Kennedy 'expected more of us' on health care, Dodd says
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/30/art.dodd0830.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Dodd said Sunday that his late friend Sen. Kennedy would be 'terribly disappointed' if partisan politics dominated the health care reform debate."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) – A close personal friend of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy said Sunday that the Massachusetts lawmaker’s death ought to act as an inspiration for Democrats and the entire Senate to set aside partisan differences and pass health care legislation.
“We ought to sit down together and work it out and go through this” Connecticut Democrat Sen. Christopher Dodd said on CNN’s State of the Union a day after Kennedy’s funeral. “That’s what we do in the Senate. That’s how things move forward. . . . The country cannot afford this any longer. We need to have a health care plan in this country that’s accessible, affordable, and quality. And how we get there is the challenge before us. And we must meet that challenge. ”
Pointing out that Kennedy introduced his first piece of health care reform legislation roughly 40 years ago, Dodd also said that his friend would be “terribly disappointed” if partisan politics dominated the debate over fixing the nation’s health care system.
“He expected more of us and I think we can meet that expectation and I’m confident we can,” Dodd told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King.
Related video: 'What would Teddy do?'
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, also a close friend of Kennedy’s, suggested that the partisan gulf between the two parties on health care may be too wide to bridge.
Getting a bill passed is “going to take a lot of work,” Hatch said Sunday. The Republican also said it was “crazy” to try to squeeze money out of the Medicare program in order to help fund broader health care reform including a hotly contested public health insurance option.
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Everyone here should read johnrj08's comment and immediately recognize that our government controlled media IS having an affect on convincing the uninformed that SOCIALIZING anything that is private is acceptable and should be embraced by the American people.
Our friends leaning more to the 'left' are very aware of what is happening in America as they work to take our individual freedoms away and replace them with what government believes is best for us. As though we are not intelligent enough to make wise choices...
Beware of the Law of Unforeseen Consequences... there are those in our government that hiding the truth and our media appears to be afraid to challenge them.
Our only hope is in ourselves... we have to get this economy going so that more are employed (and receive health-care coverage from their employers) so that this spike in cost may be brought under control.
To those intensely focused on national health-care I say... "It's the economy STUPID!"
I hope this back fires on you Dodds so we can kick the rest of the democrats out of Office!
I would like to visit the dentist just once again. It has been maybe ten years. I don't even know how to go to a doctor other than through the ER.
The problem is that Republicans expect nothing of themselves...but record profits for their corporate cronies while everyone else is hurting...literally and figuratively.
REPUBLICAN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE AND ANY OTHER SOCIAL ISSUE IS BOGUS & HYPOCRITICAL. Historically, since President Franklin Roosevelt (a democrat) pulled the nation out of the Republican led "great depression", the Republicans have never soundly supported any social issues including Roosevelt's social security program and jobs policies; nor did the Republicans support Harry Truman's first call for health care reform; nor did the Republicans support Kennedy and Johnson's voting rights act, civil right's act, or Medicare bill. All these successful social reforms would have been killed if the Republicans had there way. And now the Republicans want us to believe they are holding out for "bipartisan" health reform. LIARS!
Sen. Dodd, you are the main reason for partisanship. Democrats wants socilaism in this country, Government to take control; of our lives. I hope CT people do not elect you as senator in the coming election. All liberal progressive democrats should be thrown out. Wake up America. This has nothing to do with Ted Kennedy and his passing away. American people are smart eno9ugh to know that health care is something personal and this will be between their family doctor and themselves.
This is basically very simple; show how we pay for it without raising taxes, raising the debt, or screwing up the health care for the 70% of Americans who are happy with what they have. Can't do that then shut your mouths.
