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Durbin: We're Struggling To Round Up 60 Votes For A Public Option
Brian Beutler | November 17, 2009, 11:00AM
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Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin isn't inflating anybody's expectations about Harry Reid's chances for passing a health care bill with a public option on the Senate floor. On MSNBC last night, Durbin said it would be a hard slog.
"We're working on it, struggling," he said
Of course there are differences of opinion on critical issues like public option. But I think we all understand we have an historic opportunity and an historic responsibility. To leave this field of battle empty handed is a terrible error and a real misfortune on our country.
Asked point blank by host Ed Schultz whether the public option would survive, Durbin couldn't bring himself to say yes.
"I want one," he said, "and I think Harry Reid showed real leadership and wisdom when he put an opt out provision in it."
Last night, progressives pulled Reid aside to remind him that as he rounds up 60 votes for a health care bill, he can't compromise on the public option any further.
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cmpnwtr
November 17, 2009 11:12 AM
I wish these wimps would stop misrepresenting the issue. It isn't about 60 votes for the public option. It's about 60 votes for cloture! He's simply afraid to say that there are backstabbing Dem. senators who are willing to filibuster with the Republicns.
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Obama1st
November 17, 2009 11:15 AM
I believe that as a progressive there is a need for a plan B on HCR. If the Senate can not pass a public option and there is a floor fight over it; we need to take names and prepare for 2010 and 2012 and target the conservaDems in the Senate and Blue Dogs in the House. The GOP will self-destruct anyway because the public will see them as completely inept and in the bank of health care PACS andd lobbyists. The GOP's plan of purety and purge for their party, will allow for progressives to make advances for the national agenda and pick up numbers. Do not fear a turn down of HCR this year.
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baltimore
November 17, 2009 11:33 AM in reply to Obama1st
i think you are overly optimistic. the DINOs may lose in 2010 and 2012 but in that case they will be replaced by even further right-wing repugs. remember that those are all conservative states, and the choice will not be betw. a progressive Dem. and a usual Repug, but betw. another DINO and a even more right-wing GOPer.
i don't know what you're smoking but if it gives you such optimism, i'd like to try some of that!
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rbe1
November 17, 2009 11:41 AM in reply to baltimore
Better the devils you know than the ones you don't. I'd rather see the knife coming than to be stabbed in the back.
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Obama1st
November 17, 2009 11:42 AM in reply to baltimore
all signs point to a growing understanding that the public is aware of the dynamics of how much we are sufferung and the repukes are offering nothing to fix and have solutions to health care. A bad bill will certainly be the course you outlined in your post.
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masanf
November 17, 2009 4:47 PM in reply to Obama1st
So that is why the public option probably won't pass? Because those who oppose it realize it is super duper popular with their constituents. Give me a break. All signs point to a better understanding of what the "repukes"(wow that isn't juvenile, is it) are doing? You are right, which is why the support for Dems amongst independents is absolutely cratering, and a majority of independents, and most of America, is against Obamacare. Face it, everyone here knows that the Moderate Dems in the Senate are looking for a reason to kill this thing, whether it be because of abortion (Conrad, Nelson) or the public option (Conrad, Nelson and about five other people). The bill that Reid introduced three weeks ago has about as much chance of passing as Obama's laughable "jobs summit" has of keeping down unemployment.
The Obama Record: Record unemployment, record deficits, no legislative accomplishments.
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agio
November 17, 2009 11:42 AM in reply to Obama1st
I think the weasel Liebermann will just switch to the GOP in '12 anyway.
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mans_best_friend
November 17, 2009 11:54 AM in reply to Obama1st
What irony. First you start out saying we should purge insufficiently liberal Democrats. You then follow that by pointing out that the Republicans are going to foolishly purge out insufficiently conservative Republicans.
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masanf
November 17, 2009 4:38 PM in reply to Obama1st
The Dems are going to pick up seats in the House and Senate next year? Hahahahahahahahahaham, that is absolutely hilarious.
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NuttyProf
November 17, 2009 11:33 AM
The "public" will punish the entire Democratic party in 2010 and 12 without distinguishing.
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Indie Pro
November 17, 2009 11:38 AM
They should try talking to people and the media about why they want one. What it is good for. What we have without it.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
November 17, 2009 11:47 AM in reply to Indie Pro
Yes. Over and over and over again until the dim bulb over some of their CW bound little heads goes off.
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rbe1
November 17, 2009 11:40 AM
As a democrat I can say absolutely, if the democratic prostitutes for corporate America fail to get the minimum we asked for, I will do everything in my limited way to ensure that each of them fails to regain his or her office next round. The democratic party shows absolutely no courage. They are a disgusting group, and as unfit for their offices as are the republicans.
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Michael A
November 17, 2009 11:52 AM in reply to rbe1
We can get rid of the prostitutes if we get campaign finance and lobbying reform. What ever happened to both those things? Two of the most important things on the to do list and they evaporated. If we would have led with those things, maybe the prostitutes would have converted to actually doing something good for the voters as opposed to worrying about lining their pockets. Gee, we might actually have single payer.
Come on Obama, get with the program and clean house like you promised.
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BrianInMKE
November 17, 2009 12:12 PM
Any future contributions to the DNC? You can assume NOT if healthcare reform does not include a public option.
As a matter of fact the Bill is looking more like a 'Increased Profitability for Health Insurance and Increased Deficits for Our Children Act' and if it is passed should be vetoed by the President. If it does not contain a public option and is not vetoed it is pretty much guaranteed I'll be voting Green in 2010 and 2012.
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Richard L. Adlof
November 17, 2009 12:16 PM
Durbin and Reid need to start thanking hold-out DEMs for them declaring the retirement.
Life sucks if folk don't have any seats on any committees and are getting zero dollars from the National Party during their next bid to be seated.
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Silence
November 17, 2009 12:24 PM
The money would be better spent extending unemployment benefits.
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Schmed- ley
November 17, 2009 2:26 PM in reply to Silence
Socialist!
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Michael A
November 17, 2009 2:44 PM in reply to Silence
Commie! Pinko!
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numediaman
November 17, 2009 1:48 PM
Durbin and Reid will get their votes . . . they will simply conduct a "Secret Santa" gift exchange by getting two hats, throwing all the names of the Blue Dogs into one hat, and their "presents" into the other. Presents will be things like "bomb Iran", "overturn Roe v Wade", and "give Goldman Sachs billion dollar bonus".
That should please everyone.
I'm so glad the Democrats are in power, now we can finally see what the right wing would do if they had the chance. No need to wait for the Republicans to return to power when you have these guys in control.
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