Before Health Care Summit, GOP Wants Its Table

By: Alex Sundby
Topics: Health Care

(CBS)

In shades of the Paris peace talks intended to end the war in Vietnam, congressional Republicans argued about the shape of the table for Thursday's health-care summit with President Obama, reports CBS News Correspondent Nancy Cordes.

(Scroll down to watch the report Cordes submitted)

GOP leaders want to avoid giving Mr. Obama the upper hand, Cordes told CBS "Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric. First they said they didn't want the president at a podium where he might lecture them like when he took questions from House Republicans last month.

(CBS)

While the White House wanted the table to have the president at the center (see left), the Republicans said the table should look make everyone a bit more equal (see above). That's the table the White House approved.

As for the reason for the summit, Mr. Obama's proposed health care overhaul, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said there wasn't much of a chance for compromise, given the fact that the president was unlikely to heed his demands of scrapping the entire Democratic bill and start over.

"Unless they're willing to do that, I think it's nearly impossible to imagine a scenario under which we could reach an agreement," McConnell said.

No one is expecting the president will reach a major compromise with Republicans, Cordes reports. He wants to convince wavering, moderate Democrats that his plan is better than anything the Republicans have proposed.

More Coverage of the Health Care Summit:

TV Coverage Limits Success of Health Care Summit
Washington Unplugged: Health Care Summit Smoke and Mirrors?
GOP Disses Health Care Summit, But Asks for More Invites
Advice for the Health Care Summit from Two Presidents Named George
Americans Running Out of Patience on Health Care, Polls Show
GOP Prepares Strategy for Health Care Summit
Obama's Health Care Plan at a Glance
A War of Words Before the Health Care Summit
Obama's Health Care Plan Unveiled
Harry Reid Says GOP Should "Stop Crying" About Reconciliation
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Watch CBS News Videos Online

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

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by Cattzen February 25, 2010 2:37 PM EST: The Republicans are always about the "SHOW" with no GO!; Reply to this comment


by lmartink February 25, 2010 2:08 PM EST: How compeltely pathetic. The Republicans -- a bunch of whining, useless, crybabies.

Might as well bring their Gerber's baby food, and drinks in sippy-cups.

No wonder the American public holds Congress in such low esteem..; Reply to this comment


by pr_boxer February 25, 2010 8:50 AM EST: vineyardguy , you got it right brother!; Reply to this comment


by pr_boxer February 25, 2010 8:44 AM EST: The Republicans like Mitch McConnell would really like to help on a health care overhaul except it has one drawback. Health care reform might have a negative impact on the Insurance giants bottom line, hence the GOP campaign warchest could suffer. You wouldn't want those insurance CEO's to lose their Palm Beach mansions would you? Heck they'd have to stay in Hartford all winter.; Reply to this comment


by vineyardguy February 25, 2010 5:04 AM EST: People are dying because of the current health care system. People are going bankrupt because of the current health care system. Was it Newt Gingrich who coined the term 'Compassionate Conservative'? That proved to be nothing more than an empty campaign slogan. Corporate Conservative seems much more appropriate. Corporate megaprofits are what's important to Republicans and that's all they care about. I'm calling out the Republicans as as hypocrites.
They give a standing ovation to every corporation. Never mind if people die. I've got mine, so I'll get by. That's what should be the Conservative's slogan. Mitch McConnell, Boehner, and Eric Cantor all have provisions in their health insurance they don't want the rest of the country to have. Is it because they consider themselves better than us? Do they consider themselves elite? Come on, hypocrites, let's hear your Republican hypocrisy loud and clear! You argue the shape of a table while people die. You love war as long as someone else fights it for you. You say support our troops, but you really mean support our troops as long as it doesn't cost any money. You get things wrong and act like you got them right. I can't wait to read the lies and hypocrisy that this comment elicits. Remember, when the facts don't back you up, make up your own. Allow me to cite a specific example: Al-Queda was in Iraq, so we invaded Iraq. Unfortunately, when Republicans lie, people die.; Reply to this comment


by HolyVoice February 25, 2010 3:11 AM EST: "Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said there wasn't much of a chance for compromise, given the fact that the president was unlikely to heed his demands of scrapping the entire Democratic bill . . ."

So the idea from Republicans is, Democrats capitulate on everything they've done to date and then the Republicans will consider compromise. I can't want for the next election cycle, I'm going to do my best to announce around the nation what unreasonable, dysfunctional, and perhaps unAmerican the Republicans have become, and that party leadership needs to be replaced. This is going to be an important election since Corporate sponsors of Republicans are going to spend massive amounts of money to confuse the American voters into believing that the GOP is for middle America. This unconscionable position will divide our country more than terrorists ever could, as a house divided.; Reply to this comment


by neveragainarepublican February 25, 2010 1:50 AM EST: just get it done! find your balls! tell republicans either help the people or get the hell out of the way!; Reply to this comment


by neveragainarepublican February 25, 2010 1:49 AM EST: just get it done! find your balls! tell republicans either help the people or get the hell out of the way!; Reply to this comment

by SueZeeeQue February 24, 2010 10:42 PM EST

Are the Republicons seriously argueing about the shape of the table?

Reply to this comment


by earlysaid February 24, 2010 11:45 PM EST: Yes. They insisted on a certain shape for the table. It is becoming more and more apparent that republicans just want it one way until they get it and not that way if Democrats agree with them. The GOP leadership are morons and prove it more each day. Voting against your own bill is hypocritical but they do that too.


by stychokiller February 25, 2010 12:53 AM EST: Personally, I am of the opinion that the President could have, and probably should have insisted that everyone from Congress and the Senate wear Dunce caps and sit in the corners of the room until they start acting like Adults


by starving1968-3 February 24, 2010 9:33 PM EST: "Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said there wasn't much of a chance for compromise."

Of course he did.

That the republicans whole position: "We do NOTHING for America."; Reply to this comment