Grassley rapidly backing away from ObamaCare
posted at 11:36 am on August 13, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
When Barack Obama first launched his health-care reform effort, he had some natural allies among Republicans, and it looked as though a deal could get made — depending, of course, on the terms. After putting Nancy Pelosi in charge of that effort, though, Obama has run his putative Republican allies off the team and onto the other side. Senator Charles Grassley had been among the most publicly committed of Capitol Hill Republicans to hammer out a deal with the Democrats on health care reform, but their lack of give and his constituents’ obvious anger at ObamaCare has him backpedaling:
West Des Moines–In a series of tough town hall meetings on Wednesday, Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley defended his work drafting a controversial health care bill, but also seemed to distance himself from the legislation.
“I weren’t doing that the last four or five months I could sit around with my feet up on my desk,” he told a packed meeting in Winterset, Iowa. “You hire me to keep on top of things and I guess I’m a person that believes you are going to be on top of things if you are in the room instead of outside the room.”
Grassley, one of a handful of Republicans working with Democrats to draft a health care proposal, stressed that he would oppose any bill with a government-run plan in it, describing the government as a “predator.”
“Maybe you think well Chuck Grassley is up with that too,” he said. “so let me tell you right out I would not vote for the Kennedy bill [and] I would not vote for the Pelosi bill.”
Grassley came into the meetings with his votes in opposition to the auto bailouts and Porkulus as a shield against most of the wrath that has faced other lawmakers in their town-hall forums. That helped set a calmer tone for Grassley, but as Politico notes, his constituents in Iowa let him know of their unhappiness with the sharp leftward turn of Congress. He held four such meetings yesterday, and apparently he got the message: no deal.
In the video above from Politico, Grassley appears to lay down the tracks for his retreat. The administration has pledged to pass a bill with or without Republican support, setting up the same kind of showdown that they won on Porkulus. Grassley warns Obama that he’s about to back out of negotiations and let Democrats give the old college try — but the ground has changed considerably since then.
First, although Al Franken has taken his seat and given Democrats their 60th vote in the Senate, Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy are almost certain not to be available, so they cannot block a filibuster on a straight party-line vote. Nor can they get a straight party-line vote to pass anything with a public plan in it, with Ben Nelson (D-NE) at least likely to vote against it, and perhaps a few other red-state Democrats worried about voter reaction. They won’t get Susan Collins this time around to cross the aisle, not after she blasted Democrats in advance of Grassley’s comments this week for negotiating in bad faith. Grassley’s actions will probably influence Olympia Snowe as well.
Iowa is known for its populist impulse, but the message that Grassley has gotten in his town halls is the same that’s being delivered across the US. We don’t need a government takeover of health care, nor can we afford it. People have become angry at out-of-control federal government, and politicians are slowly but surely getting that message.
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The ship of state is foundering on the rocks of healthcare. The rats (Grassley, et al)are fleeing. Quick somebody please punch a hole in the bottom and finish it off.
txmomof6 on August 13, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Haha! Zing!
Shock the Monkey on August 13, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Fortunately, the Ogabe WH is proving to be as utterly incompetent at managing Congress as they are at everything else.
guntotinglibertarian on August 13, 2009 at 12:16 PM
This is one of the best post I have read in a long time. Savior it my subjects:)
http://www.goingjohngalt.org/blog/2009/08/03/sovereign-default/
Dr Evil on August 13, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Maybe they’re getting bonuses for snitching! It doesn’t take long to spot who the trolls are, some of them hit the ground running. Maybe getalife is back in disguise!
scalleywag on August 13, 2009 at 12:16 PM
I don’t like Grassley. He is a RINO and a reliable vote for the Dems on most of the issues I feel most passionately about. That being said, I respect him because he is consistent and has been one of the few voices of fiscal responsibility in a very irresponsible Congress.
highhopes on August 13, 2009 at 12:16 PM
TKSnider on August 13, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I didn’t say that. I came in on the Open Registration before the Election. As you saw last night, there are individuasls we come into a Conservative Website just to adisrupt the flow of the discussion by any means necessary. We’re glad to welcome civil discussion around here. It’s Trolls and Mobys that trey to ruin a great website.
kingsjester on August 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Several reasons – many of the people can pay for their own insurance but choose not to.
12 million are illegals and shouldn”t be here anyway
It costs too damn much, and only 1/2 of us pay income tax. We pay for ourselves and Medicare and don’t want to pay any more. Not another nickel.
The plan would take away everyone’s insurance and we’ll all end up with the crappy public plan like Medicaid.
