Lieberman: Doing nothing better than a public option
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday that America would be better off with no health care bill instead of one that includes a government-run public health insurance option.
Speaking on the CBS program "Face the Nation," Lieberman said he would use whatever power he has to prevent passage of a health care bill with a public option.
However, the independent from Connecticut who sits with the Democratic caucus reaffirmed he will support starting Senate debate on a bill that includes a public option. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, says he will bring such a measure to the floor coming weeks.
Lieberman said that, if the bill still contains a public option when it comes time to close the debate, he would filibuster to prevent a final vote.
The Senate's Republican minority has promised a filibuster, and Lieberman would give the GOP enough votes to succeed in blocking the bill.
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I agree 100%. Health care is not a right, it's a service which you pay for. Costs are high yes. Shoudl be fixing the causes of that, not regulating more. More regulation has never ever reduced the price of anything. Quite the opposite.
I have never beenso filled with hate and rage towards a person I have never met.
Lieberman is such a coward. he has no honor, no heart, no soul.
I agree with this statement: Will Joe B sit down with the millions of uninsured children (because their parents got laid off) and explain why they can't get a checkup or why Mommy and Daddy had to sell the car because little Johnny broke his leg and it was the only way they could pay for the cast? Joe Lieberman is a traitor who needs a second lobotomy and he will be okay.
I agree with Liberman. The timing is not good and the costs will be staggering. Other options should have being explored. I am really worry by the deficit and the irresponsibility of the political class.
How does a guy lose a Primary, but successfully run as an "Independent"? Lieberman is a joker whose antiquated ideas should be sent to pasture along with him! It's LUDICROUS to spend trillions on killing people under false pretenses, while complaining that Health Care Reform is too expensive. We're the only industrialized nation without Universal Health Care and it's about time our collective priorities changed.
what does he care..he has insurance! what a sleazebag he does have an ounce of compassion in him
I hear no critical analysis, no truly righteous justification for blasting a public option - it would put insurance companies out of business? Really? You don't think they'd pull out all the stops to stay in business? But talk about misplaced priorities!! Do we care about what's best for insurance companies or what's best for tens of millions of Americans??? Republicans + Droopy Dawg Lieberman are insisting on the former (with a specious afterthought of an argument about how somehow this would be bad for society as well, yeah, huh?), betraying that the Republican party is about big business, the rich and powerful, and not for the people. Democrats are far from perfect, but at least their priorities are better!
CNN keeps reporting that Democrats need 60 votes to pass the bill. WRONG WRONG WRONG. Lieberman does not give Republicans the ability to block the bill. It just denies Democrats a filibuster proof majority. Big difference. There is an alternate approach they can take to pass the bill needing only a simple majority, not a filibuster proof majority, called reconciliation. I don't know why CNN ignores this in 99% of the writing about this bill, but it's shoddy reporting. And by pre-emptively dismissing the chances of the bill, you erode public support and interest in it. Get it straight CNN.
Why CNN continues to give this worthless politician the headlines is beyond me. But, of course you will support any article that speaks out against Health Care Reform and our president with your continuous support of the republicans.
Move over, Fox, you have competition.
NO SENATOR from Connecticut is better than Lieberman! He is out of step with the people of Connecticut and the American people. Fortunately, his political days are numbered. Connecticut deserves better....and, fortuntely, they will demand it.
Just the thought of this idiot talking for hours on end in a filibuster is making my skin crawl.
Sen. Joe Liberman is to democrats what Sen. Olympia Snowe is to republicans. The difference is Sen. Snowe is still in the republican party while democrats tried to remove Sen. Liberman from his senate seat by a party primary opponent. The voters of the State of Connecticut decided that retaining Sen. Liberman is more important than party identification.
Democrats Wake up.....There's a SNAKE in the grass. Get rid of him.
Joe Leiberman is like a traiter and don't care about our country.We don't need him throw him out he's useless.
Let's see – he is from a state that is home to numerous insurance companies that provide thousands of jobs for thousands of his voters. Does that sound like the formula for supporting the public option?
Holy Joe needs to go!
Good old "Traitor Joe". Why doesn't he just join the Republican Party and be done with it?
Set the healthcare bill aside and then there's Joe Lieberman who has no credibility. He pandered to John McCain and when he lost he found himself standing alone and the Democrats felt sorry for him and took him back. I have no respect for this man and his demise will come shortly.
Joe, know this. We, the people, need this reform. You, the fool, don't need my money. No matter who runs against you next election cycle, and although I live in Seattle and can't vote, I will give money to your opponent. Say goodbye Joe!
Good thing he was not the VP candidate (even if they lost). What kind of conscience does he have if this is what he believes re health care?
The stupidity and ignorance of many of these comments prove that many are following oBLAHma in his lies and not caring about how this get paid. The liberal are a low life of people.
Flip Flop!! Flip Flop!!
One of the first times I have ever agreed with this guy.
Classic neo-con line Lieberman, "Our way or NO way", are you still trying to sell yourself as a moderate?
Conn wake up!!!!!! This man only represents HIMSELF not you. He is the exactly what every one HATES about politicians. Show him the door!!
Thank God for Joe. He must be a hard working American that didn't have everything handed to him like the rest of the Democrats