
With Democratic senators united on the health care bill today, their campaign arm has settled on an attack plan for 2010: Republicans would "repeal" it if they win control.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, aggressively challenging incumbent GOP senators and vying for open seats, will paint the Republicans as only interested in obstructing.
The DSCC blasted releases to local press out saying Republican Senators are standing "in the way" of giving health care to their constituents. Each one is customized, so for example, they say Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) "Stands In The Way Of Providing Health Care To 1.7 Million North Carolinians."
"Once this bill is signed into law, will Burr pledge to rollback this landmark health care reform which will have afforded coverage to 1.7 million North Carolinians, brought down costs for families and small businesses, ended appalling insurance practices, and lowered the deficit? That is a precarious political position to be in," the DSCC charges.
DSCC Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez offers this in a statement:
"This morning the United States Senate made history by passing landmark health care reform and we did so without a single Republican vote. Today may be the day before Christmas but the American people are still paying attention. Just like voters watched Republicans preside in Washington and do absolutely nothing to address the skyrocketing costs of health care, they have also watched Republicans obstruct common sense solutions at every turn. Once these reforms become law, Republicans who opposed it will have to look voters in the eye and pledge to repeal historic reforms which will have afforded coverage to hundreds of thousands constituents, brought down costs for families and small businesses, ended appalling insurance practices, and lowered the deficit. There is a reason that Republicans used everything they had to try to kill this bill: they know what a tough position they will be in next November."
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) this week dodged questions from ABC News about whether he'd repeal the measure if the GOP were to take over.
ABC reports:
"You used a word earlier that it's going to be an 'historic' vote, and I think it's going to be a historic mistake for the country if this is what happens to health care," said Barrasso. "Now, as you know, the changes don't actually go into place until four years from now so people aren't going to be able to see immediately what the problems are. But they are going to notice the cuts in Medicare and, specifically, the increased taxes which go into effect the day that this bill is signed into law."
TheRealFish
December 24, 2009 1:44 PM
Um. They WOULD. Next topic?
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trblmkr
December 24, 2009 2:11 PM in reply to TheRealFish
Wouldn't that mean they'd have to overturn the inevitable presidential veto?
Clearly, the Reps are gonna try to play the 'taxes now, benefits later' strategy to the hilt. A good retort will be 'only because NONE of you Repugs would actually work to create reform in good faith, obviously you must think the status quo is just fine'.
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Tao Jonesing
December 24, 2009 3:59 PM in reply to TheRealFish
Um, they would if they could, but they CAN'T. They wouldn't have the 60 votes in the Senate.
Next topic?
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ericf
December 24, 2009 2:25 PM
Why wouldn't they seek repeal? Some of them haven't given up on repealing Social Security. So yes, use this as a campaign theme in 2010, 2012, however long it has resonance. We'll just have to watch for them to reframe "repeal" as "deregulation" once enough time passes for enough people to forget why reform was needed.
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dinsdale
December 24, 2009 2:30 PM
Well, the bill isn't signed yet- still major opportunities to get screwed by coathanger Ben or traitor Joe.
Unfortunately for the D's, as more details of this insurance industry give-away come out, repealing this reform might be a winning ticket.
We will see.
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Darrius
December 24, 2009 4:50 PM in reply to dinsdale
Ben and Joe can do nothing to stop the house from passing the bill as is now.
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Mr.E.
December 24, 2009 2:32 PM
YEAH! It's about time. Time to directly take on the primary tenet of the Republican Party since at least the Reagan era head-on: Government is Bad. The Dems should be countering: Government isn't bad. BAD Government is bad. It's time for Dems to stop hiding behind Republican-lite masks and being embarrassed about trying to make government work better. They should be saying at EVERY opportunity: "Medicare is good government. Social Security is good government. Minimum Wage is good government. Worker Safety is good government. Environmental protection is good government. Roads and schools and police and firemen are good government. AND health care reform is good government. A D vote is a vote to make good government better. An R vote is a vote for bad government."
Might also mention that an R vote doesn't get rid of the government, it just puts people in office who don't believe in or practice good governing.
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Darrius
December 24, 2009 4:39 PM in reply to Mr.E.
You point is too cerebral. The masses won't understand it. You the retort should be...
"Government is not bad, Republicans are bad."
Simple and to the point. If they get challenged on the point, they can respond by drawing attention to all the BAD things that Republicans have done when they actually held office.
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theone718
December 24, 2009 2:41 PM
Uhhh some republicans will RUN ON reapealing this. Shitty strategy if you ask me.
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Hechicera
December 24, 2009 3:28 PM in reply to theone718
As someone in NC. I agree. I can really see this backfiring big time with Burr.
Burr has been making points on his alternate proposal. I might be one of the few that read the whole thing. It had one good idea, but was overall mostly much worse than House Bills, some parts might not even satisfy conservatives. Most people won't know what was in his proposal. So, he can beat everyone up all day long that "If you'd just picked my proposal ....". He is sucking up to Tea Partiers now, but they are unpredictable. I think he could be very vulnerable if he relies on them as his base too.