Do you need any more reasons?
txdoc on August 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM
BuckeyeSam
They have a plan that addresses tort reform and all the other issues we want addressed. John Boehner sends it out every week in his emails. It’s called the Healthcare Solutions Group. http://www.blunt.house.gov/Read.aspx?ID=1059
JAM on August 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM
They better back away – if they wanna keep their jobs, that is.
RedNewEnglander on August 13, 2009 at 12:18 PM
This is exactly why folk need to go to these meetings or the congressman’s office and be VERY pointed. Politicians ignore calls, could care less about E-mail, respond late and with staff pap to letters…No, IN THEIR FACE is the only way to get their attention…and it is working.
I wish folk would do the same to Snowe and the other fellow who is ignoring his base…
JIMV on August 13, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Amen to that. Working on Toomey’s campaign as we speak.
What is it with these guys? 79 year old cancer survivor and he can’t just shuffle off the stage with dignity.
guntotinglibertarian on August 13, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Kingsjester forgive my ignorance what is a “Moby”? I’ve seen the term and even googled it but no luck.
elduende on August 13, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Wolf in Sheep’s clothing.
The artist Moby, involved with MoveOn.org, stated the idea of perpetrating acts of violence as Conservatives/Republicans.
Holger on August 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM
For starters, it’s a bogus number.
First, the figure includes illegal aliens. Their inclusion should be require a specific debate. Sure, they may end up in ER wards in all events, but they need to be separately addressed. It’s estimated that they represent about one-fourth of your figure.
Second, the figure includes, as someone described above, people between jobs, young people leaving their parents’ coverage, and young people declining to pay for coverage. If the answer is to require an individual mandate for these people to carry, say, a minium amount of catastrophic coverage on analogy to required auto liability coverage, fine. But the issue, with these people, isn’t that they’re deprived of coverage. They’ve chosen not to be covered. I don’t feel sympathy if they then have a problem and go bankrupt paying for care. They should have insured themselves.
Third, as someone above explained, about a quarter of your figure represent people already eligible for existing programs. This group consists, in many cases, of the needy. Why reinvent the wheel? For these people, the answer is to get them enrolled in the appropriate program. End of story.
Finally, the remaining group includes the uninsurable. Here is where some of the legislative effort should be devoted. These are the people truly in need of coverage or healthcare.
Again, your number is bogus, and I’m tired of hearing it cited. Wise up.
BuckeyeSam on August 13, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Notice how the movement with regards to obamacare is in one direction—away from it. Polls dropping, AARP backing away, AMA and surgeons giving a smackdown yesterday, independents lost….
are there any new converts to obamacare….?
i don’t theeenk so…
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Oh. False flag. Agent provocateur. Got it. Thanks.
elduende on August 13, 2009 at 12:22 PM
i reject the premise of hottie’s question. all others should too.
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:22 PM
elduende on August 13, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Like Holger said, they’re saboteurs. They pretend to be Conservatives just so they can hijack the thread or disrupt the conversation.
kingsjester on August 13, 2009 at 12:22 PM
is Toomey a limpwrister from PA or does he actually have some backbone?
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Thanks.
elduende on August 13, 2009 at 12:23 PM
A good question. I’d like to expand the scope, if I may. Why would people be opposed to making car payments for those who can’t afford to pay for their cars?
Here’s a quick lesson on Being An American:
This country was built by the philosophy of equal opportunity, not equal results.
Until the invention of community soccer leagues, if you finished out of the top 3 in league play (baseball, football, basketball, etc..), you didn’t get a trophy.
Today, why play hard? Everyone gets a trophy anyway.
That philosophy has invaded society at large, removing any incentive to succeed (or play hard). We’ve taught countless children that winning, and being rewarded and recognized for your effort, is a bad thing.
On a related point, there are not 40 million uninsured Americans. There may be 40 million people in this country that don’t have insurance, but not all of them are Americans. This is a point that is lost on those who inhabit Planet Bizzarro.
BobMbx on August 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM
ted c
AARP is talking outta both sides of its mouth. They said, they haven’t endorsed any bill NOW, b/c they are getting such a member backlash, but they will start running millions of $$ worth of ads next week in support of “healthcare reform”. Totally disingenous, typical of their unequivocal support for anything socialist. I hope they lose a million seniors over this.
JAM on August 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
“…politicians are slowly but surely getting that message.”
I don’t think so. Very, very few democrat politicians are getting the message. Obama is most certainly NOT getting the message. And they’ve got the majority. I still think they’ll push it through — and it will have a public option.