I get more usable information from Amazon when I buy something than what I have been receiving through the media about health care. When I buy a product I read the company's 'spec' then read the customer reviews about what really works and what does not. I then check prices and decide whether to buy over the 'net' or through a local retailer. What is keeping the oversight factions from doing something similar on this health care proposal. Put it down in clear language what is available now and to whom and in a matching column what is proposed item by item and the cost. Is this too difficult? If it takes time to do...take the time and do it. Let the CBO do it. Another column could be proposals by origin ( AMA, Both Parties, plus others) that differ. I can get more technical help buying a refrigerator than the information the administration or parties involved give me in the debate. What are the costs?What exactly is the coverage now and then?
I think Kennedy was just a human not better or worse than most.
He and his family had all the power and wealth they could want. To stay in politics was a choice. He and his family were patriots and dedicated to many issues.
As far as health care reform goes its time has come.
The insurance companies have grown way to big as financial entities. And have taken way too much power away from the people for who our government serves.
It's easy to expect more from "us" when you have a trust fund that allows you to never have a real job.
Republicans want no part of any working together. the democrats should just ignore them as they should be irrelevant. the Rush Limbaugh Party do not care about this country. They also know full well that they will never never ever have a senator that will be honored and legendary like Kennedy every GOP lawmaker is just a loser that ultimately is called out on their hypocrisy
Mr. Obama will install his "healthcare" at the point of a gun barrel. He learned his lessons well from Lenin and Castro. For the good of the people of course.
CNN is doing a good job at crafting Obama's message. Post the Obamots hate, then thrown in a couple of patriotic comments to be attacked by the Obamots.
All Hail the imam Obama !
It would be a fitting tribute to Ted Kennedy if we passed his health care bill. A majority of Americans would certainly support it.
Its obvious the GOP has no interest in passing health insurance reform, so Democrats are going to have to pass it by majority rule – which is really not such a big deal: the GOP used budget reconciliation to pass controversial bills during the Bush years 3 times, and no one called it "war fare " then.
Save Granny and save medicare!
Support health care reform.
Kennedy may have expected more but I think most of us are shocked if anything at all comes of health care reform.
Money Driven Medicine – says it all. Democrats as well as Republicans drink from the corporate well for campaign contributions. And that is why nothing will be done. Dodd is on the campaign trail – words and no action.
Let's see, on the Republican Political Ticker this morning we have three anti-Democrat stories and one pro.
You guys are giving Faux News a good run for their money today. Maybe you'll boost your ratings by picking up the legions of Republicans out there.
what one liar says of another. how have we come to this when it matters what they say???
Do not let this Big Government agenda pass.
People that are against Health Care Reform are mostly the wealthy, the misinformed or the ones that are just down right selfish and have this i got mine you got yours to get mentaltity. I for one have health ins. and yes its ok for now but again i want others that dont have it and cannot afford it to have it too.And any one thats praying for this not to pass what you are really saying is forget about the poor and the less fortunate so while you are praying for it to fail didnt Jesus said when you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me! who do you think he was talking about? So im starting to wonder when someone say they are praying against health care reform who are they praying to and whose side are they on. Again i have health ins with cigna and i work hard too and i pay my taxes so just because i want it dont mean i want a free ride and want some one else to pay my way!
I am so tired of Republicans AND Democrats saying the divide between the two may be TOO LARGE. Excuse me, you guys have ONE JOB.
You are supposed to work of US. You don't get to say it is too hard, or the divide is to big. You work to make the divide smaller, that is what we hired you for. I don't get to go to work and say my job is too hard but keep paying me and don't fire me because it isn't my fault.
We are all sick of it.
The two sides need to stop worrying about themselves first (getting re elected seems to be the common worry here) suck it up and get the job done!!!
I really find it hard to believe that so many do not want others to have healthcare. If capitalism did not keep the means of paying for needs out of reach for so many, we would be a more equitable nation. Many social issues would vanish were the people assisted to live well rather than being denied their basic rights.
Come on CNN – all week you have praised and worshiped Mr. Kennedy, while most American's see him as a pathetic and nasty creature. To only do stories in praise of him just makes CNN look more like an appendage of the Democrat Party than a "news source". He led a mostly wretched like, soaked with alcohol and whoaring, and in the end he wanted to rape our medical care system. Show him as he was, not as you see him CNN.