September 10, 2009 5:05 PM

Liberal, Moderate Dems Still at Odds on Health Care

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Health Care
(AP Photo)
President Obama on Wednesday night told Congress it is time to stop bickering over health care reform, but it is unclear whether his words can tone down the infighting within his own party.

After one of the leaders of the Blue Dogs -- a group of moderate House Democrats -- called for a more unified party message on Wednesday morning, at least one House progressive said she would not back off of her criticisms of the Blue Dogs, according to a report from the Hill newspaper.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), a member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus, is one of the 60-plus House Democrats who have said she will not vote for a health care bill that does not include a government-run health care plan, or "public option." This stance has put Waters and other liberals at odds with the Blue Dogs and other moderates. For instance, liberal Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) called Blue Dogs "brain dead."

Waters reportedly said she would not tone down her rhetoric.

"Hell, no," Waters said, according to the Hill. "Progressives have a voice in this caucus, and we're not going to back down."

Furthermore, the newspaper reports, the NAACP is organizing a campaign to pressure Blue Dogs from certain districts to support health care reform. Other groups are also targeting some moderates for tepid support of the president's more liberal proposals, like the public option. For instance, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee has gone after moderate Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

The tension is apparent in House leadership as well, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisting a health care bill must include a public option while House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says that it is not necessary.

"He's taking care of his constituency, and she's taking care of hers," a Democrat close to both leaders told Politico. "We'll see how that plays out."

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Full CBSNews.com coverage of the president's speech on health care:

Obama Tells Congress to Stop Bickering

Full Video Full Transcript Speech Highlights

GOP Response: "It's Time to Start Over"

Marc Ambinder: Will Obama's Sales Job Work?

Mark Knoller: Obama Willing to Compromise — Up to a Point

Was Obama Clear on the Public Option?

Ted Kennedy's Letter to Obama

Rep. Wilson Swipes the Spotlight

Analysis: The Road Ahead for Health Care

Add a Comment
by hedu56 February 21, 2011 1:49 PM EST
Here here to all the above comments..we thought we could stop screaming at the TV after Bush left,but it seems like it's gotten worse even though we have a President that is a Democrat. In Minnesota we are so happy to have Mark Dayton as our Governor,Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar as our Senators.
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by James_In_Atlanta November 6, 2009 9:18 AM EST
Incumbents beware; We the People of The United States of America put you in office to represent us. Majority rules and any of you can be voted out of office and replaced with someone who will represent us and do our bidding.

Health care providers like doctors and nurses and the institutions they work for provide health care. Health Insurance companies are a parasite on the US Health Care System extorting vast sums of monies from sick and injured Americans to fill their coffers. We need to let the market place rule and provide a strong public option insurance program ran by the people for the people not for profit and greed and to cover operating costs only.

A publically ran insurance program for Americans who choose to participate and Americans who can not afford health care and not forcing Americans to purchase high cost private health insurance with tax dollars. A strong public option will provided needed jobs and remove the fear of Americans going bankrupt to pay for an illness or injury or being dropped from coverage or priced out with ever increasing premium and deductable costs.
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by babooph September 11, 2009 1:37 AM EDT
What is the big deal-put it in as an "EARMARK" on the war spending bill-both parties will put it through fast-no talk of the cost....
Reply to this comment
by HGOODGUY September 11, 2009 12:42 AM EDT
by HGOODGUY September 10, 2009 5:20 PM EDT
Does anyone realize that in countries like France-Japan-Norway-Canada that Healthcare is a NON-ISSUE???
Can anyone imagine never having to worry that your health will bankrupt you???
In spite of the massive "snow job" from the insurance companies and conservatives, I have yet to see any cries of abuse or demands for change from any country that provides healthcare to its constituancy.
We are so used to getting "screwed-blued-and tattooed" by the insurance companies that we are afraid to change anything.
The president was right on when he said that "we must not fear the future-we must shape it"
Unfortunately when it comes to the republicans, it is like trying to shape a box of rocks!!
I have reached the conclusion that the time is over for word games and theatre. Congress needs to just RAM IT THROUGH and move on!!!
Reply to this comment
by texbelle123 September 10, 2009 6:50 PM EDT
You go Maxine!!!

I keep wondering what any Congressman or Senator (or President), someone who has the best health care in the country, health care which is FREE, will consider "affordable health care." Without a Public Option, it is all too expensive.

I'm one of those people with lots of stories about what our people suffer through because of the cost of going to a doctor, or buying prescriptions, or not having health insurance. The cost we will pay without the public option will be measured in HUMAN LIVES.

My god. Stop trying to build a bipartisan monstrosity, and just pass a good health care reform bill. The insurance industry will recover. Without it, the people adversely affected will not.

Right-wing "Christians": which will God ask you about when you die? The profit level of a business, or the lives of God's creation, hmmm?
Reply to this comment
by woeisme1 September 10, 2009 6:11 PM EDT
Well I sort of applaud Waters resolve and support for the public option. But there are many elements of it, that if passed without the name "public option" will add up to the same thing.

To me it does'nt matter what they call it as long as the basic intent of it is in the bill.

And as far as the Bluedogs go, they'll vote with the rest of their party when all is said and done.
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