Video: Centrist Dems in Congress drifting towards Republicans on health care?
posted at 2:45 pm on July 20, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The Hill and Fox News both report that the Blue Dog Democrats in the House may try cutting deals with Republicans that will dramatically change the direction of health-care reform this summer. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) explains that moderate Democrats have become nervous over the massive costs and the tax hikes that have become associated with ObamaCare and want to find a way out from under the thumb of Nancy Pelosi:
Some centrist House Democrats have reached out to Republicans to explore breaking with their party leadership on healthcare and crafting a reform bill with the rival GOP, one congressman claimed Saturday.
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) asserted that an “interesting development” is taking place underway that, if true, could effectively remove Democratic leadership from the driver’s seat on healthcare reform legislation in the House.
“There’s an interesting development occurring behind the scenes, wherein moderate Democrats — so-called “Blue Dog” Democrats — and business-friendly new Democrats are actually starting to have conversations with us to build a coalition from the center outward, to actually really come up with substantive and well-founded healthcare reform,” Boustany said during an appearance on Fox News. “And that’s the only way to do this.”
Is this real, or a Republican fantasy? The opposing votes from the Blue Dogs on the Ways and Means Committee weren’t a fantasy, much to the chagrin of Democratic leadership. It also wasn’t a managed outcome to allow moderates to save face in their districts. The DNC announced that they would run ads against their own members in those districts to shame them over their opposition.
That’s probably a huge mistake. These Democrats have their eyes on Obama’s slipping poll numbers, and will vote to save their skins with their more conservative constituents. The DNC proposes to turn itself into a minority party once again in the lower chamber by aligning itself with an increasingly unpopular attempt to nationalize the health-care industry and to ignore the reality of exploding deficits. They may get their wish in these districts — and see their apostates replaced with Republicans to permanently sideline Pelosi & Co.
Blowback
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ummm did not know the bank bailouts were 23 trillion?!
jharada on July 20, 2009 at 2:46 PM
reading the tea leafs
grapeknutz on July 20, 2009 at 2:48 PM
“Centrist” dems were always going to be the next enemy. That said, I don’t buy any of these stories about any healthcare bill being “in danger”. Every one of these bills has been “in danger” and then *poof* it mysteriously passes. Yes, poof.
LibTired on July 20, 2009 at 2:49 PM
It’s a trap!
PBoilermaker on July 20, 2009 at 2:49 PM
“Centrist” Democrats will side with the GOP on Obama’s Socialist endeavor. If they don’t, they aren’t “Centrists.” They are Socialists.
OhEssYouCowboys on July 20, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Hmmmm. “Centrist” democrats are looking for a
compromise with Republicansway to ensure they get re-elected.perroviejo on July 20, 2009 at 2:51 PM
You idiot GOP. Don’t do squat with healthcare – get the heck away from me and my doc.
gatorboy on July 20, 2009 at 2:51 PM
23 trillion in guarantees. not really 23 trillion paid out.
lorien1973 on July 20, 2009 at 2:51 PM
My Congressman. I’m still pissed at him for voting for the stimulus!
Bob L on July 20, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Now we let them ride this out with Obama…I don’t think we need to become “bi-partisan” when it suits them.
Let them eat this fiasco…this will be Obama’s Waterloo, and we want as many of his soldiers to go down with him.
This is our chance to take back both the house and the Senate…this is a disaster of titanic proportions developing, and we can’t throw them a life vest, they need to go down with the ship.
right2bright on July 20, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Govt is already all over you and your doc. That’s the problem. Dems want more govt between you and your doc. No one ever says “hey, let’s have less”
lorien1973 on July 20, 2009 at 2:52 PM
the derivitaves were just guarantees too
gatorboy on July 20, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Trying to get out of the way of the falling trees.
tarpon on July 20, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Republican fantasy.
Daggett on July 20, 2009 at 2:52 PM
+1
gatorboy on July 20, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Be still, my beating heart! Speaker Mimi will have a heart attack! Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Khun Joe on July 20, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Anything to slow the process down. The Blue Dogs will vote with Pelosi in the end, but if negotiating with them stalls the vote until after the August recess I say go for it.
BadgerHawk on July 20, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Obama’s the Captain that just hit an iceberg and the rats are deserting this sinking ship of an “administration”.
