Schieffer: Health Debate No Longer About Care

By: Alex Sundby
Topics: Health Care

(AP / CBS)

What Democrats hope are the final days of debate before the Senate votes on its health care reform bill "is the legislative process at its very worst," CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Shieffer said Friday night.

Schieffer told "CBS Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric that the debate now isn't about health care any more.

"This is about partisanship, about getting votes, about backroom deals," Schieffer said. "It's about politics."

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care Reform

Simply put, "Republicans are against everything," Schieffer said. While GOP senators don't know what's in the bill, Schieffer said they're all showing their opposition to it by trying several ways to slow it down, including threatening to force Senate clerks to engage in the time-consuming process of reading the complete text of proposed amendments out loud, a process that could take hours.

Democrats are doing everything to stop the GOP to secure a victory, Schieffer said.

"They don't know what's in the bill either, but they're for most of it, so they're trying to counter off Republican slowdown by putting the Senate on a 24-hour schedule," Schieffer said.

The Senate ended its business Friday much earlier than it did the previous night, which included a 1 a.m. vote Friday morning. The chamber is expected to resume debate at 7 a.m. Saturday with Democrats continuing to eye clearing this latest hurdle of securing 60 votes to end debate.

"At this point appears the Democrats are one, maybe two, votes away from having the votes to pass this bill," Schieffer told Couric. "But no one can be certain … how much it's going to cost. What we're seeing here tonight, Katie, is the legislative process at its very worst."

Alex Sundby
Alex Sundby is an associate news editor for CBSNews.com

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by mypatch December 21, 2009 1:16 PM EST: This could be a real disaster. I think they should take more time to draw a bill that everyone can understand. I also understand that if they don't push something through before the 1st of the year then they can hang it up. I'm not sure if this bill will help us or hurt us. I suppose it will be bad for some and good for others.
I'd like to see health care for everyone but with our democracy as it is I don't think it's possible. I do know that taxes are about to rise dramatically once this bill is law.; Reply to this comment


by CoastalExchange December 21, 2009 12:27 PM EST: While I'm not that impressed so far with Obama overall (I did vote for him), I agree that healthcare legislation is crucial to our economic recovery. It's sad to see so much sickening political hatred going on right now. It's to the point where noone can have a reasonable discussion about healthcare. My parents are ultra conservative and while 2 years ago they would have talked all day about how necessary healthcare reform was, now they, like all republicans, just talk about how great things are as is. insane; Reply to this comment


by bdenkler1 December 20, 2009 12:46 PM EST: Attention all Republicans
Why Are You Playing Politics?
At a time when so many Americans (middle class Americans that truly control the vote) are suffering our worst conditions since the great depression.
I use to be a quiet (always well informed) bystander. But, not now.
If you can't read a bill in 8 hours ( Thats what WE Pay you to do!)
Then Read My Lips--KICK THE BUMS OUT... WE ARE ORGANIZING AND KNOW WHO YOU ARE.; Reply to this comment


by beyofgrandmarais December 20, 2009 11:19 AM EST: My supplemental health care costs are going up 325%, for 2010 for my Medicare supplemental health care/prescription costs over my 2009 premiums. The 2010 Medicare Guide knew about these increases, before it printed the booklet. So in my estimation, these increases were in effect since early 2009. In addition, my Michigan state insurance commission cannot fight the increase, for it's a federal enforcement.; Reply to this comment


by beyofgrandmarais December 20, 2009 11:07 AM EST: What I don't understand is the irony/hypocrisy: why so many, now the senators (mostly republicans), are taken the time to complain on TV how many pages are in the health care bill and not having time to read it: rather than taking this time to be at home/office reading it.; Reply to this comment


by carami6 December 20, 2009 9:55 AM EST: all because the gop is too far right winged.having 60 votes tells you how narrow and closed minded and far right sided the gop is; Reply to this comment


by gboyd41 December 19, 2009 7:58 PM EST: Good job Bob, once again, subjective reporting of the news. It's OK, I am, quite frankly, beginng to like it for it reminds me of SNL. Bob, try reporting the news OBJECTIVELY: did you learn that in J school? Maybe you missed those classes?; Reply to this comment


by ckh123mmm December 19, 2009 4:46 PM EST: Its terrible that people who can't afford to buy insurance will now be considered criminals because they can't afford to buy insurance. Who is writing this new legislation? Marie Antoinette?; Reply to this comment

by CBS_formerfan December 19, 2009 1:09 PM EST

As an individual who is typically bipartisan and who also is a proponent of health care reform, I was appalled by Mr. Schieffer?s bigoted statement that ?Republicans are against everything.? He admitted that Democrats are clueless as to the content of the bill and ultimately its impact on the American people; however, he still elected to degrade those who have chosen to weigh the pros and cons of this bill. The vast majority of those opposing the bill have done so because they recognize the bill needs work. Wisely, they do not want to pass a bill that is destined to fail and at a significant cost to American taxpayers.

CBS, you should be ashamed for allowing a veteran reporter to speak in such a biased fashion on an issue that SHOULD have nothing to do with politics! Since this appears to have become a pattern for your newscast, this CBS/Katie Couric fan will no longer be tuning in.

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by kevingrze December 19, 2009 4:59 PM EST: Everything the GOP does is do stop progress. They want failure for Obama and the Dems at any cost for this country. The Gop quite simply are traitors! And you think someone stating the obvious is biased. After 8 years of complete incompetence it is so refreshing to see a thoughtful President who behaves like a mature adult.
You have absolutely no clue what you are saying other than the standard talking points from the traitors in this country. Good riddance to you and all her lies and ignorance


by lakota2012 December 19, 2009 12:19 PM EST: by msimamaji:
"Next, week we will be celebrating Christmas, which all the religious crazies on the right wing constantly remind us represents the birth of Christ. Very well. How would Jesus fare if he were born today. First of all, Mary as a poor woman, would not be able to afford prenatal care, so odds are that Jesus would die. Or Mary, like many other desperate women, would resort to an abortion."
================================================

Excellent point, that will, just like the fact of our horrendous infant mortality rate and 37th ranking in the world in overall health care, will go completely over the heads of the rabid far-right evangelicals and teabagger cultists taking their cues from the most ignorant and uninformed like the beck/hannity/rushbo millionaire bozos!; Reply to this comment

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