November 19, 2009 5:57 PM

Orrin Hatch Says Health Care Vote Will Start "Holy War"

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Health Care
(AP)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that the Senate will take its first procedural vote on his health care bill at 8 p.m. on Saturday, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports.

Once the ball is rolling on health care, however, Republicans plan to pull out all the stops against it. They could use procedural tactics to draw out the debate, such as requesting the entire 2,000-plus page document be read aloud.

"It's going to be a holy war," Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) told the Los Angeles Times.

Even just beginning the debate could be difficult, however. Reid needs all 60 Democrats to pass the first procedural vote to begin debate. After the procedural vote, the Senate will hold a voice vote to actually start debating. The Senate will adjourn for Thanksgiving, though, and come back on Nov. 30 to begin debate in earnest.

After what could be weeks of debate, Reid will once again need to hold his caucus together to pass another procedural vote -- this time to overcome a Republican filibuster to allow for a vote of the actual bill. This vote should be the most challenging. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) said today he would join the Republican filibuster if he determines he does not approve of certain aspects of the bill, reports Roll Call.

When asked if he would filibuster the bill if he found its abortion language to be lacking, he said, "Yes. In other words, I won't vote for cloture on the motion to end debate. But I don't want to get involved in each and everyone of the details because there are a lot of other things that could keep me from supporting it at the end as well if they aren't to my satisfaction."

Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has also threatened to filibuster the bill because of it includes a public option.

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Add a Comment See all 54 Comments
by mlovt November 30, 2009 9:39 PM EST
One of the most moving statements in this Christmas tale is by Marley's Ghost when despairing over "life's opportunities misused." Scrooge, trembling with fear and beginning to share in Marley's guilt, says: "But you were always a good man of business, Jacob." Upon which the Ghost cried out in anguish:

Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!