I predict Obama won’t even run for re-election in 2012. It will be Hillary. You heard it here first.
This is just the beginning of the end.
NoDonkey on July 20, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Sorry, don’t trust them. Will need to see proof.
Cindy Munford on July 20, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Obamacare: The first “shovel-ready” project of this administration.
bury that dead thing..
ted c on July 20, 2009 at 2:55 PM
If ObamaCare passes the very first 535 appointments should be made at DC area proctologists. The 100 senators get priority over the 435 congressmen.
Limerick on July 20, 2009 at 2:56 PM
I’d prefer no bill to either Barry’s plan, or to a more ‘moderate’ plan.
Vashta.Nerada on July 20, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Bill Clinton had lost an election as governor by governing to the left of where he campaigned, and even then he didn’t go back to the Dick Morris triagulation strategy until after the Democrats’ 1994 debacle, when he knew he had to move right to save his own skin.
Obama’s never lost an election and has people around him on domestic polict who are far more ideological than the group that surrounded Clinton (the worst ideologues were part of the cult of Hillary in 1993-94). So there’s certainly no way they’re going to want to move right unless forced to by the 2010 vote, and even then they may decide to keep playing Chicago-style politics against Republicans and Blue Dog Dems, under the idea that the cult of personality around Barack (and within the big media) can carry them through 2012.
jon1979 on July 20, 2009 at 2:58 PM
I will believe it when I see the votes.
Joe Caps on July 20, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Fantasy. Given that the so-called Blue Dogs sold out over Cap ‘n’ Tax for the whopping sum of $2,000 each, it’s not gonna take much to make them get in line for the health care proposals.
One Against Many on July 20, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Depends on the Blue Dogs in question, IMHO.
Ones like Charlie Melancon (D-LA) *may* be semi-trustworthy because they got their seats before the 2006 elections and, thus, aren’t beholden to Rahm or Pelosi like a Heath Schuler is. That’s probably who Boustany is referring to.
The bulk of the Blue Dogs who came in during the 2006 elections have been neutered by Rahm, though.
teke184 on July 20, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Obamacare is on the cold steel table.
Dr. Obama has been doing chest compressions on it since Friday afternoons press conference.
He has called CODE BLUE on it…
The pupils are fixed and dilated….
The pulse is weak, thready and fading fast…..
The blood pressure is 60 over nothin’….
The nurses have pumped all kinds of political capital into it….
to no avail…
it is heading towards room temperature..
and still–Dr. Obama continues compressions…
Other doctors have left the table
Nurses are pulling down their masks, no tears are shed…
Nearby, on a grassy hill, stands a small gravestone–”HillaryCare it reads…
Beside that small stone, a small patch of dead grass…
Obamacare: Shovel-Ready and Shovel-Waiting
ted c on July 20, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Yes, hard to see how the GOP being involved in a compromise bill would be good. We’ll still spend money we don’t have, increasing the deficit, and Obama will take credit for health care reform.
GOP: Let the Dems work out their own bill, then vote against it. Let them deal with the consequences, get a majority in 20120, and clean up their mess.
jazz_piano on July 20, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Good piece by Jindal in the Headlines, by the way.
jazz_piano on July 20, 2009 at 3:01 PM
What is happening to the black Messiah?
JiangxiDad on July 20, 2009 at 3:01 PM
get a majority in 20120, and clean up their mess.
jazz_piano on July 20, 2009 at 3:01 PM
We can’t wait that long.
BadgerHawk on July 20, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Kristol is correct. Stand strong. The Dems know this is a suicide mission if they stand with Pelosi/Obama. Obama is a scorched earth guy. He feels that Healthcare grab is worth sacrificing EVERY congressional Dem. This is CENTRAL to his overall agenda.
marklmail on July 20, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Blue dogs are a crock of sh!t anyways. Wasn’t there only like 10 Demonrats that voted against Porkulus?
How the hell can anyone credibly say they are a fiscal conservative when they vote for a $800 billion spending bill with no idea how to pay for it?
Of course remember with Dem logic we always have to “pay” for tax cuts(see our own money again), but not these asinine spending bills!
gsherin on July 20, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Betrayal by Judases.
