January 13, 2010 11:00 AM

Harry Reid Said Lieberman "Double-Crossed" Him on Health Care

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Health Care
(AP)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was caught off guard last month when Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who votes with Democrats, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he could not support Reid's health care bill -- so much so that Reid told associates that Lieberman "double-crossed" him, the New York Times reports.

The anecdote illustrates the struggle Democrats have faced keeping their party unified behind their massive health care reform proposal. The struggle continues as House and Senate Democrats meet behind closed doors to merge their two bills.

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday night that Democrats are having "serious problems" merging the bills, while Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said the health care bill was "hanging by a thread."

House Democrats are pushing for the Senate to adopt their stronger regulations, but it will be hard for the Senate to alter their version of the bill significantly without potentially losing the votes of moderate Democratic senators. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) maintains he is "not 100 percent certain" he will vote for whatever bill the merger process produces, in spite of his interest in passing some kind of reform legislation.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

To further complicate the process, a report from National Journal reveals the health insurance industry was quietly funding negative health care ads released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over the summer while publicly supporting the reform effort.

Karen Ignagni, president of the trade group America's Health Insurance Plans, wrote in a letter to the Washington Post in late October that "health plans continue to strongly support reform." By that time, however, her trade group was already funding the Chamber's negative ads, the National Journal reports.

The White House jumped on the news: "It's no surprise that the insurance companies who profit from the broken status quo would oppose fixing the system," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer wrote on the White House blog. "But this article should serve as an important reminder of the powerful forces standing in the way of change and of whose bidding opponents of reform are doing."

Meanwhile, Democrats have made missteps of their own, Reid acknowledged to the New York Times. He said it was a mistake for the White House to try to win the support of moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe. "As I look back it was a waste of time dealing with her," Reid reportedly said, "because she had no intention of ever working anything out."

Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by toldyouso21 January 14, 2010 8:49 AM EST
Reid should be forced out--if not for any other reason, then for trusting Joe Lieberman--why would Joe not double cross the Dems? He tried to run for and on the Republican ticket--he got himself back in office by undermining the Dem ticket, he bad mouthed Obama-and now who's shocked by him stabbing Dems in the back? Only FOOLS are shocked.

Hey Harry, here is a little parable for you. There was once a lonely pilgrim trudging up a mountain. As he walked over the rocks and brambles, he heard a voice below him imploring: "Kind pilgrim, please aid me and pick me up and carry me to the top of the mountain, for I am weary and the way is hard and I cannot make it by myself"

The pilgrim looked down and saw a poisonous viper--he jumped back and said--"Oh, gosh...NO! I cannot touch you for if I try to carry you, you will surely bite me and kill me."

The viper replied:" Sweet pilgrim, how could you say such a thing? I would not harm you--for we have a common goal to get to the top of the mountain and I would be too grateful to harm you and besides, if I did bite you--I'd defeat myself"

Well that made sense to the Pilgrim, besides, was it not right to help others and to trust and give them chances--why not help the snake? So the man picked the snake up.

The snake said: "If you would just carry me against your breast, I will not move and you will be able to keep your hands free to go up the mountain..."

The pilgrim thought that made sense also so he picked the snake up and coiled it against his chest (though he was really scared) then he went on his way.

As he walked he continued to check on his reptilian companion, pausing several times and asking about the snakes comfort.

Each time, the snake assured him he was okay and true to his word, he remained motionless as the pilgrim struggled towards the summit.

As he neared the top, the pilgrim, gently informed the snake that they were almost at the top, and the snake began to rouse himself. Finally, at the top of the mountain, as the pilgrim opened his robe to remove the snake the snake lashed out and BIT him.

The pilgrim was shocked and angry and as he gasped for breath and began to die he whimpered: "after all that I've done for you--why! why did you do this to me?"

The snake began to move away from the dying man--but as he slithered away--his faint words reached the man's ears: "YOU KNEW WHAT I WAS WHEN YOU PICKED ME UP."

No one can expect a liar to stop lying for them. No one can expect a backstabber to not undermine them. And no one---NO ONE can expect a traitor to not betray them.

Harry Reid and the rest of the Dems are fools. If you court or try to accept the traitors among you--you do not get gratefulness--you get enemies next to your most vulnerable areas and they WILL TURN ON YOU. You should have known what Joe Lieberman was and what he would do all along--it is not as if he has not been showing his hand and his nature all of these years.
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by stupa3 January 14, 2010 7:55 AM EST
Shame on Lieberman
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by rickwar January 14, 2010 7:39 AM EST
Harry Reid Said Lieberman "Double-Crossed" Him on Health Care

Duh! Lieberman is out for one person: Liberman
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by g55rumpy January 14, 2010 7:16 AM EST
Harry Reid double-crossed America
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by RobAla January 14, 2010 6:46 AM EST
This corrupt snake in the grass, I mean Senator Reid, is complaining about another politician double crossing him? I think I should go cry my eyes out - boo hoo. Nevermind, what began as a health care bill for Americans became a bill filled with corrupt behind closed doors sweet heart deals for some at the expense of other Americans - all conducted by Senator Reid. Wow - this guy is a piece of work!
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by teaparty2010 January 14, 2010 6:21 AM EST
Patrick Geary ?
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by teaparty2010 January 14, 2010 6:19 AM EST
That Light Skin Jew, I heard that he speaks in Hebrew in Synagogue.
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by pixman55 January 14, 2010 2:22 AM EST
WOW..is this a non-story. Good grief! The people who try to make this a BIG story...and have to use such 3rd grade rhetoric show the world just how much lack of depth the American voter has. So sad, that political views are exchanged with handfuls of mud!

The Reid thing, while silly to begin with, is really a non-story. It just gives some folks another peg to hang their ignorance on.

Pixman55
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by cbsblogger January 14, 2010 12:03 AM EST
Why have Reid and the Democrats obviously kowtowed to Leiberman as he has always been a disloyal snake in the grass with a huge ego.

Why didn't the DNC support Ned Lamont his CT Democratic opponent in the 2008 general election?

Why has Lieberman been permitted to maintain his chairmanship?
The only answer that comes to my mind is the I-Lobby.
Reply to this comment
by cbsblogger January 14, 2010 12:06 AM EST
make that 2006 not 2008.
by sl3_007 January 13, 2010 11:16 PM EST
Harry Reid is an embarrassment to this country. Hopefully, a few more senators will double-cross him. What a sleezy bunch up there in DC.
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