Dems. are their own worst enemy

By Matthew Clemente on Oct 28, 2009

As Democrats reveal in greater detail which provisions will actually be included in health care legislation, the division within the Democratic Caucus becomes increasingly evident.  Most recently, the split has come between those who share the views of liberal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calfi.):

 Any real change requires the inclusion of a strong public option to promote competition and bring down costs...

and those who share the views of moderate Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.):

 I have not been in favor of a government run option... 

If such conflicting perspectives continue to exist within the Democratic Caucus, it may be Democrats--not Republicans-- who block the passage of health care reform. 

In a Monday afternoon press conference, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate's version of health care legislation will include a public option that would allow states to opt out of benefits (though, such states would still see their tax dollars go to funding the program in other states).  The inclusion of the public option has caused a great deal of unrest among those who vote Democrat.

A day after hearing Reid's proposal, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)--who caucuses with Democrats-- revealed his distaste for the plan:

I can’t see a way in which I could vote for cloture on any bill that contained a creation of a government-operated-run insurance company. It’s just asking for trouble – in the end, the taxpayers are going to pay and probably all people who have health insurance are going to see their premiums go up because there’s going to be cost shifting as there has been for Medicare and Medicaid.

Even worse for Reid's proposal, Lieberman told reporters that he is not the only member of the Democratic Caucus who opposes the current legislation.  According to the Senator from Connecticut, the number of Democrats who have some problem with it "actually goes to double figures, at different levels of intensity."

Senator Landrieu stated, "I'm skeptical about what Senator Reid has proposed," and Senator Nelson (D-Neb.) is refusing to support legislation until he reads it.

All of this spells trouble for the Democrats, who have a 60 seat majority that would otherwise be enough to push health care legislation through the Senate. 

Unable to find a happy medium between differing views, it seems--for now at least-- that Democrats are their own worst enemy. 

Pamela
November 1, 2009 - 10:57am

This health care legislation is not about competition. There are currently about 1300 health insurance companies selling health insurance in this country. One more run by the government will not "increase competition." Further the insurance industry is one of the most highly regulated industries with a profit margin of between 3% and 4%. Hardly, the evil, greedy industry the propagandists would like you to believe. In reality a government run anything is not cost effective or consumer friendly. Medicare is going bankrupt and as usual the liberal solution is expansion of the governmental piece rather than free market alternatives such as vouchers so that low income persons can buy health insurance (note the lack of bureacracy that would involve) and the provision to individuals of the same tax incentives provided to employers to provide health insurance. Of course these solututions would not give the elitist pols in DC control over 17% of our economy so...please don't' give me the "competition" rap because it is a smoke screen for a power grab.

tclyde
October 30, 2009 - 2:30pm

No, not while I'm alive.

JamesBz
October 30, 2009 - 1:17am

Dick Armey and his mighty band of phonies, funded by the insurance companies to the hilt, desperately trying to cling to the status quo which is entirely unsustainable. What's wrong with competition? Aren't you folks business people?

termlimitsforcongress
October 29, 2009 - 1:49pm

While watching Pelosi's announcement that they had a house plan ready to debate and that we the public could read it on line, I wondered why lightning didn't strike her as she stood there and lied so much. If I had been standing nearby, I would have moved. Then, S. Hoyer stands up and says in his 29 years (he should be voted out!!!) he had never seen so much transparency and open debate. He has not listend to the American people although he stated that he had listened. Has anyone been noting the closed doors and secrecy among the Dems. Harry Reid especially. Vote them all out before our country is ruined.

TheMan
October 28, 2009 - 2:15pm

Actually there are Democratic moderates who are now supporting the public option:

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/64287-dean-claims-blue-dog-support-for...

In fact the GOP has even acknowledged it:

The National Republican Congressional Committee pounced on Dean's list, claiming it would give them ammunition to attack several vulnerable Democrats in next year's elections.

Matthew, you also state:

The inclusion of the public option has caused a great deal of unrest among those who vote Democrat.

Thats a lie. The majority of the US POPULATION is in favor of a public option which means for Democrat voters this is probably a vast majority. Plus nowhere does this linked article talk about the voters.

Matthew, what I would be more concerned with is the division within the GOP. There is a greater and greater schism being created between the moderate Republicans and the far-right conservative wackos as is evidenced in FreedomWorks support of Hoffman in New York against a more moderate GOP candidate

termlimitsforcongress
October 29, 2009 - 1:53pm

As far as this right wing conservative--I support Hoffman also. Have you looked her record? Check out your facts before you speak. She's as liberal as they come.