Roland Burris Rewrites "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

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Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) delivers a health-care inspired version of "Twas the night before Christmas" on the Senate floor this morning.

"Although our work keeps us away from our family and friends for much of this holiday season, I see no reason why we can't share good cheers with one another right here in Washington," he said in introducing the poem. "So in the spirit of the season, Mr. president, I would like to share my own version of a classic holiday story with my good friends on both sides of the aisle."

Watch Burris deliver the poem at left, and read his effort below. It includes this line, in reference to the GOP: "We'll clog up the Senate, they cried with a grin/and in the midterm elections, we'll get voted in."

Roland Burris:

It was the night before Christmas, and all through the Senate
the right held up our health care bill, no matter what was in it.

The people had voted a mandated reform
but Republicans blew off the gathering storm.

"We'll clog up the Senate," they cried with a grin.
"and in the midterm elections, we'll get voted in."

they knew regular folks needed help right this second
but fund-raisers lobbyists and politics beckoned.

So try as they might Democrats could not win
because their majority was simply too thin

Then across every state there rose such a clatter,
the whole Senate rushed out to see what was the matter.

All sprang up from their desk and ran from the floor,
straight through the cloakroom and right out the door.

And in what in the world would be quite so raucous,
but a mandate for change from the Democratic caucus.

The president, the speaker, of course leader Reid
had answered the call in our hour of need.

More rapid than eagles, the provisions they came
and they whistled and shouted and called them by name:

better coverage, cost savings, a strong public plan
accountable options, we said "yes, we can."

No exclusions or changes for preexisting conditions.
let's pass a bill that restores competition.

The Democrats all came together to fight
for the American people that Christmas eve night.

And then in a twinkle, I heard under the dome
the roll call was closed, and it was time to go home.

Despite the obstructionist tactics of some,
the filibuster had broken, the people had won

And a good bill was ready for President Obama,
ready to sign and end health care drama.

Democrats explained as they drove out of sight,
better coverage for all, even our friends on the right.

And I say to all of my colleagues in this season, merry Christmas and a happy, happy new year.

[gilligan3]

For a country as affluent as the USA, large in size and powerful too;
the latter being not a negative remark. And, yet, what is so important
that they have missed the boat and the wharf too. I have been following the proposal since the day a young canadian spoke on Canada's program. Yes I there are flaws and when recognized, corrections are started.I retired from the health care field after many years; I also was a user of the same system. Humans have an inherent dislike of changes that affect them. Take a deep breath, sit down and relax. Health Care is coming. Give it a chance. At the end of the day, you will be glad you did.There was a time in my young life when I had to check my wallet before going to a doctor: check also if sufficent funds for x-ray, pharmacy, physio or
God forbid! consults and maybe a room for admission.Your next generation will not have this added burden at a time when one is most vulnerable. I wish you all good health in the new year.But if you need it, hopefully this issue will be dealt with and you can concentrate on getting well and once well, work to keep youself this way.The onus for this is on you.Those that disagree with national
health are ignorant of the true facts. Once you understand,you will be comfortable with it and more so as time goes by.
Recipe For a Successful Health Care program :Use the 5 W's
Who, what,where, when, why, and finally how much.
I wish you good health in 2010. If not, good health care available to all. This is a right and not a priviledge

[Sueindecatur]

I support it - very good poem Mr Burris

[globewatcher]

Isn't it closing in on the time when this bum will get booted out and someone that actually gets elected will be taking over that seat, not buying it!

[AzRep]

Just another one of ********** Harry Reid's bought and paid for **********. He is right up there with Dodd and Nelson. 11-02-2010 is the date for all of them. To bad only a third of the Senate are up for re-election. Re-elect on one.

[mcmexpress]

Is that the best you got Roland? that was pretty corny! You talk a lot for someone who is very lucky to even be there, that's OK, America is watching all you weasels! Good luck next election

[popcornking]

The only person in the senate that was not elected. Why does he have a voice?? It is obvious that all Dem. senators were not listening to their people back home.

[popcornking]

I am from Illinois and I apologize to the rest of the country for what we sent to Congress in the form of Mr. Obama and hence Mr. Burris. It is too bad Mr. Burris cannot listen to his constituents and be a statesman and go beyond political lines and rid the U.S. of this Democratic health care fiasco takeover.

[Zann-Zel]

That is an instant classic! Merry Christmas Everyone! : )

[Dave3449]

A few variations of the poem (by paragraph).

1. ...the left voted for health care no matter was was in it.
2. ...people opposed but no matter, Reid passed out goodies to tose selling votes
4. ...regular folks needed help right away but democrats decided to let 56 thousand pass away (14,ooo ie per year without health insurance so lets wait 4 years to help)

You get the point. This vote buying senator should shut up and just go quietly away.

[american-american]

This is NOT the way to fix health care. Ask ANYONE in England or Canada who has had a family member DIE waiting for care that they were denied.

What needs to be done are things that the liberals REFUSE.
1. Put a limits on malpractice suits. Doctor's rates are so high because their liabillity insurance is INSANE! Liberals will not stand for this or any other form of tort reform because the liberals are mostly lawyers!

2. Open the health insurance market WIDE OPEN from coast to coast. Look at how low car and homeowner's insurance has gotten. Insurance companies have gotten the way they are because of the monopolies they have been able to create in every state.

Just these two items alone would make a HUGE reduction in costs. Our healthcare system is the best in the world. What is screwed up is the insurance monopolies. The liberals are not trying to fix this at all. They are trying to set up their own monopoly so they can have a piece of the pie if not the whole pie! CAN'T YOU LIBERALS SEE THIS?

[smoknmirrors]

#2 is absurd. Ask homeowners in Texas and California and Florida how low their insurance is. Car insurance, if you include comprehensive, is exorbitant for careful drivers. But most of all, in order to open the health insurance WIDE OPEN would require massive regulation of private enterprise in the health insurance industry by the FEDERAL government. Wow! Who's your LIBERAL now?

#1 has no evidence to support the assertion that "doctor's" rates are high at all. Further, if the "doctor's" rates are high, to what extent has that been a function of insurance coverage availability? Fewer people with insurance requires that costs be made up (transferred) by charging more to insurance companies, thus requiring higher fees so that insurance companies will have to pick up a larger part of the tab. Medical billing specialists experience this phenomenon quite often. Besides, if juries were not finding in favor of plaintiffs, specifically that doctors and hospitals were at fault in providing poor medical care, insurance wouldn't have to be so high. So, cut out the mistakes, docs, and you'll pay less for coverage.