Graham: House Bill "D.O.A." in the Senate

Would Filibuster Health Care Reform with Public Option, Declaring "Liberal" House Bill Would Mean "Disaster"

(CBS)  Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the health care bill passed last night by the House of Representatives is "dead on arrival to the Senate."

Graham argued that the House bill was "written for liberals, by liberals.

"Just look at how it passed; it passed 220 to 215. It passed by two votes. You had [39] Democrats vote against the bill," Graham told "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer Sunday.

He also admitted that if it were to come down to it, he would join his independent colleague Senator Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., in filibustering a bill including the so-called public option should it come to the Senate floor.

"The House bill is a non-starter in the Senate," he added. "I just think the construct out of the House and what exists in the Senate is not going to pass, and I hope and pray it doesn't because it would be a disaster for the economy and health care," Graham concluded.

Graham believed a public option would "destroy" private health care, saying that insurance companies could not compete against the lower premiums of a government-backed plan. "It will be a death blow to private choice," he said.

Schieffer asked Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., whether he believed that Senate Democrats had the votes to pass the House bill considering it includes the so-called public option.

"I believe we are going to pass health care reform," Reed responded. "I believe we must do this because it's essential to not just the quality of life here but our economic success in the future.

"Senator Reid, Harry Reid has introduced the public option and there is strong support there. but we are far from the end of the debate in the Senate. It will take time. It will be careful, thorough and deliberate.

"I hope that a public option is in the final bill," he added.

Reed admitted that there is an "active debate" taking place among senators and various provisions to a public insurance plan, such as the trigger option or allowing states to opt-out.

"Overwhelmingly, sixty percent of the American public want a public option and I think we should be listening to them as much as listening to ourselves," Reed said.

[WakeUpAmericaNow]

I agree that health care needs reforming NOW....it is to bad that only one or two Republicans even have a awareness to be bipartisan........that is because the rest either work for the Insurance industry as paid/sponsored representatives instaed of the Amerian People or can't step outside of their party's agendas.........

So you are again incorrect in your assumptions/points..... only as of late, have even some of the Republicans step up with a little backbone to address Health care Reform............Since Republicans had Control of both the House of Representatives and The Senate from 2001 -2006 and A Republican Administration until 2008.......NO REFORMS WERE EVEN MENTIONED BY THEM OR THEIR PRESIDENT........ more propaganda presented "NO ACTION.... EXCUSES" for 2001 -2006.... NOW THAT THE DEMS HAVE PUT HEALTH CARE REFORM AND ALL Insurance for AMERICANS ABOVE THEIR OWN SELF INTERESTS AND THOSE OF THE MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY............

[govmess]

President Obama:
Today I read of your administrations' plan to re-define September 11 as a National Service Day.
Sir, it's time we had a talk.........
During your campaign, Americans watched as you made mockery of our tradition of standing and crossing your heart when the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken. You, out of four people on the stage, were the only one not honoring our tradition.

YES, "We noticed."

During one of your many speeches, Americans heard you say that you intended to visit all 57 states.
We all know that Islam, not America has 57 states.

YES, "We noticed."
When President Bush leaned over at Ground Zero and gently placed a flower on the memorial, while you nonchalantly tossed your flower onto the pile without leaning over.

YES, "We noticed."

Every time you apologized to other countries for America 's position on an issue we have wondered why you don't share our pride in this great country. When you have heard foreign leaders berate our country and our beliefs, you have not defended us. In fact, you insulted the British Crown beyond belief.

YES, "We noticed.."

When your pastor of 20 years, "********** America " and said that 9/11 was "America's chickens coming home to roost" and you denied having heard recriminations of that nature, we wondered how that could be. You later disassociated yourself from that church and Pastor Wright because it was politically expedient to do so.

YES, "We noticed."

When you announced that you would transform America , we wondered why. With all her faults, America is the greatest country on earth. Sir, KEEP THIS IN MIND, "if not for America and the people who built her, you wouldn't be sitting in the White House now." Prior to your election to the highest office in this Country, you were a senator from Illinois and from what we can glean from the records available, not a very remarkable one.

YES, "We noticed."

All through your campaign and even now, you have surrounded yourself with individuals who are basically unqualified for the positions for which you appointed them. Worse than that, the majority of them are people who, like you, bear no special allegiance, respect, or affection for this country and her traditions.

