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Tag Team: Obama, Biden, Interest Groups Push On Health Care

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OFA Organizers Mitch Stewart and Jeremy Bird

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The White House, Democratic National Committee and pro-health care groups are going full force to build support in advance of tomorrow test vote on the Senate health care bill.

President Obama had nothing on his public schedule following a return from his 8-day trip to Asia, and administration sources said they believe he and the White House team are pushing senators to at least vote to bring the bill to the floor. So far, they've had good news today as conservative Democrats agree to that first step.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is celebrating his 67th birthday home in Delaware today, has been on the phone with lawmakers to bend their ears and ask for their support on the health care bill.

The DNC used the Obama Twitter feed today to urge: "The senate has unveiled an excellent health reform bill. Call your senators and ask them to move forward."

Organizing for America is asking supporters to phone Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and OFA volunteers showed up yesterday on Capitol Hill when Reid released the bill.

OFA Director Mitch Stewart wrote: "Today, senators are listening carefully to see how Americans are reacting to the bill and how we want them to proceed. So it's our job to make sure they hear quickly and unmistakably: Move forward!"

Stewart asked supporters to call Reid and tell him, "Thank you for introducing a strong bill that helps all Americans. We support you and will stand with you in this fight," and then to ask McConnell not to delay the process.

The groups aren't alone - the Republican National Committee is letting pressure build on conservative Democrats and threatening to use tomorrow's procedural vote as ammunition against them even if they don't vote to pass the bill.

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November 20, 2009 2:31 PM   

The groups aren't alone - the Republican National Committee is letting pressure build on conservative Democrats and threatening to use tomorrow's procedural vote as ammunition against them even if they don't vote to pass the bill.

This seems to be overplaying their hand. Because once the vote to open the debate, if that's considered the same offense as voting cloture to close the debate and vote, then once all vote to open the debate tomorrow night, they have nothing to lose by voting cloture to close it.

Republicans should take the approach that "It's fine that the debate is being opened as this is a very important debate and one in which we look forward to having" and then put all of the pressure on those voting cloture to close the debate - because once there is cloture to close, 60 votes becomes 51 votes.

If the GOP is saying "If you vote to open the debate we're going to use it against you" then there is no incentive for Dems to filibuster to close the debate because they're already being attacked anyways.

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November 20, 2009 2:49 PM    in reply to Walter Mitty

This is assuming that a certain fur senators exist on the same plane of reality as the rest of the caucus.

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November 20, 2009 2:49 PM    in reply to holyhandgrenaid

four senators

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