It’s a heavy cross to bear, being morally and intellectually superior to all us little people he’s trying to help.
jazz_piano on July 20, 2009 at 3:04 PM
The FDA can’t figure out their own budget and we are about to hand Uncle Sugar a check for a few trillion dollars?
Rod Serling and Buster Keaton musta written this script.
Limerick on July 20, 2009 at 3:05 PM
No, but cooperating with the Dems–any of them–on any health care legislation acceptable to Obama will just make matters worse.
jazz_piano on July 20, 2009 at 3:05 PM
“Centrist Democrats?” Oxymoron.
They’ll be “centrist” until Nanny Pelosi finds the right pork to buy them off with – just as she did before on the Porculus.
They’re “drifting” all right, drifting towards another bacon bonanaza at taxpayers expense.
The Democrat Party is RICO predicate.
harry flashman on July 20, 2009 at 3:06 PM
totally agree, Nancy will pull a fast one at the eleventh hour…..
I say let them stew in their own juices
cmsinaz on July 20, 2009 at 3:07 PM
This is because Obama sat back and Congress now has two plans. The Baucus plan which is bi-partisan in nature and the hyper partisan House version pushed by Rangel, Pelosi and Waxmen. Yes Dodd has put foward the Kennedy version, but its a rough copy of the Rangel plan. There is a significant chance Obama has allowed himself to be out maneuvered as the GOP could provide support to Baucus while the liberals in the Congress are bypassed. This in turn would leave Obama with the choice of aligning with the centrists and disappointing the left or risk not having the votes and preventing the passage of any health legislation this year.
rob verdi on July 20, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Boustany and other Republicans need to be careful that they don’t get suckered into voting for health-care reform that’s too close to Obama’s ideas.
If they want to form a “coalition” between Republicans and Blue Dogs, they need to insist on tort reform (capping malpractice awards), allowing small businesses to form PRIVATE co-ops to buy health insurance, allowing people to buy health insurance from any state, and if there’s any “public option” for the currently uninsured, it needs to be available to low-income people ONLY, so that it doesn’t unfairly compete with private insurance, and there have to be co-pays, so that medical care is not “free” for anyone, including low-income people.
Steve Z on July 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
harry flashman on July 20, 2009 at 3:06 PM
my sentiments exactly
gsherin on July 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
I think it a bigger mistake for the GOP to reach out on this issue. If healthcare requires reform, it can wait until done properly without the hysteria of a failing Presidential adminstration trying to push through landmark legislation before his poll numbers drop much lower.
highhopes on July 20, 2009 at 3:09 PM
On the peter-meter of socialism/statism, where the hell does “Centrist Democrat” fall?
Sort of like the Muslims who cheered 9/11 but wouldn’t actually fly the planes, I suppose.
J.J. Sefton on July 20, 2009 at 3:09 PM
But that would make them the “Party on No”. Can’t have that, can we? They’re so stupid and cowardly they would rather run on a record of screwing up the best healthcare system in the world a little bit less than Ogabe wanted.
What a record of courage and accomplishment.
guntotinglibertarian on July 20, 2009 at 3:09 PM
If someone comes up with health care enabling me to survive for another 18,111 years, I’ll vote for them!
Steve Z on July 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
I agree. I see Obama like King Xerxes in “300″–he’d throw his soldiers–who were slaves–into the gap in order to further his own power grab. Those Dems in Congress are merely cannon fodder–if some get sacrificed at reelection time as a result of supporting his policies–so be it, kneel before Zod. Those pudwackers think they’ll get some reelection $$ which they will, or a visit with a great speech in their itty bitty little districts–they might. If they don’t get reelected, Obama could give a rip, he won, and he said so. Obama has no “fellow Democrats.” He just has Obama as Democrat–and either line up and support that or get bent. Am I wrong?
ted c on July 20, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Brian– everyone does NOT want to see success. I want any plan that does not start with tort reform to FAIL
And frankly I have no trust in so called blue dogs to do the prudent thing. It will be a highly compromised conservative bill that offers Obama cover. Screw that. Sink the whole thing. I do not see people up in arms demanding health care “reform”. I do however see high unemployment.
