accountable by their constituents who want to see health care reform enacted this year."

"I haven't seen the report from Senator Lieberman or why he's saying what he's saying," he said, citing polls showing support for health care. "And we know that if that doesn't happen, people say they'll be very disappointed by that, and we think people will make progress to ensure that this gets done."

Gibbs said President Obama hasn't been making specific calls yet but, "I'm sure we'll get involved in due time."

"The president is working to ensure we get this through," Gibbs said. "I think we've been working through these issues for many months and we will continue to do so to make progress. I think president has been pretty involved in this and as this works its way through we'll have more to do on it."

Reporters asked about Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who opposes the public option in any form.

"That's a better question for Olympia Snowe," he said. "I don't know what the dynamics are. I don't know what the vote count is in the Senate. That'd be a question, too, for Senator Reid."

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October 27, 2009 3:38 PM   

'Will Be Held Accountable By Their Constituents'

What constitutents does Lieberscum have to worry about? He's got no chance of re-election and he knows it. His real constituency is Aetna, Hartford, CIGNA, UHIC.

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October 27, 2009 3:43 PM    in reply to Schmed

"No chance" in an election three years away? Don't kid yourself.

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October 27, 2009 3:50 PM    in reply to mans_best_friend

Have people in CT really got such short memories?

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October 27, 2009 3:59 PM    in reply to Schmed

I think it will depend entirely on who the Democratic candidate is.

If that person is the equivalent of Alan Schlesinger, all Joe needs to do is squiggle back towards the left on a few war-related issues, and talk about how much his seniority brings to the state.

And I haven't heard any rumors about who might run. Richard Blumenthal is always mentioned, but then, he's always mentioned, and remains as AG, so that's not informative.

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October 27, 2009 4:24 PM    in reply to CT Voter

If Holy Joe fucks around with us too much on health care (and who knows what else), I think Harry Reid should announce that the Democratic caucus has agreed that Lieberman's chairmanship and seniority will be assigned to the Democrat who wins Lieberman's seat.

No reason they can't do it.

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October 27, 2009 4:27 PM    in reply to mans_best_friend

True enough,

That said, skewing right on the war in '06 is one thing, outward campaigning for McCain and potential support for a filibuster on the popular PO in New England is quite another.

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October 27, 2009 3:38 PM   

Democrats and Republicans alike. But nothing about Connecticut-for-Liebermanners.

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October 27, 2009 3:41 PM    in reply to agio

Actually, Lieberman is not even a member of that party. It was just a campaign tool.

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October 27, 2009 3:48 PM    in reply to agio

Yeah, that was a really strange way to answer a question about Joe Lieberman.

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October 27, 2009 3:45 PM   

I think Gibbs is exactly right. If you filibuster this, it offers a powerful tool to primary opponents for Democrats.

And if it fails, it offers a powerful tool to Republicans: Democrats are the do-nothing party.

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October 27, 2009 4:05 PM   

That's a good sign. He hadn't even heard Lieberman's statement but knew enough to fire a warning shot to anyone thinking of blocking health care.

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October 27, 2009 4:11 PM    in reply to fbacon2

Gibbs is aware of Lieberman's sudden love for Republicans since Ned Lamont beat him in that Democratic Primary.

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October 27, 2009 4:08 PM   

Well Joe, sounds like you just guaranteed Connecticut fewer Defense Contracts, not to mention RE-Implementation of the Glass-Steagall Act against financial institutions (Insurance Companies) that your buddy, Phil Gramm, did away with in 1999.

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October 27, 2009 4:17 PM   

Most excellent

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October 27, 2009 4:57 PM   

What do people think of Gibbs' comment? Is this an implicit suggestion from the WH to put as much pressure as possible on representatives and senators to support a PO?

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October 27, 2009 5:09 PM    in reply to The Naturalist's Attitude

Right now, WH public comments doesn't mean much. It is how they will work with Harry behind closed doors to keep the caucus in line.

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October 27, 2009 5:10 PM   

Did he also say "we told you so"?

lol!

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October 27, 2009 6:24 PM   

Gibbs Translation: If Liberman knows what's good for him, he'll do the right thing.

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