YES, "We noticed."

You are 9 months into your term and every morning millions of Americans wake up to a new horror heaped on us by you. You seek to saddle working Americans with a health care/insurance reform package that, along with cap and trade, will bankrupt this nation.

YES, "We noticed."

We seek, by protesting, to let our representatives know that we are not in favor of these crippling expenditures and we are labeled "un-American","racist", "mob". We wonder how we are supposed to let you know how frustrated we are. You have attempted to make our protests seem isolated and insignificant. Until your appointment, Americans had the right to speak out.

YES, "We noticed."

On September 11, 2001 there were no Republicans or Democrats, only Americans. And we all grieved together and helped each other in whatever way we could. The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans.

And YES, "We noticed."

There were many of us who prayed that as a black president you could help unite this nation. In six months you have done more to destroy this nation than the attack on 9/11. You have failed us.

YES, "We noticed."

September 11 is a day of remembrance for all Americans.. You propose to make 9/11 a "National Service Day". While we know that you don't share our reverence for 9/11, we pray that history will report your proposal as what it is...a disgrace.

YES, "We noticed."

You have made a mockery of our Constitution and the office that you hold. You have embarrassed and slighted us in foreign visits and policy.

YES, "We noticed.."

We have noticed all these things. We will deal with you. When Americans come together again, it will be to remove you and your Democratic cohorts from office.

[slownewsday-05]

"The attack on 9/11 was carried out because we are Americans."


That's at least partially incorrect - the attack on 9/11 was carried out because Bush ignored the specific intel.

Instead, he decided to enjoy his month-long vacation in August 2001 to its fullest.

.

[mypatch]

I'm glad this thing is failing. They rushed into this. They need to slow down and comprise a bill that will not hurt anyone. I for one do not have extra money to pay for this. I live hand to mouth daily. When they can come up with a bill that isn't going to hurt the little person then maybe it will work. as far as the ins Co's. They can fend for themselves. They have more money than we do. The senators are getting kickback from them so why would the bill pass?

Hey, I got a dumb idea. How about we table the so called "health care reform" now and work on job care or employment care, or whatever the h##l you want to call it. Lets get these people jobs and worry about spending more money later. What do you think?

[Paradisa1]

September 11, 2001 ... We ignored the signs, people got hurt

The Economy ... We ignored the signs, people got hurt and still are

Fort Hood ... We ignored the signs, people got hurt

The Health Care Bill ... The Bill is not ready, the timing is not right. The warning signs are there and the American Govenment and its elected officials were put in place to work for the people and to represent the needs of all - not to shove things down our throats because it will bring them votes or keep their party leaders happy.

Sure there is a need, but there is a need for many, many other things as well: Ending wars, bringing back jobs, ending the national deficeit, controlling violence on the streets, fixing a legal system that no longer understands that "law" is a "search for the truth", making people understand that they have to take responsibility for their own actions, even in the "Land of The Free"!

Actions speak louder than words, but they must be the right actions!

[mapjo11]

Congress is stealing from the poor to give to the rich! Congressional leaders get unlimited healthcare for $503/year. Do YOU? Fight back. Sign the petition at http://bit.ly/2nrapo

[gboyd41]

Dear leader-I LOVE IT!

[O-Dog2009]

NOW, Abor. Rights and the punk Sens will get the GOP sens to vote for it and knock that amendment off it!!! Pres. Obama + the Supreme Court'll anyways!!

[ur_u_nuts]

Let's see if this pos bill passes and is signed into law you have to start paying for it immediately but wait for 3-4 years for it to kick in. What's the minimum you'll have to pay? I heard it was around $4500 is that correct? If you can't buy any you'll get fined around $1500 and maybe some jail time it that how it works?
In the mean time those that need it are told sorry not yet. But once it starts it's fewer health care providers and there will be lines?
Cool sounds like a plan to me........ For failure. :P Putz!

[velma179]

by ur_u_nuts November 10, 2009 2:13 PM EST


You sure have an apt user name.. because, frankly, you are nuts!

But I see you have one of those nifty predictor rings they are selling at "Tea-Baggers-R-Us"....