Buckeye Babe on July 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
There’s no such thing as a Centrist Democrat. There are only Democrats who saw opportunities in evenly-divided or traditionally Republican districts because of voters contempt for Bush and fatigue with an ineffectual GOP.
These guys are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Democrats – other than ones in wiggo-Left districts like SF or LA – always disguise their true colors: it’s the only way they can get elected.
But when push comes to shove, they know the idiot public has a very short attention span. That’s why they try to push through the ugliest parts of their agenda right after an election.
guntotinglibertarian on July 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Just saw a headline on Yahoo that claims, “Obama pushes back against critics of health care overhaul.”
Under Bush or any other Republican president it would have read, “Bush defies critics of health care overhaul.”
Just a view.
Liam on July 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Centrist Dems are standing on the ledge of Hopey’s
Ivory tower,and either they tote the Liberal locked
-stepping,or Rahm Manuel will help their own team
members by shoving them off!!
canopfor on July 20, 2009 at 3:16 PM
We need to remind our Congresspeople and Senators who they represent in a very visible way!
When you call your Congressional Reps and Senators to oppose Healthcare reform, you should also ask when your elected representatives will be holding Townhall meetings in your districts!
The House of Representatives will be out of session August 3 – September 4 for a “Summer District Work Period”
The Senate will be out of session August 10 – September 7 for a “State Work Period.”
Being out of session for a month should give all of our elected representatives plenty of time to hold one or more Townhall meetings in their districts to find out how their constituents really feel about the issues they are voting on.
If our Reps know that they will have to face their constituents in person to explain their votes, perhaps they will think more clearly about the votes they make in the House and the Senate!
When you get a date and time for the Townhall meeting in your district, please let us all know so we can help to spread the word to insure large attendence!
wren on July 20, 2009 at 3:18 PM
The republicans need to just sit on their hands and do nothing.
OmahaConservative on July 20, 2009 at 3:18 PM
You could have said the same thing about Medicare Part 3 and McCain/Feingold, etc. But these suckers get rick-rolled by Dems every time.
guntotinglibertarian on July 20, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Sounds right to me.
Pelosi is much the same way, but gives the Blue Dogs a LITTLE cover on many votes by trying to let them vote no unless absolutely necessary.
Obama’s ego is too big to go stealth with this kind of thing and, instead, will try to crush anyone who opposes him.
Once that fails once or twice, it’ll be hard for him to get his mystique back and start winning again, as he’s not going to start triangulating like Bill Clinton did when he got smacked around by the 1994 midterms.
teke184 on July 20, 2009 at 3:19 PM
If this passes, can we riot?
bluelightbrigade on July 20, 2009 at 3:19 PM
You mean republicans drifted towards the democrats and now some democrats are drifting towards them? How does this make a good bill? Most people want no reform in that all reform, i.e., getting the feds involved screws us.
Blake on July 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM
You know, now would be a good time to re-frame the debate. The libtards have been insisting Health Care is a right. Republicans should start insisting Health Care is a service. And if its a service, what business does Government have in it anyway?
I’m really nervous of Republicans having an “alternative” health care bill. It smacks of Obamacare lite. If they propose anything, it should be in the way of regulatory, and tort reform. Followed by making every user pay regardless of income or welfare status.
Iblis on July 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
I’ll remain nervous until I see the form of this so called compromise.
I fear that it will merely be Obama care with enough cosmetic changes to fool 50%+1 of the electorate.
MarkTheGreat on July 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Obamacare: dead on the table, ready for a dirt nap.
I call that “shovel-ready”
ted c on July 20, 2009 at 3:30 PM
At the rate banks are going belly up, the difference may be mostly academic.
MarkTheGreat on July 20, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Health care reform starting from the left (statists) and working right (free market) scares me. I would much rather the reverse be true, start with a free market system (which we do not have even now) and add statists attributes to get Blue Dogs to vote for it. Rather have no reform until free market thinkers\lawmakers can lead the effort.
WashJeff on July 20, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Bella has a link to the yahoo poll.
http://bellalu0.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/yahoo-poll-on-healthcare-shows-lack-of-support/
Dr Evil on July 20, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Looks like he didn’t get the memo from the Obama Administration — health care is going to be free.