As I’ve asked before, what happens then? Where does all the rage go? These are troubling questions for these troubling times. Obama and Pelosi are poking their sticks at a rattle snake. What’s the snake gonna do?
Rational Thought on August 13, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Sure, I’ve heard of it…in whispers.
I realize that the MSM doesn’t provide these guys with any coverage. That said, my understanding is that there’s one GOP proposal in the Senate (Coburn, I think) and maybe as many as two different ones in the House. Coordinate them all in a unified proposal and start selling it in the heartland while the TV cameras are on the townhalls. GOP members should be running townhalls for this purpose. They can dismiss Obama’s approach as too expensive and involves abortions and Death Panels and move right into the answers that they propose.
They are blowing an incredible opportunity to really turn this into a rout with support from as much as two-thirds of the country.
BuckeyeSam on August 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM
are there any new converts to obamacare….?
i don’t theeenk so…
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:21 PM
guntotinglibertarian on August 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM
He’s as good as they get. Lifetime ACU rating of 97%. ADA rating of 6%.
Honored his 2-term pledge when he was elected to Congress.
Founded the Club for Growth.
Really smart. Could make a bundle in the private sector (he was an investment banker). Hates politics but feels a moral responsibility to do what’s right for America.
Lindsay Graham hates him.
Nuff said?
guntotinglibertarian on August 13, 2009 at 12:32 PM
thanks for the intel dump. now i’m up to speed.
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
eld,
One of my ways to try and keep up:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Moby
(Bookmark the site. Comes in real handy)
Yoop on August 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Respectfully disagree.
The idea was a Nation concieved with Liberty as the most important Virtue, where the people were generally unencumbered in their pursuit of their happiness.
Equality is unimportant as long as you are satisfied. I can accept not owning a Konigsegg or Bugatti Veyron, not owning a 33 foot yacht, not owning a McMansion or having a lot of other signifiers of class. So long as I have achieved satisfaction with my life as I have lived it.
Holger on August 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
There should be a rule proposed: If Graham is willing to endorse the candidate, pick someone else.
TXMomof3 on August 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
He should receive some of the counseling that is included in the house plan.
farright on August 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
They can be for healthcare reform without endorsing the bill as it now stands. Few people have stated they are for the status quo. The big question is what is meant by reform. The filthy liar wants to take over healthcare as a stepping stone to further socialist enterprises. I’d venture to say most people are over at the other end of the spectrum wanting tweaking of the current system.
The fact of the matter is that AARP is so liberal they are hypocrites on this issue. Everybody knows that they will eventually sign on to whatever the filthy liar manages to get out of Congress.
highhopes on August 13, 2009 at 12:36 PM
For those who are paying attention, that’s worth ten points right there.
Yoop on August 13, 2009 at 12:36 PM
AARP is going to get awfully lonely up there on top of the fence. That’s the first place that’s going to meet the chassis of the bus once this thing gets defeated.
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
He was on the National Review cruise right after the election. Lovely family. Really nice guy. The most “un-politician” politician I’ve ever met.
He truly is the type of citizen legislator the founding fathers had in mind.
guntotinglibertarian on August 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM
excellent. if you live in PA, keep that guy honest.
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:38 PM
this is a great object lesson as to why moderation in legislation is a losing proposition. AARP has to choose between its members, or the Won. Choose the Won lose the members–choose the members, lose the Won. It’s as easy as that AARP.
ted c on August 13, 2009 at 12:40 PM
That’s good enough for me.
Les in NC on August 13, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I no longer live in PA, but am doing volunteer work for his campaign.
guntotinglibertarian on August 13, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Thanks for the link Yoop. heh. I love the examples…
elduende on August 13, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Well, they just picked up a pediatrician in Houston. :-0
Seriously though, I think organizations and individuals are hunkered down now until they see what the final bill is going to look like. There has been such a dust-up over stuff the left thought they could get through without debate (like the death panels) that nobody wants to commit until they see what if anything comes from all this and how the public outrage effects the provisions of the bill.
One of the things (of many) that I think the filthy liar in the White House did wrong with this attempt at stealing healthcare was his Chicago-style tactic of getting key groups onboard. Not a bad strategy but he should have had the final bill in his hand before doing so. Now, AARP and the AMA (both membership organizations) are feeling the wrath of their members who violently disagree with what they see going on in DC.
highhopes on August 13, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Actually it is probably one of the best non-endorsement endorsements a politician can get. I never have liked Graham for much the same reason I never liked David Vitter. They come off as too opportunistic and self-serving to ever be trusted. Democrat examples would be Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, or the filthy liar before he got the promotion.
highhopes on August 13, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Totally agree. They need any Rep. w/face time on ANY news program to tout this. Send people to the website. Just drone it over & over. Why O why can’t they get everyone on the same page?