If this is the message to progressives in NC, it's a risky one. Many don't like this bill at all. They may not like Burr more, but some even feel Hagan (our freshman Dem. Sen.) wasn't as effective as they would have liked from a progressive standpoint. That statement does nothing to address the growing distance between NC progressives (I know a few!) and the national Dem party.
Moderates are mad at both parties here. The best I can say it it seems to be scare tactics to keep them from sitting 2010 out.
/Independent, NC swing voter
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Rich in NJ
December 24, 2009 2:41 PM
The faster the benefits of HCR kick in, the more powerful this line will be. Of course, the converse may also be true.
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Bushie
December 24, 2009 2:42 PM
Yeh, repeal taxation without benefits until 2014, repeal no regulation or oversight of monopolies. Repeal mandated, uncontrolled insurance cost and IRS policing. This bill stinks and the DINO's don't have the cajones to force a better bill through reconciliation and Rahmco and lose their income from Phama, Insurance and Hospital lobby's.
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ilovebacon
December 24, 2009 2:49 PM
Menendez is smart. Glad he's my Senator.
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jsfox
December 24, 2009 2:49 PM
Uh oh, will this be Jane Hamsher's next move? Start pushing Republican candidates. Kill the Bill doesn't seen to be working so how about repeal the bill. Now that she has teamed up with Grover Norquist this seems like logical next step.
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Memekiller
December 24, 2009 3:11 PM
Typical defensive posturing. How about, this is what we gave you, and we'll continue to give you more if you put us back in?
Republicans would have taken this away - we aren't done yet.
Drawing the battlelines over not getting rid of it puts us in a position of having to maybe get rid of it. Why not fight over doing more?
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Jackster
December 26, 2009 6:21 PM in reply to Memekiller
Agreed,
We still have to point out that R's wanted nothing to do with real reform.
That does not take away from the need to start making improvements as soon as possible. Give them nothing.
D's should consider more substantial cost controls and reducing time lines if they can't explain the delays in a way people can understand.
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GuyFromLA
December 24, 2009 4:39 PM
Well with the Senate Non-Profit Option is the biggest hoax of all times. In 2007, North Carolina Blue Cross had a profit of $190 mil. The pay increase for the CEO? 261% to of $3.1 mil. Find anything wrong in this picture? Hell yea. So lets bring Public Option back. Full article here:
http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/03/29/flux-up-yonder/
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ema
December 24, 2009 5:04 PM
This campaign line only works if voters perceive repealing the health insurance bill to be a bug not a feature. That is quite the assumption.
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par4
December 24, 2009 5:05 PM
I doubt if they would repeal the mandates.
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LindaR
December 24, 2009 5:47 PM
Um . . . if there's no public option, and no 55 Medicare buy-in, repeal might sound pretty good to a lot of people.
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Michael A
December 24, 2009 6:10 PM in reply to LindaR
Yep, most people in fact, other than the top 1%ers again and the insurance carriers and big pharma. Everyone else is getting screwed as always.
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Indie Pro
December 24, 2009 5:52 PM
"Elect Us! We deliver for Industry and Corporations!"
Conservative democrats are unimpressive. The 3rd way sucks.
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Ian
December 24, 2009 6:26 PM
How dumb can these Democrats be?
Substance aside, this healthcare bill isn't very popular right now and leading a campaign charge with it will significantly discourage an already divided base. The base may come around as the plan is improved over the years and the rest of the public certainly will once it comes into force and they realize there aren't any death panels, but neither of those things are gonna happen before 2010.
So why run an entire campaign on protecting this unpopular and divisive bill from being repealed?
Here's an idea: why not set up the campaign, not as a battle between this bill or repeal, but as a battle betweem this bill and the Republican alternative--to completely deregulate the health insurance industry.
The Republicans like to call their plan "allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines", but of course Aetna, Cigna, BCBS and many others already do that. What the Republican plan would actually do is let insurance companies ignore the health insurance regulations of whatever state they're selling in and instead only have to obey the regulations whatever state or territory they choose as their "primary" market (yeah, they get to choose). Since the US Virgin Islands have virtually no insurance regulation, my guess is that they choose there.
Everyone agrees that something has to be done about rising health insurance premiums, and the Republican plan is to do to health insurance what they did for Walll Street?
Why aren't we hearing THAT from Dems?
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Michael A
December 24, 2009 7:52 PM in reply to Ian
Because they are owned by the insurance industry and big pharma. I say scrap this monstrosity and tackle lobbying and campaign finance reform. That would be something to run on and when the repukes balk at it, they will get thrown out of office, then we can tackle healthcare reform, as opposed to insurance company welfare, in 2011.
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FreeRider
December 25, 2009 12:08 AM in reply to Michael A
Nobody cares what you say. You lost. Now, STFU!
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Michael A
December 25, 2009 12:08 PM in reply to FreeRider
Really? What did I lose?
Dems and the American people lost with this monstrosity.