Cicero43 on July 20, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Seems to me that, now that Obama’s showing weakness, it’s not Republicans and conservatives he has to look out for. He sure has pissed off a lot of people on his own side.
Jim Treacher on July 20, 2009 at 3:36 PM
remember that the only reason the Dems re-took congress was because they ran a bunch of ‘conservative democrats’ who used GOP rhetoric just with the “Democrat” Label instead of the unpopular GOP label, in Purple and light red districts around the country
the Dems hold on power is fragile, very fragile. What worries me the most is ACORN
jp on July 20, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Just trying to protect their dinner dates after Nov 2010. Obama has date night locked up until 2012.
WashJeff on July 20, 2009 at 3:45 PM
I would be more hopeful if my senator wasn’t Ben Nelson. I’ve watched him play the Blue Dog role too often for the folks back home, only to cave at the last minute after renewed Reid courtship. There aren’t any Zell Miller types in that bunch.
a capella on July 20, 2009 at 3:46 PM
We can’t wait that long! /s
That said, I agree with people here that the GOP needs to step back from this trap. Do whatever is necessary to kill the bill.
Fallen Sparrow on July 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Centrist Democrats are like Nessie, the loch ness monster.
Few have seen one.
The photos are suspect.
I am hopefull that this bill will either stall, or die aborning.
(See, this is me, hoping for change!)
But, every time I get my hopes up, they get dashed.
massrighty on July 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
HHHMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
Barack Obama’s gaffe: seeking greater inefficiencies
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25165.html
xler8bmw on July 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
To: A Capella at 3:46 pm
If Senator Nelson is saying something different back home than what he does in Washington, then we should all know about it!
Get Senator Nelson to have a Townhall meeting and then make sure the meeting is video taped.
Transparency is the best way to protect our democracy and YouTube is a great tool to expose contradictions by our elected Representatives!
wren on July 20, 2009 at 3:52 PM
They can be found in the same habitat as moderate muslims.
Cicero43 on July 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Have u noticed how quiet American muslims have gotten since Ogabe was elected?
Almost as if someone had told them not to scare whitey.
guntotinglibertarian on July 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
In another thread, the Mythbusters take on the “Fake Moon Landing” conspiracists.
Maybe they could find some of these Centrist Dems, next.
(Or, maybe they’re a myth.)
massrighty on July 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
These “blue dogs” are only yellow dogs being choked.They were recruited by Rahmbo and Bela Pelosi will only allow as many in vulnerable districts to vote against it as she can spare and still pass the kill grandma act.They sold out to capNtax for a lousy 2 grand.This one will cost a little more,but thats what Odinga has been holding back porkulus money for.It will probably pass with no republican votes.
pistolpetestoys on July 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Complete fantasy.
In fact we will find out next week. Barring a miracle the House bill will be brought to the floor and passed. The Senate bill, probably the week after. Then they will break for August. In September they will work it through conference coming up with the final bill.
patrick neid on July 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Bozo’s poll numbers are down again, unemployment is still going up and here comes Bozo with another socialist program.
I’ve seen a couple of youtube videos lately that show some really really honked off voters.
dogsoldier on July 20, 2009 at 5:13 PM
I think the deficit is really starting to scare a lot of people. And some of these blue dogs may think they have nothing to lose.
Terrye on July 20, 2009 at 5:27 PM
patrick:
We shall see, but from everything I am hearing it might not be that simple and sure.
Terrye on July 20, 2009 at 5:31 PM
BTW, for me this isn’t about seeing Obama as a person fail or ‘meet his Waterloo.’ And I’m not, in general, opposed to compromise in politics.
But this is about saving a nation speeding toward the abyss, before it’s too late.
jazz_piano on July 20, 2009 at 5:33 PM
That we shall. The people I listen to say it’s a done deal in both the House and Senate with only minor differences in the bills. The one last ray of hope is the final bill out of conference won’t be until after the break in September. Obama, for reasons below, wants the final bill before the break.
If during the break the Dem base/independents take to the figurative streets and scare the reps, maybe just maybe the final bill might fail. The Repubs have no real say in the matter.
patrick neid on July 20, 2009 at 5:47 PM
It’s called the ‘congressional mid-terms’ – election 2010.
GarandFan on July 20, 2009 at 7:09 PM