[msimamaji]

Let's Let's look at who's paying Lindsay Graham's salary. I got this information from Center for Responsive Politics, so if you want to check out my fact, be my guest.

Lindsay Graham's top political contributors include the insurance industry, lobbyists, securities & investments, health professionals, and for-profit hospitals/nursing homes. If I analyze sectors lawyers and lobbyists are his top contributors. His top individual contributors include Blue Cross/Blue shield, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

In the meantime, the infant mortality rate in South Carolina, Lindsay Graham's home state, is 3 times higher than the infant mortality rate of Sweden or France. * A recent report by the CDC cites inadequate pre-natal as a major reason for this infant mortality rate. Statistics also tell us that many women get abortions because they cannot afford pre-natal care, and they also seek abortions if a fetus is diagnosed with a congenital health problem because once born, that baby will not get health insurance.

Apparently Lindsay Graham does not care because babies cannot make campaign contributions. Lindsay Graham should be called with he is - a baby killer.

[O-Dog2009]

hey, no co-pays on medicare(its good if your a BabyBoomer or their kid) and you wont be getting @#$%ed by priv. insurance anymore(supply & demand)!!!

[DoubleHappiness88]

Graham: House Bill "D.O.A." in the Senate

Seventy-four per cent of Americans wish they could say the same for Senator Graham!

Graham and his ilk represent The Insurance Mafia, not American citizens.

[martin1223-2009]

There is a disconnect in what the republicans and democrats say. What is disturbing to me is that it is so partisan. Look at the two episodes of FRONTLINE:

http://video.pbs.org/video/1050712790/

http://video.pbs.org/video/1099857730/

[Imadinnerjacket]

Promising a better economy because of a new health care is BS...

These knot heads in Washington better fix the job market first.. then come ask us for a few more dimes...

I'm all for medicare overhaul for everyone.. but it's not the big issue here... jobs are.. The American people need to work.. if we are working and happy, we won't mind paying a few extra bucks in taxes to help people who need medicare...

JOBS FIRST
fix the job market barrack... else wise, this health issue is moot

[legacyABQ2]

what can he do?

We already passed american reinvestment act, TARP, bailouts, etc to keep from crashing..

WE MUST BE PATIENT

Things will be good 2Q next year, you'll see!!

[gboyd41]

Imadinnerjacket-you are correct sir, but how long should we give the POTUS? No longer than 4 years!

[legacyABQ2]

Yeah.Right to lifeers huh.. TILL YOUR BORN.

Then your own your OWN man!!!

Better sink or swim!!

Stupid evil pubs hate poor people so much..

Oh I KNOW LETS GET EM IN THE ARMY TO FIGHT WARS FOR OIL PROFITS

See? Aren't we glad we have poor people?

Lets scare them into voting for the very people who hate them, too.
Wont that be great??

LOOK OUT!!! ITS A LIBERAL COMMIE ****!!!!

KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!!!!!!!

Ayieeeeeeee

VOTE NEOCON AND SAVE AMERICA FROM COMMIES



---------Thats the republican platform

[crikeytx46]

Stop it with the Lindsay Graham face time. He is a politcal lush that continuously floats with the majority no matter which it is.

[tryhonesty]

To ALL RepubliCONS: Jim Jones says to drink the cool-aid! Mission accomplished!

[crikeytx46]

Did you know that Nancy Pelosi wiggled her way into congress because of him.

[Paradisa1]

"And the poor Shall inherit the earth" ... With or without a 2000 page "health care" plan. Speaking from a place of no insurance, until this administration gets all its ducks in a row, this Bill needs to stay dead. Yeah, I know, "Thou shall not kill", but that's not my call, on Capital Hill.

The plan is set to shoot the people living in this country illegally past those in the medical/disabled community by throwing free health care at them while pulling 1/3 of Medicare away from those of us here legally who have been fighting for rights in the system for years! The disabled community & their families are not happy at all!
As far as all these kids without health care, I had one child, saw I did not have the funds/means for more and stopped ... this is called "responsible parenting" - and nobody seems to care that they put these kids at risk, they just keep having them. Just like the pages of this Bill, they just kept writing them! Who ends up paying in the end? Take a wild guess.

