Democrat Joins Calls for Health Care Repeal

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

At least one of the 34 House Democrats who voted against President Obama's comprehensive health care overhaul is now calling for its repeal, joining a chorus of Republicans intent on making the new set of laws an election issue.

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) said he would be in favor of repealing the entire bill, WECT reports.

"If we had the opportunity to vote on it, I would," McIntyre reportedly said. "But I don't think the votes are there right now. So now (the) question is, it'll have to be addressed by the judicial branch."

McIntyre said he supports the numerous, largely Republican state attorneys general suing the federal government on the grounds that the bill is unconstitutional, according to WECT.

The congressman's comments fly in the face of the Democrats' current efforts, led by Mr. Obama, to convince the American public of the benefits they will see from the new legislation. It highlights the adamant opposition to the reform package that exists in moderate and conservative parts of the country.

In a CBS News poll conducted last week, nearly two in three Americans said they wanted Republicans in Congress to continue to challenge parts of the health care reform bill.

The poll also showed, however, improved perceptions of the legislation after it was passed: While 37 percent approved of it before the House vote, 42 percent approved afterward. A USA Today/ Gallup poll released today showed slightly more people describing the new law as a "bad thing" rather than a "good thing."

Democrats, it appears, still have a long ways to go to convince Americans the value of the health care reform bill. For now, they are using the controversial vote to appeal to their base.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

"I've got one message for all the Tea Party haters who took aim at everyone from [Reps.] John Lewis to Barney Frank: We're not backing down," Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) wrote today in a fundraising e-mail the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent to supporters. "The American people have been struggling for decades with skyrocketing health care costs and out-of-control insurance companies that deny care when people need it most. So Democrats stood up for what's right and passed historic health care reform."

Endorsing a repeal of the health care reform legislation has become something of a litmus test for Republican candidates running in the 2010 midterm elections, the Washington Independent notes. More than 400 electoral candidates have signed the conservative group Club for Growth's "Repeal It" petition.

Mr. Obama has essentially dared Republicans to run on the promise of repealing the bill, contending that voters will not want the benefits of the bill -- such as new consumer protections -- rolled back. The GOP leadership has adopted a slogan of "repeal and replace," adding nuance to the call for a repeal.

Political and logistical realities could make repealing the bill a promise that is hard to keep -- for one thing, even if Republicans won back congressional leadership, they would still face Mr. Obama's veto pen at least through 2012.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by dh443153 April 4, 2010 10:29 PM EDT: Health insurance was initially estabished to cover UNEXPECTED health issues, not the periodic trip to the doctors for a cough or cold. There is a difference between health INSURANCE and health CARE. This legislation has done nothing to lower health CARE costs. It assures that everyone will have health INSURANCE. Unless something is done to lower Healthcare cost, insurance will continue to rise. We need to repeal this legislation and find a way to lower health care costs before it is too late.; Reply to this comment


by watkinsjr2000 March 31, 2010 9:34 PM EDT: This guy is acting out of crass self-interest & I'd guess he's preparing to bolt to the GOP.The House Democratic leadership would be well within their rights to strip him of any authority he has in the caucus. They should also move his office to a dank room in the basement of the U.S. Capital.; Reply to this comment


by Zann-Zel March 31, 2010 5:49 PM EDT: "The American people have been struggling for decades with skyrocketing health care costs and out-of-control insurance companies that deny care when people need it most. So Democrats stood up for what's right and passed historic health care reform."

====
To me that says it all right there!; Reply to this comment


by hockeymom441 March 31, 2010 12:06 PM EDT: The people of America elected Barak Obama. Among the many reasons, was that we wanted change in our healthcare system.

He's delivered that.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Constitution supports healthcare for all. It doesn't make us socialized to help each other - it's what makes us civilized.; Reply to this comment


by Mortar_29 March 30, 2010 8:42 PM EDT: Would love to see it.; Reply to this comment

by RobAla March 30, 2010 7:57 PM EDT

I hope more reasonable and responsible Democrats join this effort. A 53% win in the 2008 election was no mandate to turn the nations health care on its head. Nor was it a mandate to wildly expand the federal governments control over the lives of individuals. Both aspects of the President activity are recklessly irresponsible, and could break the economic back of the nation. Not to mention, the health care bill could very well be unconstitutional.

Americans were asking Washington to help bring down the cost of health care, but instead Washington took this as an opportunity to fatten itself at our expense. This bill will cause premiums to go up dramatically, and the higher taxes will result in our standard of living going down. Washington turned a deaf ear to the majority of Americans, and we will have an opportunity to set things straight come November.

Reply to this comment


by jimbom121 March 30, 2010 8:18 PM EDT: How will this cause premiums to go up more than they have? And what have the Republicans offered in the last 15 years?


by RobAla March 30, 2010 9:05 PM EDT: Jimbom121: First of all, I am an independent who has never voted a straight ticket. I am not a member of either party. Regardless of all the talk about the private health care providers raping people, the average profit margin runs between 2.2% and 5% (railroads have about a 12% margin). They make their money on volume, and they have to place certain conditions (like them or not) on who and how they will insure in order to make a profit at all. All of the mandates by the government on the private insurers make people feel good - but the insurance providers will have to change rates to accommodate to those mandates. IF you can not turn high risk people away, then the premiums of everyone will have to be raised to pay for it. It's just that simple. The insurers bet that you are not going to need the coverage, and the person with the policy bets that they will need it. The insurance providers will have to cover the "bad bets" by raising the rates on people.


by deeartz March 30, 2010 7:13 PM EDT: Get over it. This is the O man's administration. You never have any proof to go with your accusations..............; Reply to this comment

by slownewsday_____ March 30, 2010 7:02 PM EDT

"by TruthCrusader
9-11 cost $1 Trillion Dollars in damages to the economy, not to mention the irreplaceble thousands of lives and disfigured survivors. "

Sure you aren't talking about Iraq and our soldiers?

Reply to this comment


by slownewsday_____ March 30, 2010 7:19 PM EDT: by TruthCrusader
Yes, very sure. Wall street closed for 5 days, loss of trading alone totalled $1T. Add 2 Towers that cost $400 Million/each to build, empty in 1967 dollars, 1 forty-seven story building nearby, etc., etc. Hundreds of businesses totally wiped out, Cantor-Fitzgerald an example. Personally, 1 innocent American Life should be cause to Execute any Radical Islamic Terrorist involved in an attack against America on our Soil. Sadly, OBAMA feels that 9-11 should be a day for Americans to Volunteer now rather than remembrance & respect for those who innocently parished at the hands of Radical Muslims. Get that Socialistic Con Man out of office in 2012. Sooner is ok too.

----

You should also be talking about Iraq, as it was a similar expense. And it was, oddly enough, a choice which we made intentionally (although stupidly).

That was the point.

Sorry you missed my sarcasm's intent.


by slownewsday_____ March 30, 2010 7:01 PM EDT: "by TruthCrusader
WRONG-CHILDREN ARE NOT COVERED RIGHT AWAY! "

Missed the article this morning saying that the insurance companies have announced they will honor the spirit of the law, didja?; Reply to this comment