These words stand as an eloquent expression of our grand human purpose, suggesting that it is our inner thoughts and feelings, our motives, our priorities, which contribute to making our lives an emptiness or a fullness. What we are in our whole being is so much grander than anything we can measure by surface values. In Goethe's words, "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love."
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by mlovt November 30, 2009 9:41 PM EST
"god bless us, everyone".
by mcodre2005 November 26, 2009 12:24 AM EST
"Holly war"?!...i'm just wondering if those guys are able to think something like...peace?
"Holly"? Did your Jesus want you to serve the rich? Mister Senator (R) from Utah...
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by jentilpet November 25, 2009 8:16 PM EST
The word "Holy & Hatch" cannot share the same sentence,nevermind the title,re:what he uttered about a HolyWar..it has been an UNholy billion dollar war!Has he become illiterate now too..mentioning "holy?" wars,in what way will it be anything but "holy?" Down the "Hatch",enjoy your fine wine tonight[if you have the appreciations for..I'll bet he drinks milk w/ his dinner,served by his housekeeper[or cook],while his wife,having enjoyed a charmed life,does not influence her hubby's obstinence..remeber,Nancy Reagan,"behind every great man,is the woman beside him"not since Ronnie..LauraBush,never told hubby,"hey,jerk,you red-necked fool" stop the spending,the delisting of our wildlife..Palin,McCain..really nice motley crew!They want everything to suffer,including the animals [rights],he never cared about the enviornment,now they say global warming is being melted by our cigarette smoke..what about those 6 poisonous smoke stacks,one day someone had the idea re:emmissions,that never exsisted...Leave the smokers alone..We never "blew" that much smoke,as much as these spiritually challenged politicians trying to make us believe that this is just an imaginary meltdown?Listed are 20 insane reasons why they still think there's no such thing as Arctic melting..Gore's science is reality..good!Wake up,you spoiled Americans,as I too am an American,but do not have to be proud of being one!
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by wilbon10 November 25, 2009 2:04 PM EST
Hatch is a wack job*.
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by dhfabian November 24, 2009 4:46 PM EST
Holy war? Maybe. Is Sen. Hatch referring to the Biblical prediction of the "End Times," when the poor and powerless will be raised up, and the rich and powerful will be brought down and cast into hell? The Bible does discuss the fate of war-mongers, the arrogant and the greedy. The Bible sounds pretty serious about our social responsibility to provide for the poor, aid the sick, ensure that the innocent are never thrown in prison -- even if they are penniless. The central teaching of Christianity is about helping the "least of these". But all of these ideas are in conflict with conservative ideology and policy. Years of right-wing government pushed people to the point where a "holy war" against the arrogance of the rich and powerful really is conceivable (though it is more commonly called "revolution"). So, who knows, maybe the senator is on to something.
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by jentilpet November 25, 2009 7:57 PM EST
If anyone thinks "Orin" has Hatched a "Ho;y-War"in any literal sense,is not the Revelation re:The End Times!He's an old,arrogant,entitled,smug,financially secure,pain in the ass.He is off his "old" rocker,& until the last drop of blood,all of them will stay as ignorant as they've been!No,maybe he does have a point,is not gonna fly,he,like others..Salazar,Otter,whom I despise as wolf slaughterers!Palin too,& if I hear one more time,"is she running in 2012?"I will freak out!Our society has become filled w/ an idle mentality,in desperate need of an "Idol!"from "oprah" who never knew one day of struggle,nor suffering,she got lucky,I shed no tears for her relentless need to be heard,she's a "closet"illiterate who learned the ropes,& could care less,what "bill is being passed,except for her own.quest to become a God!Orin is an old fool,when will they stop the narcisistic,crap?McConnell?another one,who has the nerve to utter..6 more weeks..as if we have all the time in the twisted world,he doesn't care,nor do they worry re:"thier"healthcare,not the money for their wives hair appoitment,including pedicures,manicures..These are rich,devoid of any notion that "destruction" will come to them,2-fold,ask them why they're still kissing up to Bush's past insanities,thus gave Americans enough rope to now have debts,beyond..but that is their fault too,Bush was only the "ticket"having allowed indulgences!AIG was on his watch as was Maddoff,as was the reporter who had proof re:the ripoff,this country is one big contradiction,conspiratory,in nature,it's no wonder why Eupoeans dislike "us" while we are lead to think "they're" the ones runnig their country,so graciously,& they are!!They respect their people whereas American gov't controls "us!"European taxes,are "seen"thus knowing where the money goes,if they protest,gov listenes,unlike here,nobody protests,nobody cares,nor listenes,especially the rich,the more they have,the more they want,the more they fear loosing a few million,ah..Someday soon,these old creeps will get off their insane ride enjoying the good life,while days pass,suffering continues...When will they borrow some ideals from the European lifestyle,doctors haven't any motive to be greedy..unlike here,that's why they laugh at us!
by liberalme November 20, 2009 12:18 PM EST
Your Christianity is not determined by what you think you are, but how others perceive you in your words and actions.
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by rmonroe401 November 20, 2009 11:01 AM EST
I saw the Fox News interview by Great Van on my knees for you Orin Hatch. She basically slobbers over his office, bows to him, and maybe even gets on her knees for this moron. Yea, there will be a holy war because we are considering helping people who do not have insurance and making sure Insurance companies do not take advantage of Americans with high rates, denials due to pre conditions and denials for no reason at all. And people wonder why people say Fox is a part of the Repub party.
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by liberalme November 20, 2009 10:31 AM EST
Holy and war together? He sounds like a terrorist!!
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by ianlou November 20, 2009 9:56 AM EST
Republicans are only interested in the finacial health care of millionares. This time its millionare health insurance execs and lobbiests.
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by egresor November 20, 2009 9:49 AM EST
i say good!

let there be holy war with the [people who destroyed our economy

got us into 2 wars to steal oil

and in case you think i'm getting off-subject....i'm not!

if the american people see what the republicans want (a continuation of things as they are) and what the dems are attempting to do to correct what the republicans have done to this country.

the american people will be well-served by such a war.

in war people show their true colors. (that's from a vietnam vet)

the american people need to know, unlike the former administration, this is taking place publically. you all know about bush/cheney secrecy right?
secret prisons, secret meeting with big business where secret agreements are made. and guess what?

the american people were not invited!

at least obama is holding his in front of the american people, to let the american people decide these things and the republicans don't like it!
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