Once the mandate kicks in, Dems will lose and then we will have Rambo of the Northwest as President. You consider that a win? Talk about delusional.
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FreeRider
December 25, 2009 8:31 PM in reply to Michael A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Listen to the political sage. He's been right about everything for the past two years. NOT!!
LOL.
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Michael A
December 26, 2009 11:25 AM in reply to FreeRider
Really? Well, at least my political discourse isn't limited to foul mouthed trashing in order to blindly promote talking points.
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FreeRider
December 26, 2009 12:25 PM in reply to Michael A
My, my, my! MichaelA who routinely posts "fuck you" and "get fucked" and calls me a "dipshit" and an "asshole" is sooooooooo offended by profanity.
Who knew?!
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Michael A
December 27, 2009 11:41 AM in reply to FreeRider
No I do not routinely post such posts. I lowered myself to your level that day and I regret it in hindsight actually.
I don't know why I bother responding to you. You truly are blinded by your adherence to talking points and not facts. Also, as opposed to debate you want to hurl f bombs. Basically, responding to you is a complete waste of time.
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FreeRider
December 27, 2009 3:47 PM in reply to Michael A
Waste of time? Yet you continue to respond to me. That doesn't say too much about your smarts, now does it?
Run along, now and cover your eyes. You might see some profanity and you'll have to get out the smelling salts and take to your fainting couch, you delicate little flower!
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gharlane
December 29, 2009 2:26 AM in reply to Michael A
That's FreepRuder for ya, Michael. FreepRuder routinely chooses his own facts and wishes away those facts not in line with his talking points. It makes life so much simpler, and the constant, Palinesque denial of reality so much smoother.
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life_4_rent
December 25, 2009 2:10 AM
Thanks!!! "GOP will 'repeal' health care reform" is a fantastic campaign line for the Republicans given that most of America is against the bill. Given the fact that the Democrats are even saying it shows that they know the Republicans are going to win big in 2010, or else they would not have the power to repeal.
The reason the Republicans are going to win is because most of America does not want government running their Healthcare, and they want this bill killed. So the Democrats are in fact promoting the message that America wants to hear, that of stopping the bill, and telling America the way to do that is to vote Republican.
"as long as the parts of health care reform that get put into effect immediately produce some positive results" Are you kidding me here?? The part that kicks in immediately is the TAXES, none of the so called "benefits" untill 2014. If you think paying more taxes in a severe recession is a "psoitive result" you're sadly mistaken.
http://www.topnflnews.com/
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shekissesfrogs
December 25, 2009 8:24 AM
better be a very progressive HCR bill.
Actually voting every incumbent out, save the true progressives, and getting new ones is the only way to clean up the senate even if they aren't dems. It will open up the seats for the next election at the very least.
We need to unite with the other side and vote as a block, and fight it out later. This group is not doing us any good. They have too many years of being bought off. Our country is becoming a hot bed of corruption. Goldman Sachs is looting us.
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henk
December 25, 2009 11:52 AM
I'd would go all school girl giddy on this as a campaign slogan until I found out how popular the bill turns out to be, or what's in it for that matter. Right now its polling poorly. If people don't see some benefit very quickly or if the mandates aren't spelled out very clearly I have a feeling that repealing the bill would be a winning campaign slogan for the Repugs and not repealing it a loser for the Dems
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synchronicity
December 25, 2009 11:52 AM
Might have worked if they had achieved meaningful reform.
Since they are giving so much more power to the already abusive and greedy monopolies in their bill, maybe it should be repealed.
If you think getting the reforms in this bill, that was written by the health insurance industry, was hard, just imagine how hard it will be to change things after we give the monopolies more money and power...
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henk
December 25, 2009 11:55 AM
Oh, this is coming for the DSCC, I am so glad I told them NO when the called for money a few weeks ago. I'll continue contributing to individuals.
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USgreentech
December 26, 2009 12:26 AM
The DCCC conquered everything in America. The Obama engine made quick work out of the political landscape in America. Repunks are getting heads bashed in with hammers.
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USgreentech
December 26, 2009 12:28 AM
I'd be giving money to the DCCC and DSCC. Better than giving money to the church. Catholic churches don't do that well on CHristmas so give big bucks to the DCCC.
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USgreentech
December 26, 2009 2:54 AM
Reckless Retard having some grande of an old ball.
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Jackster
December 26, 2009 6:32 PM
Even Teddy K. knew that reform had to be, at times incremental. Take as big a step as possible, then build on it. My bet is that he would not want it dead, realizing the real consequences. He would be back to work on more improvements. He wanted UHC a damned long time ago and worked hard to get us here. Those on the left who are willing to throw out the baby with the bathwater have to realize that a D majority is not an ideological majority. Get it through conference and to the Prez. Let's not rest on our achievements, as minimal as they seem.
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Tosh
January 30, 2010 7:54 PM
i don't think anyone really cares what he says
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Tosh
February 9, 2010 11:54 PM
good read thanks for the share
Cheap Kamagra M65 Field Jacket
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