JAM on August 13, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Well, it could get interesting for them, depending on the snake.
There was a time when the drilling and mapping jobs I was on meant dealing with lots of rattlesnakes.
Most would set there and buzz till you figured out where they were.
But there were two types that bothered me. There was the older, bigger one that would rattle once, then quit. You had your warning. It wasn’t going to supply another one.
Then there were the few, big ol’snakes who didn’t bother to rattle at all. Really. I guess they figured you should know better and they weren’t going to waste any energy.
The Dems had better be worried about the voters who are only warning once, then going silent. And those quite ones who are just watching and waiting: Worry lots!
Yoop on August 13, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Where is Snowe and her buddy on this?
right2bright on August 13, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Now that was a tasty steak.
chemman on August 13, 2009 at 12:56 PM
A lot of us in Nebraska are leaning hard on Ben Nelson on this, too. I don’t feature him ever voting for Obamacare. First of all, the majority of the state is vehemently against it. Secondly, Nelson was an insurance executive and attorney before politics, and Omaha (which actually went for Obama last year) is home to one of the largest insurance companies in the world. Nelson would be toast for voting for it either way. Somewhat related, Nelson was on a cattlemen’s show on RFD TV yesterday saying he will not support cap and trade either.
*fingers crossed*
Keep leaning, everyone!
Cornhusker on August 13, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I am proud that so many Americans are engaging and waking up! It’s working and we can not let up!
P.S. Don’t look now but our American Idol Prez is really chipped and tarnished!
Minorcan Maven on August 13, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Powerline said today that the strategy is already in place to allow waffling Senators to vote against a “public option”, but still make a deal. Reconciliation will be used. That’s why the “no deal at all” pledge that Grassley says he’ll take is so very important. He can’t be allowed to make a small Obamacare deal, knowing it’ll bcome the full bown disease once the Reconcilation process gets underway. No Deal!
MTF on August 13, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Yeah they will. She’ll vote for whatever the Dems put up in a show of bipaaaaaartisnaship.
angryed on August 13, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Hey Grassley is my guy and I think you can trust him! Better than say oh Collins, Snow, MCCAIN, Graham!
The guy on the liberal side of the state is the one to beat upon, Harkin. I emailed him and got back a reply how wonderful Single Payer Gov’t care would be.
I replied back that he is either a Liar a Fool a Buffoon or all three! No response!
dhunter on August 13, 2009 at 1:34 PM
That’s enough for me.
Oldnuke on August 13, 2009 at 2:03 PM
As we continually focus on health care issues, we fail to look up and see what is down the road for the next 3 1/2 years. If the govt. can win on health care then the next issue will be illegal immigration legislation & also gun control. This battle has to be won on defeating health care before the present regime takes over our lives.
Those protesting today are the same type that stood up to King George III. Tyranny is always defeated.
The new, underground book (A Time To Stand http://www.booksbyoliver.com) was written just 9 months ago & it warned of town hall meetings and how a small town stood up to a federal tyranny It also tells about what is going to happen next to you and me. Must reading if you want to know how all of this moves forward with more congressional laws.
ctcb05 on August 13, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Don’t worry, wasn’t accusing you of such a statement :) Just saying that with the trolls, you got some new conservatives around here too.
And having been a former internet community manager, I completely understand how trolls can disrupt a community.
Now on to the initial question of why am I against the government health care initative.
You have the obviously misstated numbers of 40+ million american’s without healthcare and while the number is up there (mainly due to the economy in the toilet), it isn’t anywhere near 40 million. Unless of course you count all the illegal aliens who shouldn’t be rewarded for breaking OUR laws (including amnesty)
Then you have the fact that this power grab is entirely unconstitutional. There is no basis in the constitution that allows for the government to provide ANY form of medical insurance system at the federal level. State level, sure (unless their constitution also disallows it). There was no constitutional basis for medicare, welfare or any of the other numberous socialistic plans that have been put into place and laid the foundation of the entitlement philosophy.
Then you have the fact that this plan actually violates the constitution by going against the requirement that the federal government always maintain a republican (not the political party) form of government by acting in what can only be described as either a fascist or socialist maneuver.
