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

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?

[collie61]

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://******/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/