Priorities please! We are still sending people into space and sending information back from other planets but here we have wars and can't keep jobs. Bring back the jobs, clean up the streets, improve the schools and end up the wars. Our President got himself into office by seperating himself from Bush, so break the connection! The word that got this administration in was CHANGE, but there was no time or order. I am an Independent, out of work, un-insured U.S. Citizen who this bill would hurt! Step out of that big White House sometimes and remember your past, I say to you here and now that with or without this bill YES WE CAN! So don't push/pass it ... until it's right.

Also, Should this Bill sneak through, tell all the insurance companies that once we all have the same health care coverage, we will all expect the same insurance rates = health becomes a non-issue that the government controls. Oh, and ask your No.2 man, Axelrod, just how much pulling all that Medicare would do for his daughter if he had never been in politics and wasn't working for you now.

Health to you all
(with or without a Bill!)

[AndyMaxo]

Just because Linsey Graham jumped up on TV and claimed the bill DOA in the Senate doesn't mean he is right. Actually his sanctimonious and high-handed declaration means nada, zero, nothing. Last November before the election his pontifications on the glory of the Republican party and its victory to come was DOA wrong. He missed that one big time and then quietly snuck back to Carolina and waited for everyone to forget that he said it.
Anyway, who is he to make such a statement? He IS IN THE MINORITY! He has a vote but he don't have any power. He can't stop it by himself even though that's what he tried to appear to be telling all of us.
I like most of the bill just the way it is written and my party has the MAJORITY. That means that we have more votes to pass it than Linsey and pals do to fail it.
The republicans are loud and spoiled and angry. They lost power in both houses of congress and in the Presidency. Why? We got tired of them "Preaching" to everyone while not doing any work. They got fat and lazy and they blew it.
Now, they have had a year to come up a Health Care plan that would include everyone and they can't bring themselves to do it. The President campaigned on an all inclusive bill and so when he won, he told everyone during the State of The Union address exactly what he wanted. Rather than getting in there and rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work, the Republicans completely ignored him and then went on full attack mode, demonizing President Obama for making them lose the election.
They remind me of a bunch of whining, sulled up kids sitting around moping and kicking everything in site because they didn't get things their way. That crap never worked for me. When I tried that pity potty routine I got my butt yanked up, smacked a few times, and assigned tons of chores to do that got me from "mad" to "glad" real quick.
That's exactly what the Republican Party needs right now. They need a good swift kick in their Rush Limpbaum sized hind ends. Get to work on ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL other than the current 8 hours each day of ********, complaining, moaning, grumbling, blocking, threatening, demonizing, and just sitting around getting paid big taxpayer bucks (MINE) everyday to do absolutely diddly-squat.
Its time for the Repubs to shut it and get to work doing something constructive or your gonna lose what votes you have left come next November. If you worked for my company, I'd fire all of you on the spot so that you could go "not do any work" at somebody else's expense.

[legacyABQ2]

LOL Great Post!!

[commonsnse6557]

No Republicans work for your company? You would fire them all. You must own a car stereo and rim store. Give me a break. What a ridiculous post.

[actornaught]

I want to see the 'pubs demand the medical care our founding fathers got. The medical care they were getting when the Constitution was written. Or the Declaration of Independence, in case they still can't tell the difference.

.... eye-roll....

Where was all this GOP wisdom when the Republicans were running the
show. Where were their solutions, besides "let's listen to the Wall
Street Genie's, they know what's best for us..". I suppose they thought it OK for patients to receive a hundred thousand dollar bill.
I guess they thought it was OK for uninsured folks to flood the
emergency rooms for several hundred dollars a pop,for the common cold,
when a doctor office visit would be about 60 or so. Good work boys,
don't take it personally, you were just doing your job, by supporting
whatever made Insurance and Banking, comfortable for that particular
day, and every day to follow. It's OK, we don't have to pay for
it,..yet.

[ladyang]

Graham - another hump on the gov't dole not wanting anyone else getting what he has. Go figure!

[noloyalisti]

Oh, I get it about the CONS party of No Hope. It is OK whatever they do to anyone else as long as it does not apply to them. They can bomb other countries and tell them to give up their nuclear weapons. They can do terrorism to others and steal and lie and cheat others. But then they whine and cry when it is done to them. And they can break the law and then claim to have religious values.

Self-righteous, arrogant pieces of human excrement. And a waste of good air.