You see, the consitution was written in such a fashion as to limit government by restricting what it was allowed to do by specifically spelling out what it was required to do and then going on to say that anything NOT in the constitution was the realm of the state governments and the people.
I would challenge anyone who supports this bill to actually read the constitution and tell me (with all supporting context) what allows the federal government to even bring this bill to the floor?
Now before you go running off and give me this section
I suggest you read it carefully and understand that the term welfare had a different concept in mind for welfare when the constitution was written. The funding of Ambassadors to them was common welfare, the negotiations of foriegn trade agreements was a matter of the common welfare.
So, assuming you are of a logical mind, the next question would be, what makes a national health care bill any less a general welfare than these important acts of any nation? The difference is in scope, you see, each of those above items (ambassadors, trade, defense) are all specifically allowed by the constution, there is no mention congress being able to enact such a piece of legislation and thus they are unable to collect taxes in connection with such a plan.
But still, feel free to seek a way to counter the claim that it is unconstitutional, as futile a search as it will be.
TKSnider on August 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM
This is the most profound grassroots movement in my lifetime.
Think about it: Both houses of congress and the White House are allied against us, hold a winning majority and wield far more dollars of pr money and on-call muscle; the major media is unanimously against us and misses not a single opportunity to mischaracterize and even demonize us; and our own party leaders are mostly lost in the wilderness, at best dithering and at worst seized by the usual moral cowardice that is their modern trademark. And yet we have our enemy — the true enemies of the constitution — on the defensive.
The Left would die for such an accomplishment. (Well, not exactly–the Left wouldn’t die for anything).
rrpjr on August 13, 2009 at 2:54 PM
hottieinthehouse on August 13, 2009 at 11:44 AM
HERE are the numbers, in detail.
It is not 40 Million.
But I guess she probably already knows this and either ignores it or pretends.
I mean, I can do it too, “35 million of the uninsured are felons living in prison.” Its not true, but who can cares, it sounds good.
barnone on August 13, 2009 at 3:39 PM
RINO hunting is fun. And sniffing out cowards has been happening plenty these days.
Sure, they’re tough in D.C., but when they have to come home and explain themselves to the people, they turn yellow.
madmonkphotog on August 13, 2009 at 3:59 PM
One of the factors in play is the liberal concept of ‘compassion’. I had a guy start ranting at me about compassion the other day. If he is representative of many libs, they truly believe they are compassionate.
I tried telling him compassion doesn’t solve problems, but I might as well have been talking particle physics – he just thought I was either too dense or too mean-spirited to understand why we just have to be compassionate.
It is ironic considering who actually contributes to charity and does volunteer work. The libs want us to be compassionate their way, and to have the power over our purses. Yes, that is absurd, but I think they really believe it.
Problem is, getting them to see the irrationality there runs into a wall of denial. Their version of compassion by definition puts them on the moral high ground, and to look squarely at this would require them to admit they actually are not morally superior.
This holds in health care/insurance, immigration, you name it.
jodetoad on August 13, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Lindsey Graham is incapable of Hate. Hate is a Crime
However if Toomey is full of Hate that’s different. It is OK for Lindsey to hate Hate.
In general, Lindsey Graham is incapable so he makes himself useful
As for Grassley.
Run, Grassley, Run. I would rather see the soles of your feet leaving, than to see you coming in my direction
entagor on August 13, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Ah but the rumor has been recently that Grassley is considering “trading a vote” supportive of gov’t run healthcare to ensure tarriffs are maintained against Brazilian sugar ethanol. Could be a good question to ask him in a Town Hall Meeting.
mattmillercr on August 13, 2009 at 6:14 PM
We just need the elderly in demographically ‘old’ states like Iowa to turn against this monstrosity of a government plan. Without their support, the Dems are finished . Health care is the big issue that makes old people go against their conservative nature and start pulling the lever in the ‘D’ column.
ntmaloney on August 13, 2009 at 7:48 PM
The snake will strike back when it’s cornered. If this bill passes the American people who oppose it will feel like they are cornered. It’s not wise for them to just pass the bill. Owaaaaama has done nothing to bring this country together. NOTHING! Please folks let’s not turn against each other as the Administration would want us to do. Just read the bill or a synopsis of it and make your decision. It’s not a good bill – there is allot in it that people are not even talking about. Read it and then decide. Don’t trust the politicians – we’ve got to stick together not divide. This is not a popularity contest – this is our children’s and grandchildren’s future and the future of America.
Grace2753 on August 14, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Is it shocking to anyone here that I’m researching purchasing my first firearm?
Dominion on August 14, 2009 at 1:05 PM
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