Lindsey Graham: Health Care Deals "Sleazy"

(CBS/AP)  A Republican senator who has opposed President Barack Obama's health overhaul effort said Tuesday that the deals Democratic leaders have cut to round up the votes they need to push the measure through the Senate have been "sleazy."

Speaking Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina cited concessions won by Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, whose support gave Democrats the 60th and final vote they need. Among other things, Nelson won an agreement that the federal government will pay to expand Medicaid services in Nebraska.

Said Graham: "That's not change you can believe in. That's sleazy."

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Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa defended the concessions on CBS' "The Early Show," saying: "The one that's being talked about for Nebraska, it also benefits other states. It's not just Nebraska."

He also said he would vote for the package even if it didn't contain concessions for Iowa. "The principle of this bill overrides everything," Harkin said.

Watch the Interview with Tom Harkin

Graham rejected criticism leveled by some Democrats that GOP opposition to Obama's health care effort is being driven by extremists.

"I'm not a member of a militia, I'm not a birther," he said, referring to those who have questioned, inaccurately, whether Obama is an American citizen. "I'm a senator who wants to reform health care, but I'm not going to allow my country to become a socialized nation when it comes to health care."

Harkin described the debate as "a demarcation line."

He explained: "On one side is health care as a privilege. On the other side is health care as a right. With these votes, with the vote that we'll take before Christmas, we will cross that line finally and say that health care is a right of all Americans."

The Senate had procedural votes Tuesday morning on the overhaul bill and Democrats are pushing for final passage before Christmas.

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[sjc_1]

I would not be slinging mud, during the years that they controlled both houses we had Republicans like Randy Cunningham that made deals with MZM and others for a Rolls Royce, mansion and yacht in exchange for sweet contract deals.

[tax_PAYER]

The federal goverment has no place in healthcare or most anything else in our daily lives. If you want healthcare purchase it, if not don't. If you can't afford it, set about bettering yourself and increase your job market value. I have been a min wage employee and that sucks. It provided all the motivation I needed to better myself and get where I am today.

This country was founded on those principals, let's all start following them. Let's again let the USA be the beacon of freedom that we once were.

[freedomchooser]

You go taxPAYER! If this healthcare bill is so great then why do they(Obama and his Dem. puppets) insist on being exempt from using it themselves? No worries...Rep. will be majority again...soon!

[tax_PAYER]

element51 the name calling is just low class. You know nothing about me. You still failed to address my basic point, the federal goverment has no right to meddle in this issue. Where in any of our countries founding documents does the Federal Goverment have the right to declare healthcare a necessity and then force me to pay for it? If you are so concerned about healthcare for others you are completly free to donate your money (what's left after taxes) and leave my income alone.

I donate to charity, give to my church, and pay my taxes. I firmly believe OUR country was founded on equity of opportunity not equity of outcome. We simply can't continue stealing income from those that work, to give to those that don't via entitlement programs.

[bradkt1]

This is nothing different than anything else that both parties have done time and time on any and every piece of legislation that you can think of.

[don-go]

I'll tell you what I think is sleazy Senator Graham.

Going on the Today Show and lying about the number of people who receive government health care. That's sleazy.

Mr Graham claimed 60% of Americans receive government health care. I think I know what dark place Graham pulled that number from. His number stinks.

I chose to look at the 2008 US Census, which states 27.8% of Americans receive a form of government health care. That includes Medicare, Medicaid, some state programs for children in need, some of the poor in need, veterans of course, some community health clinics, oh and government workers-like Senator Graham himself.

Why lie about the numbers Senator Graham. Are you trying to mislead people for some self serving purpose? Maybe you just hate doing anything to help the American public? It's more lucrative helping insurance companies isn't it?

[watervliet]

ALL OF YOU ARE SLEAZY ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICANS. CAN'T SEEMS TO WORK TOGETHER AND HELP ALL COUNTRY MEN. POLITICS AS USUAL. YOU GUYS HAD EIGHT YEARS, GIVE IT UP.

[MichaelKBailey]

"referring to those who have questioned, inaccurately, whether Obama is an American citizen."

Inaccurately? - you are a sheep.

[babooph]

If he had one drop of morality himself,he would be working to arrest Bush & Cheney for torture ,murder of war prisoners & pre-emptive war-many went to the gallows for this after ww2....& he worries about the sleaze ,clear to any with sense?

[afmcalax]

If some Republicans would have actually participated in trying to make the bill better instead of just grandstanding and spreading propaganda maybe all those deals would not have had to be cut. They needed 60 votes and the Republicans refused to even get involved. I cannot believe how subserviant the Republican Congress is. They obviously believe they have to take orders from the RNC instead of the people in their districts and states. I will guarentee not ALL their supporters don't want better health care. Once they go back to representing who sent them to Washington this country will be much better off.

[tax_PAYER]

Have you seen any of the poll data on this issue? Only 40% of American's of either party support this bill. It should not be passed. If it is passed it is proof our system is broken and the Government no longer is representing our will.

Never mind the fact that the Federal Goverment has no right or authority to meddle in this issue. We are a bankrupt country both morally and financially. We have little time to find our compass and save OUR country.