Washington (CNN) - Majority Whip James Clyburn said Thursday that he is waiting for the final pieces of health care reform to fall into place before he is able to definitively say there are enough votes in the House to pass it.
"We don't know exactly what to whip," Clyburn told CNN's Don Lemon in an interview. "That's why we are waiting on these fixers to take place, and the moment we get the fixers done and post them for the American people, I will look in on it the same way the American people will, and then I will know what to go to my caucus with."
House Democrats need 217 votes to pass the health care bill approved by the Senate as well as an additional bill to change some revenue measures. The Senate would then only need to pass the one bill with the revenue changes, which is likely to occur through a process known as reconciliation. Reconciliation only requires 51 votes.
Clyburn said the final product will include ideas from both sides of the aisle.
"Now we are looking to reconcile the Republican's ideas, the president's wishes, with the House and Senate bills, and that's what we are trying to get a simple majority vote on those fixers," Clyburn said.
Turning to 2010 politics, the South Carolina Democrat sharply criticized the Republican National Committee for a fundraising presentation that paints President Obama in an unfavorable light.
"That was shameful," Clyburn said. "I really believe that the RNC needs to apologize to the American people for subjecting them to that kind of a tactic. That is not what this great country ought to be about and I think that the American people are now beginning to see that this is not about policy, this is about some pretty bad practices."
When asked if Democrats engage in the same kind of behavior, Clyburn said, "Absolutely not. If I were ever in a room and Democrats did that to anybody, not only would I walk out of the room, but I would go to that, whatever that taping may be and physically remove it from the building."
From CNN Politics
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Rules are rules, Don't discard the rules.
Remember we are in TWO UNFUNDED UNDECLARED WARS because rules were not followed.
Don't be like Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, Bush, et al and just barge ahead - follow the rules.
Thank you.
To all Democrat Housemembers: If YOU vote yes for Obamacare, America will vote NO for your re-election!
My wife and I are independent voters. My wife voted for Obama and a mixture of dem & rep. I voted for McCain and a mixture of rep & dem. If this horrible bill passes in congress the wife and I have decided to vote against anyone who supports this bill. This is not health care its a insurance care bill.
I do hope no more votes are bought with my tax dollars.! No state should have special deals for their residents by selling themselves. Can't the dems just do it honestly and with some integrity?
I am so sick of pompus liberals!
The political process is sicker than the health care system; both need acute care and a total overhaul.
I surely hope these Democrats will get in there and vote for this bill. That's one of the things they were elected to do!!
The current tactics now being practiced by the Health Insurance Industry should be evidence to all for the need for Health Insurance Reform. Instead of increasing their premiums by 40% annually and spending millions of dollars to lobby against reform, they should be embracing ideas and solutions to keep healthcare affordable and available to all, including those who will lose their companies coverage when the executives decide they need a few extra million in bonuses. How high-handed can these companies be and not have the American people revolt?
Clyburn is a man of dignity wish we had more like him.
If the jobs report Friday is bad and shows signs of double dip, Democrats are going to have a lot of explaining to do as to why they are jerking around with health care and not job recovery.
When you say Demorcrats,you need say NO more.A party of socialist wanting to take tax payers money and give this money to worthless/lazy non productive people.
Isn't it ironic that democratic Congressmen are looking for votes at the same time that Americans (both republicans and democrats) are looking for Congressmen to finally start realizing that they don't want Obamacare? One of the first things you learn in school is that a Representative's job generally entails..... well, representing constituents. Given the overwhelming opposition to this and other socialist policies originating from the administration currently occupying the White House, the democratic Congressmens' current course of action not only guarantees that they won't be reelected later this year, but ensures that Obama truly will be a one-term president.
Jim Clyburn-the socialist of socialist.Give ALL your hard earned money to the poor down trodden minorities because they have been discriminated against.I am tired of giving to the worthless/lazy welfarte queens/kings-get a job and shut up.
House Democrats need to jump down the throats of Senate Democrats and push for a PUBLIC OPTION!!!! POINT, BLANK, PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama has already bough his first vote from Jim Matheson with an appointment as judge for his brother.
And the corruption goes on.
obozo really is the joker. Snake oil salesman.
The Democrats don't have the votes and Pelosi knows this. There they go again...after a year of this dog and pony show, thousand of speeches, the American people continue to tell Congress how much they hate ObamaCare. The Democratic Party is primed for a much-deserved pouding at the polls in November. After all, voting is the only way to keep arrogant politicians honest. We started going dowhill as a nation as soon as Pelosi picked up the Speaker's gavel.
Just put this bill on a ballot in November and let the American people decide whether or not we want it.
And when Bush was in office these democrats were doing everything possible to tear him down so now the shoe is on the other proverbial foot..live with it!
Turning to 2010 politics, the South Carolina Democrat sharply criticized the Republican National Committee for a fundraising presentation that paints President Obama in an unfavorable light.
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Hyprocrite, after what the dumocrats and the MSM did to Sarah Palin and John McCain.
Hang on here they go again It is sad when a party cant pass their dream card and of course they blame the republican party for it all
thats even sadder because they cant take responsibility for not being able to pass it with a super majority
Cant help but wonder what kind of behind door deals are going to be made on this one people are not aware what this is going to cost them
in one way or another. and this fool just keeps on spending
but it doesnt make any difference to me because i am on disability and collecting 1200 a month for that and am working part tome for another 900 so i am fine with what ever they do it the future for my grand kids i am concerned about
To so called Democrats that will not support the DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT on this health bill, watch out you may find yourself unemployed thie next election unless you become GOP'ERS. It would be worth losing the house and Senate[not likely] due to your UNLOYALTY. What difference does it make to the public if you are getting hosed by either party. My always DEMO vote will be non existant or independent on upcoming elections.
I am am almost done with the Democrats. Say what you want about the evil GOP. But they pushed their plans through. The pathetic democrats, can not get the job done.
I believe James Clyburn on that when asked if Democrats would engage in the same behavior Clyburn said, "Absolutely not. If I were ever in a room of Democrats that did that to anybody, not only would I walk out of the rooom, but I would go to that, whatever that taping may be and physically romove it from the building." I believe James! I believe that Democrats don't spend much time slashing a President!
I really do believe him!
Clyburn said the final product will include ideas from both sides of the aisle.
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Actually, the final health care reform bill passed by reconciliation will contain ideas from all 3 sides: The Democrats on the left, The Republicans on the right and the Big Unions down in back behind the closed door.
What the Republican platform consisted of at the RNC was appalling.
and an insult to the American People. We voted for President Obama.
WE VOTED FOR HIM.
Michael Steele leaked presentation, "unfortunate". Do not tell us dummies out here that that was sent out by "Mistake. I beleive that Michael himself "leaked it all" and with approval from the Big WIGS.